iWorld
ALTBalaji to launch its first Tamil show ‘Maya Thirrai’
MUMBAI: ALTBalaji has announced the release of its first Tamil show- Maya Thirrai, with its 16 episodes available on ALTBalaji platform. To mark ALTBalaji’s entry into Tamil regional entertainment space, Ekta Kapoor brought together distinguished team of director Kaushik Narasimhan and producer Kutty Padmini.
Maya Thirrai, which means illusions, is a mysterious tale of a woman named Sandhya, tangled in her own reality. Despite having everything, she always felt a void and finally after years of waiting, she bumps into the handsome Prakash, who comes with a promise of all she ever wanted, but her picture-perfect marriage was nothing but just an illusion.
Alt Balaji CEO Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “With the expansion of internet and smartphones, the way audience consumes entertainment has changed drastically. ALTBalaji is targeting urban masses in over 60 cities, reaching out to about 75 million people via our app. The online entertainment option available to this section is either to watch non-Indian English or Hindi shows. There is definitely a gap here and a huge potential which could be tapped with our exclusive regional shows. ALTBalaji aims to penetrate into deeper pockets of Indian market through regional shows hence, 25% of our shows will be in non- Hindi languages including Tamil, Bengali, Punjabi, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi etc. Maya Thirrai is our first step in this direction and we are confident that the audience will be thoroughly entertained by it.”
Producer Kutty Padmini adds, “I am glad to bring Maya Thirrai to the Tamil audience, it is gripping and has great surprise elements. Digital shows are future of entertainment, hence the show is very special and marks an important move for us. Collaborating with Ekta Kapoor has been a great experience, it’s gratifying to see how our vision has transformed so beautifully on the canvas. I am hopeful that our audience will love the show.”
On his digital debut and association with Ekta Kapoor, Kaushik Narasimhan said, “Digital is the core focus of the entertainment industry today and I am glad to be venturing into this space with, who better than ALTBalaji. As a director, I am always on the lookout for fresh and creative storyline and Maya Thirrai is such addition. The plot is very exciting and each episode will surely get the audience stunned and looking for more.”
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
