iWorld
ALTBalaji identified local talent for regional language comedy shows, says Manav Sethi
MUMBAI: ALTBalaji, an OTT platform for original and exclusive shows, has launched regional stand-up comedy in Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarati and more Hindi videos on its digital platform.
The short, snacky and hilarious videos feature famous comic artistes – Bharat Ganeshpure, Sagar Karande, Anirudh Madesia, Suresh Albela, Pratap Faujdar, Amit Khuva and Dharsi Baredia. The entire library offers English subtitles for easy understanding.
ALTBalaji is catering to the diversified needs of a population that speaks multiple language and experience life differently as per their culture. The content offers a slice of life of these cultures, be it anecdotes of a Sardar traveling to Germany, a Gujarati stuck in a bizarre situation in Bengaluru or a Marathi talking about cricket. The comedians add tadka to everyday mundane events and serve them up loaded with the perfect garnish of humour. They leave nothing and no one, from Lucknow to Valentine’s Day to Dhoklas to Rajinikanth! The laughing riot is bound to tickle audience’s funny bone.
ALTBalaji CMO Manav Sethi said, “Based on consumer insight, we understood that the stand-up available to viewers is mostly English or Hindi, neglecting the regional language demand and so we have identified local talents from these regions and got them on board. The highly talented, witty and humorous artistes bring in the flavour of their language and culture on stage; hope the viewers like it.”
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.
