Category: iWorld

Mumbai: iTap and HumaraMovie have launched a new OTT show, Ex-Mates. The show depicts the drama of a breakup that spirals out of control. Shreya Prasad and Kunal Kulkarni break up due to the toxicity of their relationship, but things take a dramatic turn when the prime minister declares a nationwide lockdown.

While celebrating her freedom, Shreya soon realises that due to the lockdown, she will have to put up with her toxic boyfriend, who has been trapped a few floors below her, for another 14 days. They make a pact to divide the house and chores in order to make life easier, only for things to spiral out of control.

Ex-mates is a show for the modern age, brought to you in collaboration with One More Studios and created by Vibhav Ameta. With a total of seven episodes spanning 14 days, prepare to witness chaos in the best way possible as a toxic couple navigates their daily lives cut off from the rest of the world. The highly anticipated first episode of Ex-mates was released on the iTap app on 13 December, which can be downloaded from the Google App Store, and the HumaraMovie YouTube channel, followed by two episodes released every alternate day.

Speaking on this launch, an iTap spokesperson said, “We are eagerly looking forward to the launch of Ex-mates. We are certain that the audience will receive the show very well due to its humorous and strikingly realistic nature. Nowadays, the audience wants content that they can relate to, something that they can identify with, and we feel like this show is the perfect embodiment of that.”

Ex-mates creator Vibhav Gupta stated, “I had a vision when I created this show, I wanted to portray chaos and uncertainty in a humorous and lighthearted way. Lockdown changed lives for everyone, and it gave me the perfect opportunity to showcase that chaos and isolation in the show. I am very certain that the audience reaction will be one of appreciation and astonishment to this show.”

Mumbai: Prime Video, in collaboration with Dharma Productions and Leo Media Collective, announced that it will co-produce a new movie for theatrical release. The currently untitled movie features Vicky Kaushal in the lead and is directed by Anand Tiwari and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra, and Anand Tiwari.

The film also features Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk in pivotal roles and is scheduled for a theatrical release on 28 July 2023. Following the theatrical release, the film will be available for streaming for Prime members in India and in more than 240 countries and territories.

The Vicky Kaushal-starrer is the second theatrical co-production that Prime Video is associated with Dharma Productions. The move marks Prime Video’s commitment to the growth of the content ecosystem in India by joining forces with the best storytellers in the country.

“As the first choice of entertainment, our aim is to super-serve our delightfully diverse customers in India with local stories that they can enjoy on any screen of their choice. We are committed to the growth of the Indian film industry, and our recent foray into co-productions is a perfect example of this,” said Prime Video, India vice president Gaurav Gandhi.

“Our association with Dharma for theatrical co-productions is a perfect extension of our existing deep association that includes licenced movies, direct-to-service premieres, and Indian originals across both series and films. After announcing Yodha as our first co-production, we are now thrilled to announce Anand Tiwari’s film as our next co-production with them. I am confident that Prime Video and Dharma Productions will together continue to deliver world-class cinematic experiences to viewers within India as well as across the globe.” he added.

Dharma Productions’ Karan Johar said, “Anand Tiwari’s upcoming film is special on several counts. It is helmed by a master storyteller, features Vicky Kaushal, a National Film Award-winning actor, and is also a natural progression of our association with Prime Video. Together with Prime Video, we have delivered some of the most memorable stories to audiences around the world. From direct-to-service premieres of Shershaah and Gehraiyaan, to giving a global reach to our theatrical ventures when they are released on streaming, the worldwide success of our films is a testament to the strength of our association with Prime Video. We are thrilled to be collaborating with them across the spectrum of storytelling—licensing, original series, original movies, and now theatrical co-productions.”

The announcement fortifies the successful, half-a-decade-long association between Prime Video and Dharma Productions. Prime Video’s expansive content library features multiple licensed Dharma classics that have acquired massive fan-following over the years, with several new films scheduled to release on the service post their theatrical release. In the last two years, Prime Video launched the highly successful movies Shershaah and Gehraiyaan, directly on the service, serving audiences in 240+ countries and territories. Taking a step further, earlier in the year, Prime Video also announced a slate of original series and movies with Dharmatic Entertainment.

“Dharma Productions has a history of successful storytelling, and we are proud to have played an important role in taking their best stories to the world,” said Prime Video, India director of content licensing, Manish Menghani.

“This step of foraying further into theatrical co-productions will serve to strengthen our partnership and collective commitment to bringing the best content to our customers, across the world. We are excited to work with the best creative voices in the country to co-create stories that leave an everlasting impression on their viewers. Anand’s untitled next film features stellar talent in front of and behind the camera. We are truly excited to embark on this new journey and see where it takes us,” he added.

Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta said, “Anand Tiwari’s upcoming film is an eclectic mix of drama, emotions, and a dash of comedy that will leave the audiences gleaming. With a stellar cast like Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri, and Ammy Virk, the film is the perfect summer entertainer, and we can’t wait for audiences to watch it in theatres. We are delighted to collaborate with Prime Video on two theatrical films. In Prime Video, we have found a partner that not only shares our vision of offering engaging cinematic experiences but also provides global distribution for the best stories from the Indian entertainment ecosystem. Through these collaborations, we will further nurture our successful deep association with Prime Video.”

Leo Media Collective is also a co-producer of the upcoming Vicky Kaushal film. Co-founded by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, Leo Media Collective has become synonymous with premium-quality, coming-of-age content in the entertainment space. Though he began his career working in Hollywood, Amritpal’s love for Indian content brought him back to India to create Indian content for global audiences. With vast experience in the world of films, advertising, and theatre, Anand Tiwari too has created a niche for himself in the entertainment industry.

Talking about the upcoming film, Leo Media Collective founders Anand Tiwari and Amritpal Singh Bindra said, “We are excited to make our theatrical debut working alongside two of the biggest champions of storytelling in India – Prime Video and Dharma. The film is wholesome entertainment. We are certain that the audiences will love watching a story that hasn’t been told before. We are also excited to partner with Prime Video once again. Together, we have delivered two of the most differentiated stories in recent times – Maja Ma and Bandish Bandits. At the same time, we are looking forward to working with the team at Dharma Productions. The coming together of three entities that have shared values in storytelling and content makes this film even more special.”

Mumbai: Esports and live game streaming platform Loco on Thursday announced the elevation of Firasat Durrani, currently VP of operations, and Chetan Dhembre, currently CTO, to co-founders of the company. By bolstering its core leadership, Loco is aiming to consolidate its position in the gaming ecosystem and provide the Indian gaming community with cutting-edge products and services.

Durrani, who joined Loco in 2020 when it launched its live streaming platform, has been leading Loco’s content supply and operations functions, from creator and content acquisition to publisher partnerships. Meanwhile, Dhembre, who came on board in 2018, has built Loco’s best-in-class engineering team, which has designed and delivered a product for Loco’s users.

Durrani said, “New beginnings are always exciting, and I am elated and honoured to step into this new role as co-founder at Loco. Loco has come a long way in the last two years, from humble beginnings to becoming the world’s leading independent esports and live streaming platform today. Having witnessed this incredible transition firsthand, I am confident that our amazing team will continue to be trailblazers as we move forward, leading and pushing the boundaries of gaming entertainment. With many exciting new developments in the pipeline, I look forward to what 2023 has in store for us.”

Dhembre said, “Having been part of Loco for over half a decade, I am honoured to be named the co-founder. I am proud of what we have achieved so far and am excited for the future. Loco has grown exponentially from its humble beginnings to becoming one of the most sought-after tech companies in the esports and live streaming spaces. Looking ahead, we plan to introduce cutting-edge technology and even more features on the platform for an effortless and unified user experience. With one of the most talented product and technology teams in the country, we are well-equipped to tackle any challenges that come our way.”

Loco founders Anirudh Pandita and Ashwin Suresh said, “We are delighted to welcome Firasat and Chetan as co-founders of Loco. With their wealth of knowledge, expertise, and extensive experience in their respective fields, 2023 will be an exciting time for the company. Their continued contribution has been integral to Loco’s growth. We are confident that in their new roles, they will be instrumental in taking Loco to the pinnacle of the esports and gaming streaming entertainment industries worldwide. These appointments demonstrate Loco’s commitment to investing in and strengthening its leadership team and provide a promising foundation for its journey ahead.”

Mumbai: NXTCONCLAVE 2022 was organised by NXTDIGITAL, the digital media division of Hinduja Global Solutions, which is a Hinduja Group company, and brought together notable business leaders to exchange ideas and knowledge. The event was attended by leading and independent digital platform operators (DPOs) from all over India.

The event began with a welcome address by Hinduja Global Solutions’ whole-time director and NXTDIGITAL CEO Vynsley Fernandes, who discussed the goals of NXTCONCLAVE 2022. The event’s theme was “Digital Transformation Through the 3Cs: Connect, Converge, and Collaborate.” On the sidelines of the conclave, Vynsley pointed out, “The media industry is founded on innovation and evolution. We at NXTDIGITAL have been spearheading that change by launching new products and solutions based on new tech. The fortunes of the entire industry are tied to each other, so we thought it imperative to set up this conclave to discuss the changing paradigm. We’re delighted that DPOs from across India chose to join us today; to figure out ways to grow and collaborate together as an industry.”

The event’s opening session was titled “State of the Indian M&E Industry: Talking Data.” KPMG associate partner Vibhor Gauba and associate vice president Poulomi Chakraborty delivered the presentation. They displayed a recent KPMG report that characterised the Indian television market as still being a goliath with plenty of space for expansion, particularly in rural India.

In the second discussion, which was titled “Emerging Technology Trends – Bhai, Kya Hai Yeh Metaverse?” Accenture’s global IT Enterprise Metaverse Lead  Ashwin D’Silva, JetSynthesys’ chief strategy officer Girish Menon and NXTDIGITAL’s chief technology officer Ru Ediriwira discussed the future-shaping emerging technologies that could help industry players understand the possibilities of a metaverse and plan business strategies.

In the third session, NXTDIGITAL COO N K Rouse and NXTDIGITAL’s content & solutions advisor, Mukund Sharma, discussed “The new digital savvy consumer: What does she want?” with management college students Shiwank, Vernika, and Rehaan. Students were polled about their daily content consumption and the mediums on which they prefer to watch specific content. It ended with the unveiling of the beta OTT aggregator app from NXTDIGITAL, called NXTPLAY.

The fourth discussion focused on the topic “Increasing digital adoption—time for true convergence,” with speakers—Aabo founder, serial entrepreneur, mentor, and guide Atul Himani; industry expert Gaurav Babbar; and OneOTT Intertainment Ltd. (OIL) COO Sanjeev Agarwal—discussing how digital adoption is pushing the industry toward convergence. The main focus of the session was on how important digital adoption is and how stakeholders will benefit the business if they understand it as soon as possible.

OIL’s chief business officer Sameer Kanse briefed the audience on broadband over satellite and NXTSkyFi. He went on to moderate the session titled “The Enterprise Business: Leveraging Capabilities and Infrastructure for Growth,” which featured YES Bank’s chief information officer Mahesh Ramamoorthy and IndusInd Bank’s senior vice president and infrastructure head Mustafa Shaikh, who discussed the enterprise-class requirements of the sector and what is expected from DPOs to meet the same.

NXTDIGITAL’s learning and development head Alka Tiwari, along with Sharon George (NIIT) and Subeer Sarkar (a cable partner from Allahabad), gave a presentation on the topic “Upgrading Digital Skill Sets: Now a Necessity,” in which she explained how NXTDIGITAL provides training for industry stakeholders to upskill themselves with new digital technologies through a national training programme called NXT Sangram.

The day-long event concluded with the final session, titled “Value Creation: Collaboration is the Key,” in which NXTDIGITAL CEO Vynsley Fernandes, Indiantelevision.com group founder, CEO & editor-in-chief Anil NM Wanvari, EY partner (M&E) Ashish Pherwani, and Elara Capital senior vice president Karan Taurani discussed how value creation is the key and how cost optimisation could be a driver. They agreed on how connecting, convergent thinking, and collaborating will help all industry players in the long run.

Mumbai: Ollang, a US-headquartered global player in the content localisation industry using artificial intelligence (AI) audio solutions, has announced its foray into the Indian market. In addition to expanding its footprint in the country, the company is looking to create a talent pool of AI-dubbing experts. The global brand, which has been bringing dubbed video and audio content to viewers in more than 60 languages, is also on the lookout for professionals in the domain of closed captions and subtitles.

The platform enables TV channels, online video streaming channels, production companies, e-learning platforms, and content creators to ensure that their AV content gets a global reach. This time it has come to India with its state-of-the-art AI-enabled content localisation platform, OLabs, that will need more than 1,000 AI dubbing demos and about 100 active AI dubbers at all times. The projects on which the editors and experts work will come from all over the world, so the language used may vary from Spanish to French to Turkish, among other things.

Ollang co-founder and CEO Ebru Yıldırım said, “The first step is translation, which is done by a professional translator, and the second step is AI dubbing, wherein the AI dubbing editors fix the voices and lip sync. It is also an excellent earning opportunity for professionals working or aspiring to work in the niche future-oriented domain, as they may earn up to $120 for working on approximately one hour of content.”

She also stated that, while demand for English AI-dubbing is currently at its peak, the growth-oriented company plans to scale up and add a few more languages over the next six months. “The major task is to ensure lip sync that is done with AI; otherwise, a simple dub makes the same content jarring to the eyes due to a lack of sync between audio and video. Furthermore, the AI-enabled dubbing process ensures quick turnaround time for projects, reliable work, and the potential for better results.”

Mumbai: MX Player’s content arm – MX Studios, in partnership with Bada Business, is set to introduce India’s next big business tycoons in an interesting quiz show – Business Baazi. Acknowledging and testing the potential of commerce and business school students, this unconventional quiz show will be hosted by Aparshakti Khurana. The show will feature comedian Dr. Sanket Bhosale, who will entertain audiences with gags and mimicry in his various avatars.

It will be available on MX Player beginning 16 December 2022. Renowned business coach Dr. Vivek Bindra will appear as a start-up guru on the show.

The reality quiz show will feature three teams of two students from different schools/colleges in each episode, determining one winner at the end of it. In a total of 13 episodes, nine episodes will be qualifying rounds (hosting 27 teams over the span of the series), three episodes will be the semifinals, and one will be the grand finale that will crown the ultimate winner who takes home the trophy and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs.

Commenting on the collaboration, Bada Business CEO and founder Dr. Vivek Bindra said, “Business Baazi was conceptualised with an aim to ensure that learning about business is fun and engaging. We are thrilled about our collaboration with MX Studios as MX Player is the perfect platform for this initiative to reach out to India’s diverse audience with our fresh, relevant, and universally appealing content.”

Leveraging consumer insights to drive creative excellence that caters to its audience’s needs, MX Studios has entered a three-show deal with Bada Business.

Speaking about this show and the deal, MX Studios content & creative head Suresh Menon said, “MX Studios has been effectively delivering brand messaging through engaging, innovative, and relevant solutions. Quiz shows have always been popular with viewers across the globe, and at MX Studios, we believe our audiences are ready to consume content of diverse genres. Our three-show content partnership with Bada Business, is a step in this direction, and the first show is Business Baazi, a unique quiz show that will test the business acumen and knowledge of our young students while educating them with business insights. The show is for all aspiring/budding entrepreneurs, and we hope it strikes a chord as we continue to cater to our audiences with quality offerings and further bolster relationships with them.”

The Business Baazi trailer acquaints the audience with the degree of intellectuality as it tests the contestant’s knowledge of Indian and international business affairs. It introduces viewers to ace presenter Aparshakti Khurana while also providing comic relief in the form of Dr. Sanket Bhosale, who, unlike other quiz shows, adds a fun twist to the episode. But above all, Business Baazi insinuates the importance of nurturing the potential that today’s youth carry with them.

On hosting this interesting quiz show, Khurana commented, “To be honest, I have hosted many shows, but Business Baaziwas hands down the most challenging and phenomenal experience of them all. These young minds hold a depth of knowledge, and I believe it is so very important to recognise and nurture this talent, the future of India.”

Adding to this, Bhosale mentioned, “I loved the idea of adding a comedy segment to this fascinating quiz show, it really brings a smile to the faces of these bright students, and more so, it really adds a hatke twist to the format of the show. The craze for studying and making something of their lives is so much sharper in this generation, and I am glad I could be a part of Bada Business and MX Player’s vision of encouraging and recognising the efforts of these young students. Me being a doctor loved to give the best medicine (laughter) on the show.”

Mumbai: The short video platform space has exploded and expanded in the last few years. It’s not the future. It’s the present. At present, most creators have embraced and explored in a way we haven’t seen before. It has also given life to many apps and platforms catering to the needs of budding creators. These are exciting times, and Tiki has been pivotal in this growth. Not just with the content but also by helping build a local creator community with the necessary tools.

According to a recent study, 59 per cent of gen-z use short-form video apps to discover things before exploring longer versions. The short video space has never been short of options, and there are many homegrown apps playing their trade too. The buggy UI, underwhelming experience, and lack of support for tier-II and tier-III city creators limit them to a small bunch of top-level influencers from metropolises. There has been a general lack of compassion on social media – a void Tiki aims to, and has somewhat, been able to fill quite successfully. Tiki offers an accessible platform for the creators to interact seamlessly online and help build on a community via offline meetups.

With these meetups, creators help each other understand the latest trends and techniques for creating quality short-form videos. The community brings them together and gives them a sense of belonging. It will help expand the creator community and give them opportunities to make a difference in society.

Through the meetups voluntarily organised by them, the creators feel:

A sense of belonging when they are familiar with other creators.

A sense of appreciation when they get recognised for their effort and achievement.

A sense of support when they know that they are growing as a creator and making an impact.

Tiki believes that a platform is only as good as its creators. These emotions help them find a home. Tiki is built on the collective power of its creators’ creative energy. To incentivize people to form and organise themselves into tribes, Tiki aims to tap into the intrinsic human desire to be recognized. The Tiki creator community allows the creators to represent the platform and be ambassadors for Tiki. In a span of six months, Tiki has gone from two meetups per month to over 700 by July 2022. All these meetups are organised through a structured process of event organisation, activity curation, and event documentation. Up until now, over 5,000 offline creator meetups in 22 states and 200+ cities all over the country have been organised. The idea of Tiki meetups was sown and germinated by the creators, and its positive results have been reaped by the creators. It’s an open, inclusive, and self-evolving community that also aims to give back to a larger community—our society. The Tiki community has made an impact in their real-life community and helped over 20,000 people in need.

These events are also an opportunity to identify leaders through the Tiki City Ambassador (TCA) program. Tiki provides financial and promotional support for elected leaders who promise to organise and bring people together. To date, 15 registered Tiki community ambassadors across the country are organising two grade-A events per month. Relationships are strengthened with every online and offline interaction, and the Tiki Family Guilds achieve an impressive 97 per cent day one retention rate and 90 per cent active participation rate. This is consistent even as the total Family G membership doubles in size every month.

This means that the community is achieving its objectives both in depth and breadth. Increasing creator stickiness while expanding its reach to cover new and aspiring creators.

The opportunities for creators exploring short video applications in India are endless. Tiki has created an atmosphere of inclusivity and uniqueness for the creator community that needs to be leveraged to achieve the larger goal of making India a hub of talent. Creators need to come forward and leverage new opportunities, as the future of Tiki will be led by the creator community.

The author of this article is Tiki CEO Ian Goh.

Mumbai: Half Pants Full Pants, Prime Video’s latest comedy-drama, will be available on the service beginning 16 December. The eight-episode, lighthearted series features joyful childhood memories and promises to be a delightfully nostalgic ride. The series, directed by V. K. Prakash and produced by OML Studios, stars child actors Ashwanth Ashokkumar and Kartik Vijan and renowned actors Ashish Vidyarthi and Sonali Kulkarni.

Adapted from Anand Suspi’s eponymous book, Half Pants Full Pants is set in a small town in South India before the age of the internet and mobile phones, where the adventurous and ambitious seven-year-old boy Anand, aka Dabba, lives. He and his friend, the obedient and well-mannered Giddi, embark on adventures that will warm the hearts of audiences and make them long for the good old simple days of mischief and innocence.

Commenting on the launch, director V. K. Prakash said, “Half Pants Full Pants is an experience that takes us back to a simpler time where life was untouched by technology and yet sparkling with wonder. Through the story of Dabba, his family, and friends, the series captures the magic of childhood in a period without phones or the internet—an unhurried pace of life that we often yearn for.”

He continued, “The cast and crew unanimously gravitated towards telling this story because of its simplicity and innocence. We cannot wait to share this with the world.”

OML Entertainment content creative head of OTT, Akansh Gaur said, “We are extremely excited to associate with Prime Video for this series and bring it to audiences across the world. Half Pants Full Pants is a wholesome show that will resonate with viewers because of its universal theme of exploring childhood nostalgia in the 1980s,”

“The joy of discovery and the fickleness of dreams told through the eyes of a seven-year-old is something that we believe will engage viewers. We are looking forward to everyone being taken back to the warmth of their childhood by watching this show, ” he added.