iWorld
Prime Video’s unscripted original series Follow Kar Lo Yaar to premiere on 23 August
Follow Kar Lo Yaar is an unabashed viewpoint into the curious and exciting life of social media sensation – Uorfi Javed
Produced under the banner of Sol Productions Pvt Ltd by Fazila Allana and Kamna Menezes and directed by Sandeep Kukreja, the nine-episode Hindi reality-follow series will premiere on August 23 in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide
Mumbai: Prime Video has announced the premiere date for its unscripted original series, Follow Kar Lo Yaar. The nine-episode series, produced by Sol Productions’, Fazila Allana and Kamna Menezes and directed by Sandeep Kukreja, is an unfiltered and immersive viewpoint into the life of Uorfi Javed. Follow Kar Lo Yaar is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in India and over 240 countries and territories worldwide on 23 August in Hindi with subtitles in English. Follow Kar Lo Yaar is the latest addition to the Prime membership.
Follow Karlo Yaar will immerse the audience in the world of Uorfi, constantly pursued by the limelight, while also providing an unfiltered glimpse into all the drama behind the scenes. Beyond the glitz and glamour, beyond the filters on the gram, beyond the bizarre social posts and stories, the unscripted series bares the raw, unvarnished truth about her life outside of social media, her arduous journey, overcoming countless hurdles, her rise to fame, her relentless pursuit of fame and fortune, and the intricate dynamics of her dysfunctional family life.
“Stories of resilience and ambition will always find resonance with the audience, and Uorfi’s journey from an ordinary girl in Lucknow to one of the most recognizable faces of the country is nothing short of inspiring. Her story is defined by her unwavering determination and passion to carve her unique path in the world of fashion and entertainment as she ascends from her humble beginnings to becoming a social media sensation and a serious entrepreneur,” said Prime Video, India head of originals Nikhil Madhok. “Together with Sol and director Sandeep Kukreja, we are delighted to present Follow Kar Lo Yaar, a compelling and captivating reality-follow series that will certainly appeal to a global audience.”
Sol Productions Pvt Ltd’s Fazila Allana and Kamna Menezes said, “We are thrilled to partner with Prime Video for Follow Kar Lo Yaar, presenting the intriguing and riveting journey of Uorfi Javed. From an outsider to becoming Asia’s most searched celebrity in 2022, her life and backstory have been a curious case for years, as she continues to make headlines and heads turn. We are confident that Prime Video’s audience in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide will deeply appreciate and connect with Uorfi’s compelling story, which not only entertains but also inspires and embodies resilience.”
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.
