iWorld
Big screen, big truths as Acharya Prashant comes to PVR Aura Bhopal
MUMBAI: Popcorn, pause, and Prashant, Bhopal’s silver screen is set to swap blockbusters for Brahm Gyaan. PVR Inox Limited, India’s largest cinema chain, has teamed up with the PrashantAdvait Foundation to present a live spiritual session with none other than Acharya Prashant, on 20 April 2025 at PVR Aura Mall, Bhopal.
Curated as part of PVR Inox’s Alternate Content in Cinemas initiative, the one-of-a-kind event invites audiences into an intellectually charged dialogue with one of the most followed spiritual thinkers of our time inside the immersive atmosphere of a cinema hall.
Known for bringing ancient wisdom into modern lives, Acharya Prashant is an IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus turned spiritual reformer. With a staggering 55 million plus YouTube subscribers, 3.5 billion plus views, and 160 plus published books, he has reshaped how the digital generation discovers clarity, consciousness and calm.
PVR Inox Limited Chief Business Planning & Strategy Kamal Gianchandani said “With Acharya Prashant, we’re not just hosting a session, we’re creating a space for stillness, insight, and inner transformation. Our cinemas have always been places where stories come alive, and with Alternate Content, we’re now bringing voices that awaken something deeper within. This is cinema reimagined as a catalyst for reflection.”
The event is expected to draw everyone from Gen Z seekers to seasoned meditators, offering a much-needed escape from the chaos of daily life. Think of it as an evening of mental detox meets cinematic magic.
The much-awaited event is set to take place at PVR Aura Mall, Bhopal, on 20 April 2025, during the evening session. Attendees are encouraged to check the official website pvrcinemas.com for exact show timings. Bookings are now open and can be made via the PVR Inox app or website, so be sure to grab your seats early!
Seats are limited, but the insights may just be limitless. Whether you’re a spiritual novice or a seasoned seeker, this might just be your cue to switch off your phone and switch on within.
iWorld
Micro-Dramas Surge in India, Redefining Mobile Content Habits
Meta-Ormax study maps rapid rise of short-form storytelling among 18–44 audiences.
MUMBAI: Micro-dramas aren’t just short, they’re the snack that ate Indian entertainment, and now everyone’s bingeing between the sofa cushions. Meta, in partnership with Ormax Media, has released ‘Micro Dramas: The India Story’, a comprehensive study unveiled at the inaugural Meta Marketing Summit: Micro-Drama Edition. The report maps how the vertical, bite-sized format is reshaping content consumption for mobile-first audiences aged 18–44 across 14 states.
Conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 through 50 in-depth interviews and 2,000 personal surveys, the research reveals that 65 per cent of viewers discovered micro-dramas within the last year proof of explosive adoption. Nearly 89 per cent encounter the format through social feeds and recommendations, making algorithm-driven discovery the primary engine rather than active search.
Key viewing patterns show a median of 3.5 hours per week (about 30 minutes daily) spread across 7–8 short sessions. Consumption peaks between 8 pm and midnight, with additional spikes during commutes and work breaks classic “in-between moments” that the format fills perfectly. Around 57 per cent of viewing happens in ambient mode (while doing something else), and 90 per cent is solo, enabling more intimate, personal storytelling.
Romance, family drama and comedy lead genre preferences. Audiences show growing openness to AI-generated content, 47 per cent find it unique and creative, while only 6 per cent say they would avoid it entirely. Regional languages are surging after Hindi and English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dominate consumption.
Meta, director, media & entertainment (India) Shweta Bajpai said, “Micro-drama isn’t a passing trend, it’s rewriting the rules of Indian entertainment. In under a year, an entirely new category of platforms has emerged, built audience habits from scratch, and created a business vertical that is scaling fast.”
Ormax Media founder-CEO Shailesh Kapoor added, “Micro-dramas are beginning to show the early signs of becoming a distinct content category in India’s digital entertainment landscape. When a format aligns closely with how audiences naturally engage with their devices, it has the potential to scale very quickly.”
The study proposes ecosystem-wide responsibility, universal signposting of commercial intent, shared accountability among advertisers, platforms, creators, schools and parents, built-in safeguards, and formal media literacy in schools.
In a feed that never sleeps and a day that never stops, micro-dramas have slipped into the cracks of every spare minute turning 30-second stories into the new national pastime, one vertical swipe at a time.
