iWorld
From studio to stage Coke Studio Bharat goes live and turns up the volume
MUMBAI: Coke Studio is switching channels from screens to streets. This January, The Coca-cola Company is set to create a first-of-its-kind cultural moment as Coke Studio Bharat makes its live, public debut with Coke Studio Bharat Live in Delhi and Guwahati.
For the first time since its launch, Coke Studio Bharat will move beyond digital drops and streaming playlists into large-scale, on-ground showcases designed for music lovers. The new Live format brings together music, food and cultural expression, allowing audiences to step directly into the world they have so far only experienced through a screen.
Positioned squarely at India’s youth, the concerts aim to turn Coke Studio Bharat from a viewing experience into a shared one. Fans will watch artists perform under one roof, immersed in the soundscapes and stories that define the platform’s folk-meets-future identity.
Coca-Cola Inswa IMX lead Shantanu Gangane said the move was a natural evolution. After seasons of organic growth, the brand saw an opportunity to take its community beyond digital and into live, high-impact moments that celebrate India’s musical heritage, Coca-Cola-style.
At its core, Coke Studio Bharat has always drawn strength from local sounds regional dialects, folk traditions and indigenous instruments blended with contemporary styles. The LIVE edition extends that mission, bridging generations by introducing Gen Z audiences to India’s musical roots through collaborations that feel current, credible and deeply connected to place.
The Delhi showcase will feature Shreya Ghoshal, Aditya Rikhari, Rashmeet Kaur, Divyam and Khwaab, offering a mix of vocal mastery, indie storytelling and experimental depth.
Guwahati will host Anuv Jain, Shankuraj Konwar, Rito Riba and Anoushka Maskey, bringing voices from the Northeast to the centre of a national cultural moment.
Artists across both cities echoed the sentiment that the Live format adds a new honesty to the music. Performing beyond the studio, they said, allows stories to breathe, connect and land differently when shared face-to-face with audiences who understand where the sound comes from.
Each performance is designed to retain its regional authenticity while travelling across geographies, reinforcing Coke Studio Bharat’s belief that India’s most powerful stories are rooted locally but resonate nationally.
More details on programming, on-ground experiences and artist-led content will be revealed closer to the concerts. For now, one thing is clear, Coke Studio Bharat is no longer just something you stream, it’s something you show up for.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
