iWorld
Hoopr gets MeitY boost to bring order to India’s digital music
MUMBAI: In a digital world where music travels faster than rules can keep up, Hoopr is stepping in to restore rhythm and reason. The music licensing platform has received institutional backing from Atal Incubation Centre Goa Institute of Management (AIC-GIM), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Samridh programme, to help shape modern frameworks for India’s fast-growing digital music economy.
Backed by an undisclosed investment, the support signals a move towards cleaner, clearer and more compliant music usage online. For an ecosystem where creativity often races ahead of governance, Hoopr’s mandate is simple. Make licensing transparent, scalable and fair for everyone involved.
Sitting at the crossroads of music, technology and the creator economy, Hoopr has quietly built serious scale. Over the past three years, it has onboarded more than 1,500 artists, curated a catalogue of over 15,000 tracks and paid out more than Rs 4.5 crore directly to creators. Today, its music powers ethical usage for over 4 lakh creators and more than 200 brands, earning Hoopr a reputation as one of India’s most reliable digital licensing platforms.
The timing could not be sharper. With nearly 80,000 brands and close to 6 lakh creators producing content daily, music is everywhere. Yet almost 87 per cent of usage remains unregulated. The result is a grey zone where artists lose out, brands face risk and creators remain unsure. Hoopr’s government-backed push aims to narrow that gap.
As short-form video and creator-led content redefine entertainment, legacy copyright systems built for linear media are struggling to cope. Under the MeitY Samridh programme, Hoopr is helping design future-ready licensing infrastructure using transparent digital workflows, real-time tracking of music usage and equitable royalty distribution. Its integration with the Indian Performing Right Society further strengthens this effort.
AIC-GIM CEO Sumit Garg, said Hoopr is tackling a long-standing structural gap. He noted that the programme has supported the platform in strengthening its technology, compliance systems and readiness to contribute to national digital rights governance.
For Hoopr’s leadership, the backing is both validation and responsibility. Co-founder and CEO Gaurav Dagaonkar said the digital shift has changed how music is created, shared and monetised, making technology-led frameworks essential for responsible growth. Co-founder Meghna Mittal added that scalable systems to monitor music usage in real time are no longer optional but necessary to ensure fairness and accountability.
As India’s digital ambitions continue to swell, this partnership strikes a hopeful chord. One where creativity thrives, rules are clear and artists finally get their due.
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.
