iWorld
Stephen King’s The Long Walk steps onto digital screens
MUMBAI: One of Stephen King’s most chilling stories has found a new audience at home. The Long Walk has made its digital debut in India and is now available to rent across Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and YouTube for Rs. 149, following its release on December 8.
Set in a stark future where survival depends on never slowing down, the film follows 100 teenage boys forced into an annual endurance contest with brutal rules. Walk faster than three miles an hour or face warnings. Collect three, and you are eliminated for good. As the road stretches on, friendships form, nerves fray and every step becomes a gamble between hope and fear.
Adapted from King’s early novel, the film is directed by Francis Lawrence, best known for The Hunger Games franchise. It stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson and Mark Hamill, who bring emotional weight to a story that is as much about human connection as it is about cruelty.
After opening in Indian cinemas on September 12, 2025, The Long Walk earned strong reviews from critics and audiences alike. Now, viewers can take the journey from their sofas, no stamina required, just nerves of steel.
The Long Walk is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and YouTube.
iWorld
Anirudh Ravichander and Universal Music India join forces to take South India’s sound to the world
The composer behind 13 billion streams launches Albuquerque Records with UMI as its exclusive global partner
MUMBAI: Universal Music India has struck an exclusive partnership with Albuquerque Records, the freshly minted independent label of singer-composer Anirudh Ravichander, in a deal that bets big on South India’s booming pop and hip-hop scene going global.
The arrangement, announced on 17 March, will see Universal Music India handle future pop and hip-hop releases by Anirudh himself, as well as artists signed to the new label. A first release is already in the pipeline for April, featuring Anirudh.
The numbers behind the man are hard to ignore. Debuting in 2012 with the viral sensation “Why This Kolaveri Di”, Anirudh has since clocked over 13 billion audio streams across more than 770 tracks, cementing his position as the No.1 South Indian artist on Spotify by total streams. His fingerprints are all over some of the Tamil film industry’s biggest musical moments, from Hukum and Vaathi Coming to Arabic Kuthu and the A23 Theme.
But Albuquerque Records is a different beast. Built for the non-film space, it is designed to nurture independent talent and champion the next wave of Indian pop voices. “Universal Music India’s leadership in pop and hip-hop made them the natural partner,” said Anirudh. “I’m excited to take independent voices to audiences around the world.”
Universal Music India’s chairman and CEO Devraj Sanyal was equally effusive. “Anirudh represents the future of Indian music, bold, original, and with enormous potential,” he said. “Identifying transformative talent is our superpower, and this partnership reflects that belief.”
Sanujeet Bhujabal, managing director of Universal Music India, framed the deal as more than a distribution play. “Albuquerque Records represents Anirudh’s bold artistic vision in the world of pop and hip-hop,” he said. “True to his legacy of innovation, this partnership is set to establish yet another landmark creative space, this time for the emerging world of iPop and beyond.”
For Universal Music India, the deal deepens a long-running push into South India’s four key language markets: Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu. The label already has regional imprints, film partnerships with Maddock Films and Excel Entertainment, and a growing non-film roster. Landing Anirudh, arguably the south’s most bankable music brand, is a statement of intent. South Indian music has the streams. Now it is coming for the world.
