An exclusive conversation with SUMAN KUMAR LOKANATH, Head of Marketing, Sales, and Strategy at Cinebels.
From a niche luxury segment to mainstream adoption—how would you assess the current maturity of the smart home ecosystem in India?
The smart home journey in India has been nothing short of remarkable. What began as a luxury concept has now evolved into a genuine necessity for modern living. Today, smart homes are about more than gadgets; they are ecosystems offering convenience, security, energy efficiency, and personalisation. We are seeing a fundamental shift in expectations, with consumers increasingly demanding integrated solutions—lighting, climate control, entertainment, and even health monitoring. With local manufacturing making devices more affordable, and internet penetration reaching deeper into urban and semi-urban areas, smart homes are no longer aspirational; they are becoming essential. In fact, homes priced over ₹1 crore are now almost expected to feature at least some level of automation. The industry has moved well beyond buzzwords to everyday reality.
Given India’s diverse housing— from high-rises in Mumbai to independent homes in Kerala—how are smart home solutions adapting to these varying needs?
India’s diversity is both a challenge and an opportunity. Each city, each region, and sometimes even each neighbourhood has unique architectural and lifestyle nuances. Customisation, therefore, is key. While a farmhouse in Delhi may prioritise expansive automation for security and entertainment, a compact Mumbai apartment may need intelligent space optimisation. Our strategy has been to work closely with System Integrators to tailor bespoke solutions. Additionally, collaborating with local manufacturers ensures that products are adapted to Indian conditions and consumer behaviour. We are building flexible, modular ecosystems that make smart living possible—whether in a 500 squarefoot flat or a 5,000-square-foot bungalow.
Could you share an innovation specifically designed for Indian
consumers that might not have relevance globally?
One of our proudest innovations is the “Hum Free Fan Control”, developed specifically to address the constant irritation of noisy ceiling fans—an issue scarcely noticed elsewhere but a daily annoyance in India. Similarly, independent geyser control allows users to manage water heating smartly, saving both energy and money. Split AC control systems fine-tuned for India’s climatic extremes, and integration with local DTH services like Jio TV, are examples of how we innovate for uniquely Indian requirements. In India, interoperability across brands and devices is critical, given the fragmented landscape—and our systems are designed precisely to ensure this seamless experience.
Is the Indian consumer ready for fully integrated smart homes, or does modular adoption still dominate?
Currently, fully integrated homes are embraced mainly by High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs), but for the broader market, modular adoption remains the entry point. Most homeowners begin with lighting or security, and gradually expand into climate control, AV systems, and access management. Recognising this, our solutions are scalable—allowing consumers to start small and upgrade over time without facing compatibility issues. Our goal is to futureproof homes so that automation grows naturally alongside the user’s evolving lifestyle.
Affordability remains a challenge. What innovations have helped bring smart homes within reach of a larger audience?
Affordability is crucial, and we’ve addressed this through smart modularity. By integrating with local manufacturers for critical functions— like lighting control, HVAC systems, and security—we significantly reduce costs while maintaining premium quality. Platforms like Control4, RTI, Elan, URC, Crestron, and Savant allow us to create flexible, budget-sensitive
solutions without compromising on experience. We advocate a “mix and match” approach: start with essential features, and layer up as needs and budgets evolve.
With AI and multilingual voice assistants advancing, how close
are we to truly ‘Indian’ smart homes?
The future of smart homes lies in voicedriven, culturally adaptive automation. Natural language processing (NLP) is improving rapidly to accommodate not just Hindi or Tamil, but dozens of Indian dialects and accents. We’re integrating AI models that learn user preferences and behaviours—whether it’s adjusting lighting based on the time of day or playing a preferred music playlist. However, a truly seamless “Indian voice home”—one that intuitively understands linguistic nuance and cultural context—is still a work in progress. We are confident it’s on the near horizon.
Sustainability is now a mandate, not a choice. How are your smart home solutions aligned with India’s green goals?
Sustainability is deeply woven into our innovation roadmap. Smart metering, water leak detection, air quality monitoring, and energy load balancing are no longer “add-ons”—
they are integral features. Our projects have achieved measurable outcomes: energy savings of up to 20% and water wastage reductions of over 30% in certain residential complexes. Smart automation is not just about luxury—it’s about responsible, conscious living.
Older buildings are often seen as barriers to smart tech. How have you tackled retrofit challenges?
Retrofitting older homes is no longer an obstacle. With compact wireless devices like Confio and protocols like Z-Wave, Zigbee, and the emerging universal standard Matter, we can now automate homes with minimal civil work. Devices fit into existing switchboards, and wiring constraints are easily bypassed. This opens up a vast, untapped market—allowing even decades-old buildings to leap into the smart age.
Developers are increasingly embedding automation into projects. How early should smart planning begin, and how are you collaborating with them?
The earlier, the better. When automation is integrated during the design phase, we can
optimise wiring layouts, maximise system compatibility, and futureproof the development. We’ve partnered with leading developers, showcasing automated demo flats and even implementing community-wide solutions like VOIP and high-speed fibre connectivity. Today’s discerning buyers expect smart living—and we help developers deliver it effortlessly.
