iWorld
Hungama to launch four new original programs
MUMBAI: Hungama, is one of the India’s largest digital entertainment company, today announced its foray into long-form original programming. Four shows, Damaged, Hankaar, Bar Code and Boys with Toys, each belonging to a different genre and showcasing a wide-ranging cast and crew from the film, TV and theatre world will launch over the next three months. Damaged, premiering on 6th June 2018 on Hungama Play, will kickstart this initiative of the company.
While the initial 4 shows would be in Hindi, Hungama also plans to create original content in other major Indian languages.
Commenting on this, Hungama Digital Media managing director and CEO, Neeraj Roy, said, “Hungama Originals are a step forward in storytelling for us. Each of our originals explore different themes and feature strong, contemporary storylines with compelling performances in order to appeal to a diverse, heterogeneous digital audience. We hope to launch 10 – 12 shows in this fiscal year and are certain that through our long-form content, we’ll be able to significantly increase our user base.”
Damaged, a psychological crime drama, stars Amruta Khanvilkar as the seductress, Lovina – a promiscuous, brutal and remorseless serial killer, and Amit Sial as Abhay – a ruthless, angry and trigger–happy cop. The story begins with the disappearance of a famous painter. Soon the cops realize that his case is just the tip of the iceberg, there are numerous other young men who have gone missing and have never resurfaced. Investigations start and a suspect emerges – Lovina. This turns into an intriguing cat and mouse game between Lovina and the police, led by Abhay.
The show is an interesting study of human behaviour with both the lead stars playing characters that are flawed and have more shades than one. Lovina is an ordinary woman who has a way with men, but finds it difficult to forgive their trespasses. She ultimately embarks on a dark journey from which she can’t return. Abhay, a cop obsessed with solving the serial killings to the extent that he’ll go to any lengths possible, is plagued by his own inner demons that rob him of his humane qualities. The worlds of these ‘Damaged’ characters collide, creating a dramatic and gripping confrontation. The show is directed by Aarambhh Mohan Singh and produced by Alligator Media Productions.
Hankaar, an original crime drama, narrates the story of five Mumbaikars – Nisha (Yogini Chouk), Mangesh (Pramod Sanghi), Pradeep (Rajesh Balwani), James (Shardanand Singh) and Joy (Ram Menon). The story arc follows their struggles and triumphs. Unknown to each other, their lives get intertwined because of a common enemy and certain events in their lives push them to take an unexpected journey. Hankaar is produced by Pocket Films, Talkaholics Productions and Cancom.
Bar Code, an original drama is about the uber-elite and is set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s buzzing nightlife. Starring heartthrobs Karan Wahi and Akshay Oberoi, the show deals with the lives of 2 best friends-turned-enemies, both owners of two rival nightclubs in the city. As much as they have a good life going for them, destroying the other is the only thing on their minds, considering the grudge from the past they hold for each other. Bar Code is produced by Panorama Studios.
A young comedy, Boys with Toys is a hilarious take on the lives of two young men, Aditya (Umang Khanna) and Jignesh (Rishabh Chaddha) whose lives go into a complete flip when one of them receives an unusual inheritance – a box full of sex toys. The boys need to figure ways to turn the inheritance into a thriving business and in the process, have some misadventures along the way. Boys with Toys has been produced by Ashvini Yardi’s production company, Vini Yard Films.
Hungama will continue to focus on stories that appeal to both, Indian and global audiences. Hungama Originals will address a large audience pool seeking differentiated content across different age groups, genders and geographies, offering something for every viewer.
iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
