iWorld
‘Kesariya’, from Brahmastra makes history!
Mumbai: The timeless allure of ‘Kesariya’, from the movie Brahmastra continues to captivate audiences worldwide as it achieves a monumental milestone. With its heartfelt lyrics and enchanting tunes, the love anthem becomes the first Indian song to cross 500 million streams on Spotify, solidifying its place in music history! “Kesariya” is acknowledged as one of the most successful collaborations among Pritam, Amitabh Bhattacharya, and Arijit Singh. With this milestone, the song has undoubtedly been crowned to be the biggest hit in the careers of these maestro’s till date.
Released on 17 July 2022, ‘Kesariya’ featuring the favourite couple Ranbir-Alia, continues to resonate deeply with listeners across the globe. This love anthem ‘Kesariya’ from Brahmastra enthralls audiences with its soulful melody and lyrics penned by the acclaimed wordsmith Amitabh Bhattacharya. Coupled with Pritam’s musical brilliance and emotive vocals of Arijit Singh, further elevating its charm to unparalleled heights.
Elated by the achievement, Indian composer Pritam shared, ‘Kesariya’ has been a deeply emotional journey and witnessing a landmark moment of 500 million streams is beyond exhilarating! This milestone reaffirms the enduring power of music transcending barriers and touching souls. I am grateful to the entire team behind ‘Kesariya’ and to the listeners who have made this extraordinary milestone possible!”
Reflecting on Kesariya’s journey and its unprecedented success, Karan Johar expressed, “‘Kesariya’ has been an unforgettable experience for me and I couldn’t be prouder of its record-breaking achievement. It’s an honor to be a part of such a historic moment, it fills my heart with immense joy and gratitude.”
Sharing his excitement Ayan Mukerji, Indian filmmaker, Director, Brahmastra expressed, “I am so overwhelmed by the incredible journey of my passion project Brahmastra. I am thrilled to see ‘Kesariya’ to be the first Indian song hitting such a massive milestone! It fills me with immense pride. This achievement is also a celebration of the magic of Indian music and cinema. Here’s to the continued success of ‘Kesariya’ and the countless more hearts it will touch in the future.”
Breathing life into the rendition, acclaimed singer Arijit Singh shared his joy, “‘Kesariya’ holds a special place in my heart, I’m grateful to the fans for their unwavering love and support till date.”
The lyrical genius Amitabh Bhattacharya also expressed, “It’s overwhelming to see ‘Kesariya’ touch the hearts of millions and make history in the process. Seeing the track cross 500 million streams, is still so surreal. This milestone belongs to everyone who contributed to its journey. Here’s to the enduring magic of ‘Kesariya’ and to the listeners who have embraced it.”
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
