iWorld
Twisted tales and edgy ends, VOOT Originals, ‘SHORTCUTS’ launches 12 must watch stories
MUMBAI: A tattoo that changes a regular man’s life, a mundane twist of the tap that spirals a boy in his past and a dead husband’s eyes that continues to suffocate a troubled wife, the 12-brand new short films by VOOT Originals ‘SHORTCUTS’ will challenge your imagination. Produced by Tipping Point (A Viacom18 Studios Production) an array of intense and off-beat thriller dramas is all set to give you a paraphernalia of emotions. Spread across multiple genres of drama, adventure and mystery with varied plots set across India, Voot will be your go-to entertainment destination for a rush of raw and edgy content.
An ensemble cast featuring, Barun Sobti, Mona Singh, Akshara Hasan along with directors such as Debatma Mandal and Vikas Chandra, VOOT is sure to entertain viewers from all over India.
Speaking about Shortcuts, Akash Banerji, Head Marketing and Partnerships, Viacom 18 Digital Ventures said “At VOOT we have been focused on providing high decibel engagement and an immersive content experience to our users. VOOT Original Shortcuts Produced by Tipping Point allows us to leverage synergies and add to the content diversity of VOOT. We are sure that the distinctive narrative and unique storytelling is sure to intrigue audiences and gather significant interest.”
Commenting on the launch, Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Studios said “The purpose of Tipping Point is to tell edgy, provocative stories and narratives missed out in the mainstream. These are targeted for personal consumption on a mobile or a tablet. Our maiden production for VOOT in the form of 12 exciting short films seeks to make a big impact amongst digital viewers with this eclectic bunch of stories”
The opening set of ‘SHORTCUTS’ will showcase Derma, Googly, Joy Ride, Bauma and Chacha and Cheetah’s trip starting 08th February 2019 followed by Glitch, Grey, Aun and Teaspoon going live on 15th February. The third tranche of short films on Voot will showcase Maya, On the Road and Red Velvet on 22nd February 2019.
Here’s a quick introduction to the first set of stories releasing on 08th February:
· DERMA – The story of a man whose life turns upside down after he gets a tattoo made by a mystical man in the mountains. The intriguing saga is a unique take on the circle of Karma.
· JOYRIDE – A road trip that takes Raunak amid the wilderness on an unusual road trip, ignoring the perils of a menacing folktale as challenged by his friend. What follows is an extraordinary tale of the unforeseen.
· BOUMA (Bengali) – Set in the heart of Kolkata, Bouma is the story of a middle-aged couple in the 1960s, living their mundane lives. A nagging husband is diagnosed with cancer and the wife agrees to donate his organs to his scientist friend after he dies. What she does with her husband’s still-conscious head after death culminates to a climax, which is both funny and dark.
· Chacha and Cheetah’s trip will take the protagonists on an adventure of a lifetime. It is a story of two marijuana enthusiasts who after smoking the mythical and legendary windmill joint take an unusual trip.
· Ishq Ki Googly – A story of a husband who plans to murder the illicit lover of his wife, but things go bizarrely out of plan, thereby compelling him to play this game of love.
· Teaspoon – Series of incidents become ingredients for a Molotov cocktail that leads to a disturbing end.
· Red Velvet – What happens when unusual incidents take place at a household when a ten-year-old boy enters home.
· On the Road – A story with unusual coincidences happening on a night drive of Aravind on the way home.
· AUN A(U)N USUAL DAY – Aun details the problem faced by a photographer against a tribal man who lacks wisdom due to the dearth of human interaction.
· Maya – Maya is the story of a young independent working woman living in Mumbai with her mother, who suffers from incontinence.
· Grey – A unique take on a murder, investigation between an autistic man and an inane cop.
· Glitch – An interesting tale of time traveling.
Launched in May 2018, ‘Tipping Point’ is the digital Content brand of Viacom18 Studios that focuses on creating contemporary, engaging and path breaking, content for online audiences. The brand extends the Viacom18 Studios’ ethos of unconventional narratives with a host of web series, short films and non-traditional formats.
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.
