MAM
Likee collaborates with T-Series to promote series of songs
MUMBAI: Short video platform Likee has collaborated with film and music production giant T-Series to promote an upcoming series of 12 songs by some of the most popular singers in the country. The collaboration also comes as an opportunity for some of Likee influencers to feature in the music videos and films produced by T-Series.
The songs, to be promoted as part of the collaboration, will be sung by popular vocalists, including Tulsi Kumar, Guru Randhawa, Dhvani Bhanushali, among others. The songs will be filmed on acclaimed actors/performers such as Divya Khosla Kumar, Khushali Kumar and Himansh Kohli.
Likee creators can also be a part of the grand gala by joining a hashtag challenge and posting their videos on the songs. Top Likee influencers are also slated to be a part of the same. They might be featured in the official music videos alongside the singers and the actors who are part of the collaboration.
Abhishek Dutta, Head of Likee India, said, “This collaboration with T-Series is one of the biggest for Likee in terms of magnitude and star power. A pool of popular singers and actors are coming together for the project and Likee is excited to help them promote their content, taking it to millions of our users. This is also a unique opportunity for our influencers, as T-Series will feature them.”
Talking about the collaboration, T-Series president Neeraj Kalyan said, “Being one of the biggest production houses in the country, this project is in sync with the stature of T-Series. A key player here is Likee as it will take the songs/content to millions of users across the country.”
Popular Bollywood singer Tulsi Kumar, said, “A good platform for promotion is as vital as a renowned production brand for the success of a song. Hence, I am elated that Likee will promote the songs for us and take it across to millions of music lovers.
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
