iWorld
Brands leverage Amazon Prime’s Mirzapur 2
MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video’s Mirzapur is hot property right now. Fans are eagerly looking forward to the gritty crime-thriller’s second season, which drops on October 23. Due to its twisty-turny plot, memorable dialogues and meme-worthiness, the show has amassed a loyal fandom. And Mirzapur 2 is expected to attract an even bigger audience than the first season. Naturally, brands are eager to tap into this fan-following.
Amazon Prime Video has collaborated with brands such as Double Bull Cement, Vivo V20 and Bondtite ahead of the release of Mirzapur 2.
The online platform has come up with ‘Double Bull Amazon Mirzapur 2 Contest’ which offers an opportunity for viewers to win exciting Amazon vouchers.
Participate in Double Bull Amazon Mirzapur 2 Contest & win exciting Amazon vouchers.
Take a screenshot of two super benefits of Double Bull Cement from the Co Branded video & share, like, tag your friends & paste it in the comment sections of our Facebook page.
*T & C Apply pic.twitter.com/748Lo37lDY— Double Bull Cement (@DoubleBull_Cem) October 14, 2020
Meanwhile, mobile brand Vivo has launched its new series Vivo V20 and has tied up with the show to leverage its popularity and connect with Indian audiences. The smartphone maker posted a video online which shows Guddu bhaiya and Munna bhaiya, the stars of Mirzapur 2, unboxing the all-new phone and sharing their experience while in character.
Adhesive brand Bondtite has also come onboard to bask in the reflected glory of Mirzapur 2. It has launched a 1 minute 35 second-long video recapping the events of season 1, with several mentions of the brand’s catchphrase Iss jod ka koi tod nahi (No one can break this bond) which highlights the various allegiances and factions in the show.
iWorld
WhatsApp tests ‘WhatsApp Plus’ paid subscription tier
€2.49 plan adds customisation tools, messaging and calls remain free.
MUMBAI: Your chats may soon get a glow-up at a small monthly price. WhatsApp is testing a new paid subscription tier called ‘WhatsApp Plus’, signalling a shift towards premium personalisation features while keeping its core services free. The feature is currently being rolled out to a limited set of Android beta users, with early reports from WABetaInfo indicating a price of €2.49 per month (approximately Rs 274). Meta has confirmed the test, stating that it is designed for users who want more control over how they customise and organise their app experience.
Importantly, the subscription remains optional. Core functionalities including messaging, voice calls and community features will continue to be available free of charge, ensuring that the platform’s primary use case remains unchanged.
Instead, WhatsApp Plus focuses on aesthetic and organisational upgrades. These include exclusive sticker packs, new themes, custom app icons and personalised notification tones. On the functional side, subscribers may be able to pin up to 20 chats significantly higher than the current limit of three along with access to custom chat lists and enhanced categorisation tools.
Industry observers suggest the offering is largely cosmetic. Social media consultant Matt Navarra noted that the features lean more towards visual and usability enhancements rather than altering the app’s core functionality.
While global pricing has not been finalised, the subscription is expected to remain a low-cost monthly plan, with reports indicating a possible one-month free trial for eligible users. The feature is still in beta, meaning the final set of offerings could evolve before a broader rollout. Support for iOS users is also anticipated in the coming weeks.
The move mirrors a broader trend in the social and messaging ecosystem, where platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram have introduced similar subscription layers adding premium features without placing core services behind a paywall.
For WhatsApp, the strategy appears clear, keep the conversation free, but charge for a little extra flair around it.
