iWorld
Reliance Entertainment re-launches Bigflix in nine languages
MUMBAI: Anil D. Ambani led Reliance Entertainment’s pioneering movie platform, Bigflix, is now a global personal blockbuster for Indians in India and audiences across the world. Reliance Entertainment today announced the launch of Bigflix in a nine-language, multilingual avatar for India and global markets. With the re-launch, the country’s first video-on-demand brand is back with a contemporary positioning and a bigger reach in and outside of India.
The new Bigflix will have 2000 HD movies in nine Indian languages to start with, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Bhojpuri and Bengali. The indigenously developed technology of Bigflix will deliver a personalised theatre experience to users who can stream and download movies advertisement-free, on any Internet-connected device including personal computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs and game consoles.
Bigflix technology will allow a multi-screen experience to users who will be able to switch devices – smartphone to tablet to television and back – in the middle of a film. The same technology will also allow a clean and smooth film experience.
Said Reliance Entertainment chief operating officer Shibasish Sarkar, “Indians are moving to digital entertainment in a big way with consumption growing on daily basis. Notably, Bigflix will fill in the void created by the decline of the home video market by digitally delivering movies.”
With 3.9 million registrations, Bigflix is already amongst the leading SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) provider. It offers video content in categories such as feature films, short films, devotional, and movie trailers.
Reliance Entertainment-Digital CEO Amit Khanduja said, “Globally the demand for video content has risen steeply, and the digital platform is witnessing a wider audience everywhere, including India. Bigflix will provide high quality video content from some of the biggest banners including Dharma, Disney, Viacom, Phantom, Telegu One and Rajshri, among others.”
In its revamped avatar, Bigflix will also serve the latent demand of the Indian expatriates across the world. With its multi lingual library of 2000+ HD films, including latest films, Bigflix aims to put an end to piracy and poor quality film viewing.
Bigflix is one of the world’s largest SVOD provider with over 3.9 million registered users. Launching with an aggressive pricing of Rs 50 for unlimited viewing per month, Bigflix is set to provide quality entertainment without breaking the bank across genres, languages and platforms.
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.
