iWorld
Feel the action and the thrill on #WeekendBingeonMX
MUMBAI: 1,50,000 hrs of content, multiple formats and spread across 10 regional languages – MX Player boasts one of the biggest online streaming libraries of the country. With an answer to every entertainment need of the discerning viewer, the platform is all set to regale you with 2 intense web series – action drama Madhuri Talkies and psychological thriller Damaged 2. This #WeekendBingeonMX – feel the action and the thrill as Damaged 2 brings forth twisted secrets that shatter myths while Madhuri Talkies is a hard-hitting revenge drama that will make you believe in the power of an individual.
MX Original Series ‘Madhuri Talkies’ is a neo-noir set in the heartlands of Benares, where crimes against women and political tyranny rule the roost. Starring TV actors Sagar Wahi and Aishwarya Sharma in the lead, the series traces the journey of a man’s thirst for avenging his true love who was brutally violated by a gang of political aides. Madhuri Talkies has its share of cliffhangers and is perfect for action buffs who seek a rush of adrenaline. The series is produced for Applause Entertainment by Elio Motion Pictures, co-produced by Arvind Babbal Productions and directed by Arvind Babbal that will go live on MX Player – starting 17th January, 2020.
Damaged 2 is psychological thriller revolving around the lives of Gauri Batra (Hina Khan) and Akash Batra (Adhyayan Suman) who run a homestay together. While all may seem idyllic in their beautiful guest house, things begin to unravel when a little girl visiting the homestay goes missing. As the prime suspects, Gauri and Akash’s twisted life comes under the scanner and their secrets soon become public.
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.
