iWorld
ZEE5 announces pyschological thriller ‘Posham Pa’
MUMBAI: ZEE5, India’s fastest growing OTT platform announces ‘Posham Pa’, a psychological thriller starring actress Mahie Gill, Sayani Gupta and Ragini Khanna in a never seen before avatar. Directed by national award-winning filmmaker Suman Mukhopadhyay, written by Nimisha Misra and produced by Ten Years Younger Productions LLP, Dhirajj Walks of Art Pvt Ltd, New Born Films LLP and Vishant Audio Visuals Pvt Ltd the film releases on 21st August exclusively on ZEE5.
‘Posham Pa’ has been inspired by true events, researched by senior journalist, Praful Shah. The story revolves around a psychologically disturbed mother who coerced her daughters into a life of crime. The daughters are now facing the death penalty for their violent crimes and spieling their life story to two documentarians essayed by Imaad Shah and Shivani Raghuvanshi.
The film has been shot in three different non-linear tracks and is sure to keep the viewers engrossed with twist and turns.
Sharing her perspective, Mahie Gill said, “The story of Posham Pa is inexplicable. I still cannot fathom how circumstances can make someone so cruel. It is one of the most challenging roles I have essayed and when I heard the script, I decided to take it up almost immediately. We are now looking forward for it to premiere on ZEE5 and be available to a global audience.”
Sharing her experience, Sayani Gupta said, “It has been a very difficult journey to get under the skin of my character. Right from my look to the brutality of the murders, it has all been mind-numbing. Getting into the psyche of a criminal drains you physically and emotionally. Posham Pa will premiere on ZEE5 and will reach such a wide audience base.”
Sharing her thoughts Ragini Khanna said, “Posham Pa has an enticing plot, making it a must watch for viewers who enjoy watching thrillers. It was a tough shoot and an experience which I will carry with me forever. It is an exciting time for new stories and content to flourish . I am happy that ZEE5 is backing such unique stories and we are looking forward to the release on the platform.”
Director Suman Mukhopadhyay said, “We are presenting a film that has multiple focal points. Truth and reality look so puzzling when seen from different perspectives. The script brings this out through a nonlinear treatment. However, the actors have walked a distance to ensure their performance is power-packed. To portray the psychological labyrinth of the characters that travels few decades, is an immensely challenging task. Everyone has worked very hard in putting this together and I hope with ZEE5’s massive reach, Posham Pa travels extensively.”
Commenting on the announcement, Aparna Acharekar, Programming Head, ZEE5 India said, “At ZEE5, we are working towards building a robust library across genres. Posham Pa is our latest addition, a compelling story with an eclectic star cast. It is an offbeat story and we have got on board powerful actors who are perfectly suited for their respective roles. Posham Pa is currently in the post production stage and we are looking forward to release it on our platform soon."
With over 3500 films, 500+ TV shows, 4000+ music videos, 35+ theatre plays and 80+ LIVE TV Channels across 12 languages, ZEE5 truly presents a blend of unrivalled content offering for its viewers across the nation and worldwide. With ZEE5, the global content of Zindagi as a brand, which was widely appreciated across the country, has also been brought back for its loyal viewers.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
