iWorld
First Copy hits play on nostalgia with Munawar’s smashing screen debut
MUMBAI: Some stories deserve to be pirated, others, like this one, deserve to be binge-watched. The 90s are back but not through disco beats or bell bottoms. This time, they come wrapped in bootlegged DVDs, fuzzy frames, and gripping plotlines. RVCJ Media and Salt Media’s new original series First Copy, streaming for free on Amazon MX Player since 20 June, is already being hailed as a cult classic in the making.
And who’s leading the charge? None other than stand-up star Munawar Faruqui, making his acting debut as the conflicted protagonist of a world where piracy was more than a crime, it was culture, jugaad, and, often, survival.
Unveiled with a starry premiere in Mumbai on 19 June, First Copy has gone from “what’s that?” to “must-watch” in a matter of hours. A 10-episode deep dive into the murky film-underbelly of 90s Mumbai, the series crackles with energy, edge, and emotional heft offering not just a nostalgic trip, but a raw commentary on access, ambition and grey morality.
The show follows a compelling storyline centred on bootleg cinema and the men who made their living dubbing dreams onto tape. Faruqui’s performance has earned widespread applause, with fans and industry insiders alike praising his screen presence and the show’s faithful recreation of a long-gone era of pirated passion.
Firdaus Sayed of Salt Media, who produced the series, summed it up as a “love letter to a generation that experienced cinema not in theatres, but around flickering living room screens.”
And RVCJ Media CEO Shahid Javed doesn’t mince words, “This is not just content, it’s a cultural movement.”
With a 60M plus digital footprint and a penchant for emotionally resonant stories, RVCJ’s evolution into long-form originals seems both organic and electric. And Salt Media’s grounded storytelling sensibilities have clearly helped shape a series that celebrates hustle, heart and the VHS days of movie-watching in India.
Whether you’re a child of the 90s or just someone craving content that cuts through, First Copy is anything but a duplicate, it’s the real deal.
iWorld
Prime Video unveils trailer for Tamil series Exam, streaming May 15
Dushara Vijayan, Aditi Balan headline scam thriller set in exam world
CHENNAI: Prime Video has dropped the official trailer of its upcoming Tamil Original series Exam, a high-stakes suspense drama set in the murky world of competitive entrance exams.
Backed by creative producers Pushkar and Gayatri under Wallwatcher Films, the seven-episode series is written and directed by National Award-winner A. Sarkunam. It stars Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan in lead roles, with Abbas playing a pivotal character.
Set in the fictional town of Thykara, the series follows Jhansi, played by Dushara Vijayan, as she attempts to expose a deep-rooted scam, aided by her mentor Jayachandran, played by Abbas. Standing in her way is DSP Maramalli, portrayed by Aditi Balan, setting up a tense face-off driven by ambition, pressure and moral choices.
The show will stream from May 15 on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories. It will be available in Tamil, with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada, along with subtitles in 15 languages.
Writer-director A. Sarkunam said the story aims to resonate across geographies and social strata, going beyond the scam to explore ambition, pressure and the consequences of personal choices. He added that the narrative unfolds through the intersecting journeys of Jhansi and Maramalli, building tension as their worlds collide.
Dushara Vijayan described Jhansi as a fierce and determined character, calling the role both demanding and rewarding, with the story capturing the difficult choices her character must make.
Aditi Balan said the series offers a hard-hitting look at the exam ecosystem, adding that her character is layered and shaped by both internal conflict and external pressures.
Abbas, marking his return to mainstream Tamil entertainment, said the series stands out for its layered storytelling and unpredictable twists, with his character adding depth to the central narrative.
With its mix of suspense, social commentary and character-driven storytelling, Exam is shaping up to be a tense watch as it dives into one of India’s most high-pressure systems.
