iWorld
Kuku FM partners with HubHopper; adds 21,000 new shows to its library
MUMBAI: If you are an audiophile and you prefer listening to podcasts and shows rather than holidaying and partying, then come 1 January 2025, you should grab your headset and your phone and lean back and sign into KukuFM.
The audio hosting and distribution platform has partnered with another audio platform HubHopper and is offering its three million subscribers the latter’s 21,000 new shows across 30,000 plus hours of premium content at no extra cost (in a dedicated section featuring the new shows).
A press release issued by Kuku FM mentions that this integration means its library rivals even leading OTTs operating in India and is the largest audio catalogue in the country.
Listeners can chose from spirituality (Sadhguru, Osho and Jay Alani) to fiction to history to business in various languages including English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Shows from NDTV are also available on the platform.
Kuku FM co-founder Lal Chand Bisu pointed out that Indians prefer getting unmatched value for the money they are spending. He added: “As our revenues doubled last year, driven by subscriptions, we’re poised to continue this momentum into 2025 with this enriched offering. By adding the shows, we’re not just growing our library but building a platform that resonates with diverse audiences—from native speakers across India to Indians abroad seeking high-quality content in their languages. This collaboration elevates our reach and engagement to new heights.”
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.
