iWorld
‘Berlin’ to premiere soon on ZEE5
Mumbai: ZEE5, India’s video streaming platform has announced its upcoming movie ‘Berlin,’ a groundbreaking spy thriller that has already taken the international film circuit by storm. Set against the backdrop of 1990s New Delhi, this first-of-its-kind espionage drama has garnered critical acclaim at various prestigious film festivals worldwide. Adding to its growing list of accolades, ‘Berlin’ was also screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM 2024) on 17 Aug at Hoyts Cinema. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Atul Sabharwal, ‘Berlin’ features a stellar ensemble cast including Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, Rahul Bose, Anupriya Goenka, and Kabir Bedi. This high-stakes drama, lauded for its outstanding performances and distinctive storytelling, promises to be an engrossing tale of undercover activities, deceit, and moral ambiguity. Produced by Zee Studios and Yippee Ki Yay Motion Pictures, ‘Berlin’ is now set to captivate a wider audience as it prepares for its exclusive premiere on ZEE5.
‘Berlin’ takes viewers into the icy winters of the 1990’s in Delhi, where a silent storm of espionage is brewing. The story revolves around three main characters whose lives are about to collide in unexpected ways. Ishwak Singh will be seen in an unusual yet challenging role – a deaf-mute young man accused of being a foreign spy. Aparshakti Khurana, stepping out of his comfort zone, will be seen as a sign language expert tasked with unlocking the secrets hidden in silence. Anupriya Goenka adds fuel to the fire as an enigmatic agent, her true loyalties shrouded in mystery. Meanwhile, Rahul Bose races against time as an intelligence officer, fighting not just external threats but also the shadows within his own agency. As layers of deception peel away, alliances shift and questions multiply: In a world where nothing is as it seems. And in this high-stakes game of betrayal, who will make it out alive?
ZEE5 chief business officer Manish Kalra expressed, “We are excited to introduce ‘Berlin’ to our platform, aligning with our strategy of curating quality content that resonates with diverse audience segments. This movie is an addition to ZEE5’s extensive library, reflecting our ongoing commitment to delivering compelling narratives that push the boundaries of storytelling. ‘Berlin,’ with its stellar cast, complex plot and a first of its kind narrative with the backdrop of 1990s Delhi, has garnered critical acclaim at international film festivals. We are confident it will set a new benchmark in the espionage genre for the Indian streaming market. It will further enhance ZEE5’s appeal to both our existing subscribers and new viewers seeking quality entertainment.”
Zee Studios CBO Umesh Kr Bansal said, “Berlin’ is a groundbreaking addition to Zee Studios’ diverse slate, capturing a unique era in Indian history through an intense spy thriller. We’re proud to see its global acclaim and excited to bring this compelling story to our ZEE5 audience”
Yippee Ki Yay Motion Pictures producer Manav Shrivastav said, “We are delighted to join hands with ZEE5 for the launch of ‘Berlin’. This platform offers us the perfect stage to showcase this intricate, high-stakes spy thriller to a vast and diverse audience across India and beyond. ‘Berlin’ is a movie that pushes the boundaries of the espionage genre in Indian content, and we are very happy that it will soon premiere on the platform for audience to watch it. We’re confident that this partnership with ZEE5 will help us reach a far wider audience.
List of festivals and awards:
. Mumbai Academy of Moving Images, MAMI | Mumbai, India
. Indian Film Festival Los Angeles, IFFLA | Los Angeles, USA
. Stars Asian International Film Festival, SAIFF, Mr. Ishwak Singh Award for best actor | Los Angeles, USA
. Asian World Film Festival | Award for Outstanding Cinematic Achievement | Los Angeles, USA
. Indian Film Festival of South Asia | Toronto, Canada
. London Indian Film Festival | London, UK
. Red Lorry Film Festival | Mumbai, India
. Indian Habitat Film Festival, New Delhi, India
Filmmaker Atul Sabharwal mentioned, “With ‘Berlin’, we’ve created a spy thriller that is sure to keep the audiences on the edge of their couches. The on-screen chemistry between Aparshakti and Ishwak is nothing short of electric – it’s a treat that I believe viewers will thoroughly enjoy. Having the opportunity to collaborate with such versatile stars, alongside our visionary producers and the platform giant ZEE5, is any filmmaker’s dream. We’ve poured our hearts and souls into this project, and I’m optimistic it will strike a chord with viewers. The entire team is excited and eagerly looking forward to the premiere. ‘Berlin’ is our labour of love that we can’t wait to share with the world.”
Gaming
Sony raises PS5 prices for second time in under a year
US disc edition jumps $100 to $649.99 as memory costs surge.
MUMBAI: Sony just hit the pause button on affordable gaming because when memory prices skyrocket, even the Playstation has to pay the premium. Sony has announced its second price increase for the Playstation 5 range in less than a year, citing pressures in the global economic landscape and a sharp rise in memory component costs driven by AI demand.
In the US, the PS5 disc edition will rise from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 hike while the digital edition increases to $599.99. The more powerful PS5 Pro will jump $150 to $899.99. The Playstation Portal remote player will also rise by $50 to $249.99. The new prices take effect on 2 April 2026.
Similar increases have been applied in the UK (£90 per model), Europe and Japan. Sony last raised PS5 prices in the US in August 2025.
“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” Sony said in a blog post.
The hikes come amid an unprecedented surge in memory prices, as manufacturers prioritise supply for AI data centres. Analysts say Sony had likely secured price protections for components that have now expired, forcing the company to protect its hardware margins.
Ampere Analysis research director of games Piers Harding-Rolls told CNBC that further increases from Microsoft and Nintendo would not be surprising, though Nintendo may hesitate to raise the price of its recently launched Switch 2 while establishing the new platform.
The increases arrive eight months before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to drive strong console sales. However, early reactions online have been a mix of disappointment and resignation, with growing concern that premium gaming is increasingly becoming a hobby for higher-income players.
In a sector already grappling with tariffs, inflation and component shortages, Sony’s move underscores a tough reality: even the most popular consoles are not immune to the rising cost of keeping up with the latest technology.
