iWorld
Amazon’s Prime Video unveils ‘Half Pants Full Pants’
Mumbai: OML Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.’s latest comedy-drama series, Half Pants Full Pants, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 16 December, promises to capture the spirit of childhood in the smaller towns of India.
This eight-episode, lighthearted series is directed by V. K. Prakash and star child actors Ashwanth Ashokkumar and Kartik Vijan, along with renowned actors Ashish Vidyarthi and Sonali Kulkarni.
OML Entertainment held a private screening in Mumbai on Tuesday, which saw the cast, the creators, and many from the industry in full attendance.
Half Pants Full Pants is adapted from Anand Suspi’s eponymous book of the same title, and it is set in a small town in South India, before the age of the internet and mobiles, where the adventurous and ambitious seven-year-old boy Anand, aka Dabba, lives. He and his friend, the obedient and well-mannered Giddi, go on adventures that will warm audiences’ hearts and make them miss the good old simple days of mischief and innocence.
“We are extremely excited to associate with Prime Video for this series and bring it to audiences across the world. Half Pants Full Pants is a wholesome show that will resonate with viewers because of its universal theme of exploring childhood nostalgia in the 1980s,” said OML Entertainment creative head of OTT content Akansh Gaur.
“The joy of discovery and the fickleness of dreams told through the eyes of a seven-year-old is something that we believe will engage viewers. We are looking forward to everyone being taken back to the warmth of their childhood as they watch this show,” he added.
“Half Pants Full Pants is an experience that takes us back to a simpler time where life was untouched by technology and yet sparkling with wonder. Through the story of Dabba, his family, and friends, the series captures the magic of childhood in a period without phones or the internet—an unhurried pace of life that we often yearn for,” said director V. K. Prakash about the series.
He continued, “The cast and crew unanimously gravitated towards telling this story because of its simplicity and innocence. We cannot wait to share this with the world.”
“Half Pants Full Pants is not only a treat for audiences looking for a portal to the past, but also deeply creatively satisfying for us as OML Studios. We are grateful to VK Prakash, Anand Suspi, and Amazon Prime Video for partnering with us on this journey of exploration and collaboration, which we hold so dear at OML. OML has always believed in finding a way to tell unique stories, and none of this would have been possible without the tireless efforts of the entire team that made it possible. It truly took a village to raise this child. Please join us in enjoying the show,” said OML Entertainment CEO Gunjan Arya.
iWorld
Warner Chappell Music launches India ops, Jay Mehta to lead unit
WMG shifts to direct model, unifying publishing and recorded music
MUMBAI: Warner Chappell Music has officially launched direct operations in India, marking a strategic shift by parent Warner Music Group to deepen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets.
The move replaces the company’s earlier sub-publishing model with a full-fledged, on-ground operation, aimed at giving Indian songwriters stronger access to global networks, rights management tools, and creative infrastructure.
To lead the push, Jay Mehta has been handed an expanded mandate. Already serving as managing director of Warner Music India, Mehta will now oversee both recorded music and publishing across India and neighbouring South Asian markets, effectively bringing the two sides of the business under one roof.
The unified structure is designed to streamline how artists and songwriters work with the company, offering a more integrated ecosystem that spans compositions, recordings, and global distribution.
Warner Music Group managing director, recorded music and publishing, India and SAARC Jay Mehta said, “India’s songwriters are world-class, constantly redefining genres and pushing creative boundaries. By establishing a direct footprint for Warner Chappell, we’re bridging the gap between local brilliance and global opportunity.”
The timing is no coincidence. According to CISAC, creator collections in India jumped 42 per cent year-on-year to Rs 7 billion in 2024, while IFPI ranks India as the 15th largest recorded music market globally. At the same time, the industry is undergoing a structural shift, with independent and non-film music gaining ground over traditional Bollywood soundtracks.
Warner’s bet is that a direct presence will help it capture this changing dynamic. The company is also offering India-based creators access to its proprietary tools, including AI-powered royalty matching systems and real-time analytics platforms, aimed at improving transparency and earnings visibility.
Warner Chappell Music co-chair and CEO Guy Moot said the move is about shaping a publishing ecosystem that “works for creators and ensures their music is heard, protected, and rewarded everywhere.”
Meanwhile, Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl underlined India’s importance to the company’s global strategy, noting that the new structure creates a “unified powerhouse” for both creators and audiences.
With local studios, global reach, and tighter integration across its business lines, Warner is clearly doubling down on India. And as streaming habits evolve and independent music rises, the company is positioning itself to be not just a participant, but a key architect of the country’s next music chapter.
