iWorld
Sunil Raina calls the shots as new managing director at Lava International
MUMBAI: Sunil Raina has officially taken the reins as managing director at Lava International, stepping into the hot seat after a stellar 15-year rise through the ranks at the homegrown mobile brand.
From leading marketing at Xolo to steering strategy as president and business head, and most recently serving as executive director, Raina has been the driving force behind Lava’s brand identity, market expansion, and product innovation over the years.
His journey with the company began in 2010 as chief marketing officer, and since then, he’s been pivotal in Lava’s evolution from an emerging player to a Make in India torchbearer.
With earlier stints at Telenor, Reliance Communications, Airtel, and Tata Teleservices, Raina’s telecom roots run deep. His marketing chops and GTM savvy are expected to play a key role as Lava navigates India’s fiercely competitive smartphone battleground.
Industry insiders say Raina’s elevation signals a renewed push for domestic dominance and global ambition, as the brand looks to consolidate its positioning against Chinese rivals and double down on manufacturing, design, and distribution.
As the handset wars heat up, all eyes are on how Lava’s homegrown hero plans to dial up growth—and ring in a fresh era of desi disruption.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
