iWorld
Disney+ Hotstar strengthens regional offering with new Malayalam titles
Mumbai: As a part of its content expansion plans, Disney+ Hotstar is set to bring the magic of Malayalam cinema to viewers across the country. The OTT streaming platform has announced new Malayalam titles featuring popular stars such as Dulquer Salmaan, Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and many others.
According to a recent FICCI-EY report, regional cinema is growing rapidly. The report charted the growth of video OTT subscribing households to grow from 40 million in 2021 to 60 million by 2024 with regional films and shows becoming a big pull for OTT viewers.
The report also revealed that Malayalam is rising as one of the top streaming languages across different OTT platforms.
Here’s a look at some of the top Mollywood titles available on the platform:
“Lalitham Sundaram“
Surrounding the event of their mother’s funerals, three siblings lost in their fast-paced worlds reconnect and find their way back to family in this enduring family drama directed by Madhu Warrier. Starring Manju Warrier, Biju Menon, and Anu Mohan, Zarina Wahab, the film also features a melodious score sung by Bombay Jayasree.
“Hridayam“
Charting a young man’s rough childhood and the wrong turns he took, “Hridayam,” directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, is a coming-of-age film. Starring Pranav Mohanlal, Kalyani Priyadarshan and Darshana Rajendran, the film is set to get a Hindi remake by Bollywood director Karan Johar.
“Bro Daddy“
A family drama revolving around the lives of two Christian families in Kerala and their youngest secretly being in a live-in relationship makes the premise of this beloved film. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, it stars, Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran with Lalu Alex, Meena, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Kaniha, Unni Mukundan, Jagadish, Mallika Sukumaran and Soubin Shahir in supporting roles.
“Bangalore Days“
An endearing tale of finding love, sustaining friendships and forming bonds that last forever, this Anjali Menon directorial is considered one of the finest of Malayalam films. Starring Nazriya Nazim, Nivin Pauly, Dulquer Salmaan, Fahadh Faasil, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Isha Talwar and Paris Laxmi, it has won several accolades following its release in 2014.
“Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham“
Can a pair of gold rings gifted out of love ever land you in trouble? “Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham,” a satire film written and directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduva explores just that. Starring Nivin Pauly, Grace Antony, Vinay Forrt, Sudheesh, Jaffar Idukki, Joy Mathew, Vincy Aloshious, Sivadasan Kannur, and Rajesh Madhavan, this film makes daylight of a chaotic mess.
“Premam“
Written, directed and edited by Alphonse Puthren, “Premam” is a coming-of-age romance that explores a young man’s journey across failed relationships, rekindled love, and finding purpose. A delightful watch, the film stars Nivin Pauly, Sai Pallavi, Madonna Sebastian, Anupama Parameswaran, Shabareesh Varma, Krishna Sankar, Ananth Nag, Siju Wilson, and others.
“Ustad Hotel“
Revolving around failed dreams, burning passion, and a love for food, “Ustad Hotel,” directed by Anwar Rasheed, is your typical warm-hearted Sunday watch that brings a big smile to your face. Starring Dulquer Salmaan, Thilakan, Nithya Menen, Siddique, Mamukkoya, and Lena in supporting roles, this film figures high on the Malayalam film watch list.
“North 24 Kaatham“
An adventure drama film written and directed by debutant Anil Radhakrishnan Menon, this film features prominent actors Fahadh Faasil, Nedumudi Venu, and Swathi Reddy and is known for its beautiful musical scores.
Gaming
Nodwin Gaming partners with Runestone for esports data and integrity solutions
South Asian esports leader joins forces with Czech tech firm to enhance tournament operations.
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has just levelled up its game by bringing in a specialist to keep the scoreboard honest and the fans fully engaged. The leading South Asian esports and gaming company has announced a strategic partnership with Runestone, a Prague-headquartered esports technology firm specialising in real-time data and engagement solutions for tournament organisers and publishers.
The collaboration aims to strengthen competitive integrity, improve operational oversight, and deliver more interactive viewing experiences across Nodwin’s properties. It will initially focus on the Nodwin Clutch Series for Counter-Strike 2, a Tier 2 tournament that provides emerging teams with consistent competitive opportunities and helps build the talent pipeline.
The latest edition of the series recently concluded with Big defeating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the grand final of the $50,000 online event.
Nodwin Gaming chief business officer at MENA and global head of data monetization Teemu Koski said, “Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs.”
Runestone head of partnerships Michael Schwartz added, “Nodwin Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets. We’re thrilled to collaborate on supporting tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable tools.”
Both companies are exploring opportunities to extend the partnership across additional titles, including mobile-first competitive ecosystems, and to develop new products for publishers, tournament operators, and event promoters.
In the rapidly growing world of esports, where fair play and fan excitement are equally crucial, Nodwin Gaming and Runestone are teaming up to ensure every match is not only competitive but also transparent and engaging. This alliance could well become a game-changer for Tier 2 tournaments across South Asia and beyond.
