iWorld
Must-listen audiobooks and must-watch movies celebrating friendship
Mumbai: Friends make good days better, bad days bearable and trips unforgettable. This Friendship Day don’t forget to cherish those who bring method to your madness, the ying to your yang and the ones who pick up your calls at 4 a.m.! This list of audio titles, films and web series captures the essence of each kind of friendship you have. This list is perfect for your Friendship Day marathon for the friends who are close as well as those miles away. Tune in for a fun Sunday binge with your buddies this Friendship Day.
Platform: Audible
Childhood friends feel like a warm cup of chai on a rainy day. Set on the shores of Sydney, this Audible Original is a coming-of-age story that follows three hopeful 20-somethings from Mangalore – Devan (Adarsh Gourav), Meenu (Prajakta Koli) and Rahul (Taaruk Raina) trying to learn surf-lifesaving skills at Coogee Beach in Australia. They are each facing their personal demons while trying to qualify as a team to earn the Bronze Medallion. But the good part is they have each other’s back on this wild trip! Listen to this funny and uplifting comedy about friendship, dream fulfilment, culture clash, and humanity, in English and Hindi, on Audible.
Platform: Audible
Adapted for screen as the film ‘Kai Po Che’, this audiobook written by Chetan Bhagat has been loved by all – readers and viewers alike! This story is of a young boy who dreams of owning a business and opening a cricket shop to accommodate his friend’s passion. But the odds are stacked against them. Nothing is easy in a turbulent city – religious politics, calamities and unacceptable love stand in the way of them realising their dream. Will this put their friendship to the test? Tune into this dark, witty tale about modern India, where the author brings the ethos and isolation of an entire generation to the fore.
Platform: Audible
‘No Man is an Island’ is a heartwarming collection of classic tales like ‘The Woman on Platform No. 8’, in which a mysterious stranger befriends a young boy, and ‘The Crooked Tree’, in which a writer and a hawker form an unlikely bond. Ruskin Bond, in his simple yet poignant style, writes about the many shades of friendship and camaraderie in this audiobook. Listen in for refreshing stories on friendship from India’s beloved author!
Platform: Audible
Ever thought about the conversations you could have with your best friends to take your friendship to a deeper level? Canadian comedians and actors Mae Martin and Sabrina Jalees are best friends of more than 20 years and they share the conversations friends should be having to truly get to know each other. Benefits with Friends deep dives into topics like money, gender, parenting, kink and shame. A must-listen with your best friend, this audio series will empower you to let go of your inhibitions and take your friendship a notch higher!
Platform: Amazon Prime
Asmara is sent to her grandparents’ neighbourhood as punishment. But she lies to her friends about being in Canada to save face. She is not happy about the traditional setting. But this punishment becomes a blessing in disguise when she finds genuine friendship, life lessons and a hint of romance in the neighbourhood. She is faced with the dilemma of either keeping her truth hidden or finding the courage to be herself. Tune in for a story of friendship, growth and twists!
Platform: Amazon Prime
Will that much-awaited Goa trip make it out of the group chat? Madgaon Express is a mad story of a trip which did! Dodo (Divyenndu), Ayush (Avinash Tiwary) and Pinku (Pratik Gandhi) are three childhood friends who wanted to go to Goa together. Bad decisions and bad luck have them deal with one tragedy after another but through it all, their friendship shines through. If you’re also a part of the ‘We are planning a trip to Goa’ gang, this film is bound to leave you in splits.
Platform: Netflix
Shared experiences bring people closer. That is what happened with Geeta (Tabu), Jasmine (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and Divya (Kriti Sanon) who are strapped for cash. Another thing they have in common is they work as flight attendants on Kohinoor Airlines. But as their luck would have it, it is only a matter of time before Kohinoor Airlines goes bankrupt. The trio covertly join in on a gold smuggling operation to get out of their sorry situation. Will they be successful or will they get caught? Tune in to watch this heist comedy and the series of events that unfold.
Platform: Netflix
From the makers of cult classics like ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, comes ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’, a story of three best friends juggling life as 20-somethings in Mumbai. This urban dramedy explores friendship, ambition, and love in the age of social media and its impact on our lives. Starring Adarsh Gourav, Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is a must-watch with friends, this film on modern friendships is relatable, packed with fun and drama and makes you ponder about how much of our life is controlled by social media perceptions.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
