iWorld
Atrangii gets Fast and furious on smart TVs with Amagi in the driver’s seat
MUMBAI: Atrangii, the OTT maverick known for its edgy dramas and steamy thrillers, has fired the next salvo in the streaming wars by launching its Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (Fast) channels on LG and Xiaomi smart TVs. With cloud playout and distribution powered by Amagi’s broadcast stack, Atrangii has become the first Indian OTT platform to plug into LG’s Fast universe with a full-blown Hindi general entertainment channel.
This move marks a turning point in Atrangii’s bid to dominate passive viewing, offering no-login, always-on Hindi content with a TV-like experience. It’s also a savvy pivot into the Fast lane, an ecosystem poised to rake in over $12bn globally by 2027, without shelling out for fresh production. Atrangii is playing it smart: recycling its spicy library of cult originals like NCR, KINK 2, Chitta Ve, and Sabse Bada Rupaiya, alongside devotional blockbusters like Jai Mahalakshmi and Shri Tirupati Balaji.
Prashant Nigam, VP revenue for Atrangii said, “At Atrangii, our mission is to lead with innovation while remaining true to our storytelling roots. Collaborating with Amagi and launching on LG and Xiaomi is not just a technological upgrade, it’s a revolution in how our audience consumes content. Fast removes barriers like subscriptions and logins, delivering our deep content library directly to viewers in a way that feels intuitive and accessible. We’re excited to be at the forefront of the Hindi-language Fast revolution.”
A spokesperson from LG added, “At LG, we’ve always believed in meaningful innovation that enriches customer experience. By bringing Atrangii’s dynamic and diverse content to LG Channels, we’re not only enriching our Fast offering but also giving our audience more ways to access quality Indian entertainment without the subscription barriers. This collaboration strengthens LG’s commitment to delivering compelling, accessible content to its users.”
More platforms are revving up. TCL and Runn TV are next, with Yupp and CloudWalker under the hood in testing. The Fast channel also has its eyes set on the global diaspora, with international platform launches on the anvil.
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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.
