iWorld
Hotstar launches interactive campaigns for Rio 2016 Olympic Games
MUMBAI: Hotstar has launched a series of three heart-warming ad films to drive viewership and awareness about the unprecedented coverage it has planned for the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games. With the creative thought of Life Gives You Tough Choices, the VOD platform’s campaign will offer viewers a variety of options to choose from.
The complete campaign will be covered in a series of 3 films, 2 of which have already been released – the first, a heart-warming film in a family setting showcases the tough choices that a cute boy has to make in order to get what he wants: a peck on the cheek from his family members that he absolutely detests in exchange for their mobile phones to watch the 14 live streams simultaneously! The second campaign film humorously shows the predicament of a girl who’s struggling with simultaneous appointments she has with the sporting legends at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as she decides what to watch.
“Hotstar has emerged as the nation’s first choice for watching large sporting events, and sports aficionados have taken a keen liking for the interactive, data-rich experience that Hotstar offers. The coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Hotstar will not only enable the viewers to watch all sporting events live, but also empower them to choose sports and games of their interest,” said a Hotstar spokesperson.
The campaign has been fully designed and executed in-house by the creative team at Hotstar, and will be supported by a high-impact marketing campaign which will engage users across TV, social and digital platforms.
Hotstar will cover all 42 sports with over 3000 hours of live coverage and video-on-demand. The unprecedented depth of coverage will be accompanied by the most sophisticated Olympics Video Player with a day-wise calendar of events with exact timings, quick links to live/recap, highlights & event statistics, as well as sport and country-wise medals tally.
The app will have 14 Live feeds, whereas the interactive, data-rich video player on the web will present daily coverage running into multiple streams basis the events, access to day-wise listing of events, medals tally and the ability to personalize the experience by allowing the viewer to sort by the country/sport of his choice.
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games begin from 5 August 2016 in Brazil with participation of the largest ever Olympic contingent from India.
iWorld
Prime Video drops trailer for Lukkhe, a rap crime drama starring KING in his acting debut
Eight episodes of revenge, redemption and hard-hitting rap arrive on the streaming platform on 8th May
MUMBAI: Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for Lukkhe, an eight-episode musical action drama built around the world of rap, crime and bruised relationships — and it has done so in suitably loud fashion, launching it at a live concert in Mumbai featuring electrifying performances by KING, Amira Gill, Akshath, Raashii Khanna, Ruaa Kayy and RUTVXK. As if that were not enough, the show’s music album was also dropped at the event, in collaboration with exclusive music streaming partner Amazon Music and music label Warner Music India.
The series is directed by Himank Gaur and produced by Vipul D. Shah and Rajesh Bahl under the banners of Optimystix Entertainment and White Guerrilla LLP. It is created and executive produced by Agrim Joshi and Debojit Das Purkayastha.
The cast is the talking point. KING, the acclaimed Indian rapper and songwriter, makes his acting debut as MC Badnaam, a performer consumed by rivalry and hunger for recognition. Raashii Khanna, returning to Prime Video after Farzi, plays Gurbani. Palak Tiwari, making her streaming debut, plays Sanober. Lakshvir Singh Saran plays Lucky. The ensemble also includes Nakul Roshan Sahdev, Kritika Bharadwaj, Shivankit Parihar, Yograj Singh and Ayesha Raza Mishra in pivotal roles.
The trailer plants its flag squarely in the tension between MC Badnaam and his rival MC OG, played by Parihar, while threading in the love story between Lucky and Sanober. The soundtrack, which spans hard-hitting rap anthems to emotionally charged melodies, is as much a character in the show as any of its leads.
Gaur was candid about what drew him to the project. “Lukkhe gave me a chance to dive into a world that’s loud, emotional, and constantly on edge,” he said. “What stayed with me was how every character is chasing something personal, and music becomes their way of expressing it. Working with this cast, especially KING in his debut, along with Raashii, Lakshvir, and Palak, was incredibly rewarding because they brought honesty that elevated every moment.”
Khanna reflected on her character with evident relish. “Playing Gurbani in Lukkhe was a really intense and fulfilling experience,” she said. “What I found most interesting was how her strength comes from something deeply personal, which shapes every decision she makes. It was about finding that balance between vulnerability and grit.”
KING, stepping in front of the camera for the first time, was characteristically direct. “Stepping into Lukkhe as MC Badnaam has been a defining moment for me,” he said. “What drew me in was how real his hunger and need to be heard felt. It’s something I connect with as an artist. Bringing music into his journey made the experience even more personal.”
Tiwari described the role as a first on multiple fronts. “It was my first time working with Prime Video, and the whole experience felt new and creatively satisfying,” she said. “Being part of a story that has both intense and heartfelt moments, along with a team that brought so much honesty to it, made this journey truly memorable.”
Saran, for his part, zeroed in on what made Lucky tick. “Lucky is someone who’s trying to move forward while still carrying the weight of his past, and that push-pull made him really interesting to explore,” he said. “There’s a sincerity to his journey that I hope people connect with.”
Lukkhe premieres on Prime Video in Hindi on 8th May, across India and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. In a streaming landscape drowning in crime dramas, this one is betting that putting a rapper at its centre – and meaning it – is enough to cut through the noise. On the evidence of the trailer, it might just be right.
