MAM
Explore these Barbenheimer audiobooks and podcasts amidst the fan frenzy
Mumbai: Plug in, tune out, listen! The silver screen is abuzz with the releases of two of the most-hyped and awaited films this year, Barbie and Oppenheimer over the weekend. The excitement is palpable, and we know you can hardly wait to witness these cinematic marvels, if you haven’t already. But fear not, dear Barbenheimer enthusiasts! Whether you’re eagerly waiting for the films or have already watched them, we have handpicked a few titles for you on Audible. Delve into this collection of audiobooks and podcasts, perfect for both gearing up before seeing the movies or filling the void with intriguing explainer pieces in case you missed any details. Sit back, plug in your headphones, and allow yourself to get immersed in these audiobooks as the magic unravels!
Narrated by: Kristen King
In a distant galaxy, on the planet Para-Den, lived Barbie, with her father. Her days were filled with caring for extraordinary animals and mastering hoverboarding skills. But when King Constantine of Oppa-Irri sought her help to stop the stars from vanishing, Barbie felt nervous, as she had never left her planet before. Would she find the courage in her heart to embark on this thrilling adventure and save the stars? Find out as she embarks on an out-of-this-world (quite literally) journey filled with excitement!
Narrated by: Kristen King
Immerse yourself in a tropical adventure with Barbie and her sisters Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea, as they travel to a dance competition, accompanied by their adorable puppies. As they arrive, Barbie has a special surprise in store for them, but with the dance competition at hand, her sisters are hesitant to join in. Nevertheless, they decide to embrace the fun. Little do they know that the mischievous pups have gone missing! Now, the sisters must embark on a thrilling chase to find them and make it back for Chelsea’s competition. Will they succeed in this race against time? Join the sisters on this action-packed escapade filled with love, laughter, and puppy-powered excitement!
Narrated by: Kristen King
Join Barbie and her squad of gymnast friends in an action-packed adventure as they transform into top-secret spies. With powerful gems stolen, it’s their time to take down the notorious jewel thief. But that’s not all – get ready for an amazing ride solving mysteries with secret doors, battling sea monsters, and decoding messages in bottles. This audiobook acts as a constant reminder to women, encouraging them to hold onto their Barbie-era dreams and aspire for greatness.
Written by: Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin; Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
Are you ready for a mind-blowing adventure into the thrilling life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the genius physicist who rocked the twentieth century? This wild ride takes you through Oppenheimer’s early career, his central role in the Cold War, and his audacious ideas on global controls for atomic materials that raised eyebrows and shook the world. This Pulitzer Prize-winning biography unravels the enigmatic man behind the physicist, a pulse-pounding journey through history, and gripping discoveries that will leave you on the edge of your seat!
Written by: Angshuman Choudhury; Narrated by: Sashi Kumar
While we delve into Oppenheimer’s role in the Cold War, there’s yet another thrilling story that unravels the intense geopolitics and extreme measures of the nuclear arms race during that era. ‘The Nanda Devi Mystery: How India and America Lost a Nuclear Device’ is a gripping account of a mission where both countries tried to install a nuclear-powered surveillance device on the Himalayas to spy on China, and then lost it forever. Tune into Audible and listen to this tale that pays tribute to the incredible bravery of mountaineers turned high-altitude spies, who risked everything to carry out this daring operation.
Written by: James Kunetka; Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
This audiobook promises to take its listeners on a riveting journey. It follows two ambitious men on an extraordinary, history-altering mission! In the scorching New Mexico desert in 1945, a blinding flash ignites the birth of the atomic age, and an unlikely partnership between Leslie Richard Groves (the general) and J. Robert Oppenheimer (the genius) strikes. Their collaboration leads to the creation of the atomic bomb, ending the war but unleashing unimaginable terrors upon humanity. Tune into Audible and join this thrilling narrative of war, secrets, and cutting-edge science, as the two shape the destiny of the world in ways no one had imagined.
Oppenheimer and the Bomb: The Big Idea
Written by: Paul Strathern; Narrated by: Jot Davies
This tale delves into the real dilemmas of modern science: the astonishing scientific breakthrough that ended World War II, potentially saving thousands of lives, but at what cost? In this audiobook you will meet the man behind The Manhattan Project, from being a Harvard prodigy to a victim of McCarthyism. Oppenheimer’s Big Idea presents a clear introduction to the complex theoretical work behind the bomb and the implications for our future. Venture through scientific history and the enigmatic minds that shaped it, on Audible.
So, what are you waiting for? Perk up in pink, be bold in black and buckle up for a joyous ride of Barbenheimer as you immerse yourself in these audiobooks and podcasts on Audible.
Digital
Content India 2026 opens with a copro pitch, a spice evangelist and a £10,000 prize for Indian storytelling
Dish TV and C21Media’s three-day summit puts seven ambitious projects before an international jury, and two walk away with serious development money
MUMBAI: India’s content industry gathered in Mumbai this March for Content India 2026, a three-day summit organised by Dish TV in partnership with C21Media, and it wasted no time making a statement. The event opened with a Copro Pitch that put seven scripted and unscripted television concepts before an international panel of judges, and by the end of it, two projects had walked away with £10,000 each in marketing prize money from C21Media to support development and international promotion.
The jury, comprising Frank Spotnitz, Fiona Campbell, Rashmi Bajpai, Bal Samra and Rachel Glaister, evaluated a shortlist that ranged from a dark Mumbai comedy-drama about mental health (Dirty Minds, created by Sundar Aaron) to a Delhi coming-of-age mystery (Djinn Patrol, by Neha Sharma and Kilian Irwin), a techno-thriller about a teenage gaming prodigy (Kanpur X Satori, by Suchita Bhatia), an investigative crime drama blending mythology and modern thriller (The Age of Kali, by Shivani Bhatija), a documentary on India’s spice heritage (The Masala Quest, hosted by Sarina Kamini), a documentary on competitive gaming (Respawn: India’s Esports Revolution, by George Mangala Thomas and Sangram Mawari), and a reality-horror competition merging gaming and immersive fear (Scary Goose, by Samar Iqbal).
The session was hosted by Mayank Shekhar.
The two winners were Djinn Patrol, backed by Miura Kite, formerly of Participant Media and known for Chinatown and Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey, with Jaya Entertainment, producers of Real Kashmir Football Club, also attached; and The Masala Quest, created and hosted by Sarina Kamini, an Indian-Australian cook, author and self-described “spice evangelist.”
The summit also unveiled the Content India Trends Report, whose findings made for bracing reading. Daoud Jackson, senior analyst at OMDIA, set the tone: “By 2030, online video in India will nearly double the revenue of traditional TV, becoming the main driver of growth.” He noted that in 2025, India produced a quarter of all YouTube videos globally, overtaking the United States, while Indians collectively spend 117 years daily on YouTube and 72 years on Instagram. Traditional subscription TV is declining as free TV and connected TV gain ground, forcing broadcasters to innovate. “AI-generated content is just 2 per cent of engagement,” Jackson added, “highlighting the dominance of high-quality human content. The key for Indian media companies is scaling while monetising effectively from day one.”
Hannah Walsh, principal analyst at Ampere Analysis, added hard numbers to the picture. India produced over 24,000 titles in January 2026 alone, with 19,000 available internationally. The country now accounts for 12 per cent of Asia-Pacific content spend, up from 8 per cent in 2021, outpacing both Japan and China. Key exporters include JioStar, Zee Entertainment, Sony India, Amazon and Netflix, delivering over 7,500 Indian-produced titles abroad each year. The top importing markets are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, the United States and the Philippines. Scripted content dominates globally at 88 per cent, with crime dramas and children’s and family titles performing particularly strongly.
Manoj Dobhal, chief executive and executive director of Dish TV India, framed the summit’s ambition squarely. “Stories don’t need translation. They need a platform, discovery, and reach, local or global,” he said. “India produces more movies than any country, our streaming platforms compete globally, and our tech and creators win international awards. Yet fragmentation slows growth. Producers, platforms, and tech move in different lanes. We need shared spaces, collaboration, and an ecosystem where ideas, technology, and people meet. That is why we built Content India.”
The data, the pitches and the prize money all pointed to the same conclusion: India is not waiting for the world to discover its stories. It is building the infrastructure to sell them.
