iWorld
Y-Films’ launches Love Shots fifth short film ‘Fired’
MUMBAI: Y-Films has launched a new film titled Fired, the fifth film in a series of six. The film premieres on Yotube today, 4 April 2016. Fired has Salim Merchant and Tillotama Shome.
Love Shots is an anthology of six short films that explore love in every form, shape and stage in life. It features an absolute never-before coming together of some of the most exciting actors playing delightful characters including Nimrat Kaur, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Salim Merchant, Tillotama Shome, Saqib Saleem, Shweta Tripathi, Farida Jalal, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rhea Chakraborty, Saba Azad and Mohit Marwah, Swanand Kirkire, Shubham Tukaram, Shravani Desai among others. And the soundtrack features 6 original songs by some of the freshest upcoming musicians of today showcasing a range of genres. The 6 music videos will be attached to each individual short film and have been directed by Shraddha Pasi Jairath.
Directed by Ankur Tewari, the film Fired tells the story of a young upwardly mobile couple where the wife who’s in a corporate job is fired and meets her chef husband who makes a shocking revelation of his own. The short also features a unique Hindi jazz song as part of the original soundtrack composed and performed by Subhi Khanna.
“I never thought that acting is such an involved art form until I actually started preparing for it. Being a composer and scoring for films like Ab tak Chappan and Chak De! India, among others, I always followed the actor’s timing to know where to score and where not to and I was intrigued with the idea of acting. I’m fortunate to have Ankur (director) and Tillotama who is such a fine actress to spend hours doing readings and workshops preparing for my character”, added Merchant.
Director Ankur Tewari said, “It was amazing working with Salim. He was acting for the first time and he surprised me with his acting abilities. I never thought he would be as good an actor as a musician. Tillotama was amazing as always. They both set off each other’s chemistry very well. The story was quite interesting as well, as it deals with the highs and lows of a relationship, and shows the dark patches that every couple goes through and has to overcome.”
The music for Love Shots is available on Wynk music for a period of 3 days before its release.
“Airtel has been a pioneer in the Indian telecom industry and is leading the 4G growth story in the country. Smartphones and fast mobile internet have transformed the way we consume content, with video emerging as the most popular form. Consumers, in particular, the multi-tasking youth, are looking for engaging video content to snack on and we believe Love Shots from YRF will set a new benchmark in short storytelling. As the leading smartphone network, Airtel is very excited to be a part of this innovative project”, added Airtel director consumer business Srini Gopalan.
Watch the 5th short film ‘Fired’ from Love Shots here:
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
