iWorld
Click, Play, Repeat: Must-stream OTT shows for your long weekend escape
Mumbai: Picture this: cosy blankets, favourite snacks, and a world of entertainment at your fingertips, or while on the go, get ready to unwind and escape into the captivating world of streaming as a long weekend on Good Friday approaches. With an extra day to relax, there’s no better time to indulge in some bingeable shows. From gripping mysteries to heartwarming tales, we have a selection of OTT shows and audio series that have something for everyone. So, whether you’re flying solo or enjoying company, let’s make this long weekend one to remember. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and let the binge marathon begin!
Here are the five trending shows that are a must in your binge list and we bet you won’t be bored a minute:
1 Maharani 3 (Sony LIV)
The latest season of Maharani 3 has taken over the internet since its release. The protagonist of the series, Rani Bharti, played by Huma Qureshi, gets accused of killing her husband, Bheema Bharti, played by Soham Shah. The storyline revolves around Rani Bharti awaiting justice for the false allegation against her. With an engaging plot line, the successive seasons of the show have been well received by audiences, and this season is sure to hook viewers to their phone screens.
2 Hidden Mafia (Pocket FM)
Rukshit’s past hides many mysteries. What happens when a man known for his cruelty unexpectedly discovers love within the warmth of Aarna’s embrace? Find out further about the future of Rukshit and Aarna and tune in to Hidden Mafia only on Pocket FM.
3 Murder Mubarak (Netflix)
With an ensemble cast, Murder Mubarak is a must-watch. Starring Dimple Kapadia, Karisma Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Sara Ali Khan, and Vijay Verma in pivotal roles, Murder Mubarak has been streaming exclusively on Netflix. The movie revolves around a murder investigation with multiple aspects, as a non-traditional police inspector steps into the world of each suspect to uncover the truth.
4 Super Yoddha (Pocket FM)
Super Yoddha, streaming exclusively on Pocket FM, will make your weekend with its jaw-dropping plotline. The audio podcast series follows a young fellow on his journey of self-discovery and heroism. It’s a unique sci-fi adventure that takes you to the farthest corners of space, revealing some really interesting secrets along the way.
5 Sunflower Season 2 (Zee5)
Directed by Navin Gujral, ‘Sunflower S2’ will start streaming on the OTT platform Zee5 on March 1. Featuring Sunil Grover, Adah Sharma, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Ranvir Shorey among others, the series offers a blend of humour with mystery. It revolves around the investigation of a murder in a housing society named Sunflower.
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.
