iWorld
Lionsgate Play offers heartwarming titles to enjoy with moms on Mother’s Day
Mumbai: Mother knows best! (sing in Mother Gothel’s voice) – a phrase that’s stuck and prevailed through time just like our moms on a sick day. With Mother’s Day around the corner, what better way to celebrate these special women in our lives than by treating them to a movie night? Whether you are celebrating with friends and family or planning a special day for the woman in your life, Lionsgate Play has you covered with films and series that recognise the joys and challenges of motherhood. So, this Mothers Day buy your mom some flowers and celebrate her with these spunky yet heartwarming titles. Side note: a box of her favorite snacks might come in handy.
From wholesome comedies to tear-jerking dramas, here is a list of titles to look out for on Lionsgate Play:
Hiccups & Hookups
Relationships may fade away but family is forever! Showcasing the true strength of a family bond, Lionsgate Play’s Indian original Hiccups & Hookups takes you through the story of a recently divorced mother, Vasudha (Lara Dutta) and her teenage daughter Kay, as they move in with Vasudha’s younger brother Akhil (Prateik Babbar). They carefully navigate dating, relationships and life with each other’s help and support.
Gaslit
A Julia Roberts classic, Gaslit, is an Emmy Award-winning film which showcases a modern take on the famous Watergate scandal of the 1970’s. Comprising strong women and mothers, the film throws light on the untold stories and forgotten characters from a time that will always be remembered.
Becoming Elizabeth
One with the Queen mother! This Mother’s Day, watch the rise of Queen Elizabeth to eventually take the throne. Becoming Elizabeth follows the younger years of Queen Elizabeth I, an orphaned teenager who becomes embroiled in the politics of the English court on her journey to securing the crown.
Run The World
It’s a woman’s world! Run The World is a comedy show about a group of fierce and vibrant black women who live, work and play in Harlem on their journey to world domination. At its core, the series is an unapologetic ode to womanhood and highlights the beauty of female relationships, wherein they not only survive – but also thrive together. This Mothers Day enjoy the company of strong and powerful women who inspire you on multiple levels.
Single Mom’s Club
No one understands a mother like another! ‘Single Mom’s Club’ follows a group of single mothers who help ease one another’s burdens and reclaim their freedom. As their stress begins to lessen, these moms learn that finding love again might just be possible.
Bad Moms
Sometimes they’re our best friends but mothers can sometimes be our biggest villains! A mother’s duress is truly unmatched, and when three overworked, overstressed moms get pushed beyond their limits, they decide to shrink their responsibilities and lead a life of love. Bad Moms gives an insight into the rollercoaster life of mothers, making us appreciate everything they do for us.
Tune into Lionsgate Play on 14 May to celebrate Mother’s Day with the special women in your life.
iWorld
Meta plans 8,000 layoffs in new AI-led restructuring wave
First phase from May 20 may cut 10 per cent workforce amid AI pivot.
MUMBAI: At Meta, the future may be artificial but the cuts are very real. The social media giant is reportedly preparing a fresh round of layoffs, with an initial wave expected to impact around 8,000 employees as it doubles down on its artificial intelligence ambitions. According to a Reuters report, the first phase of job cuts is slated to begin on May 20, targeting roughly 10 per cent of Meta’s global workforce. With nearly 79,000 employees on its rolls as of December 31, the move marks one of the company’s most significant workforce reductions in recent years.
And this may only be the beginning. Sources indicate that additional layoffs are being planned for the second half of the year, although the scale and timing remain fluid, likely to be shaped by how Meta’s AI capabilities evolve in the coming months. Earlier reports had suggested that total cuts in 2026 could reach 20 per cent or more of its workforce.
The restructuring comes as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg continues to steer the company towards an AI-first operating model, committing hundreds of billions of dollars to the transition. Internally, this shift is already visible: teams within Reality Labs have been reorganised, engineers have been moved into a newly formed Applied AI unit, and a Meta Small Business division has been created to align with broader structural changes.
The trend is hardly isolated. Across the tech sector, companies are trimming headcount while investing aggressively in automation. Amazon, for instance, has reportedly cut around 30,000 corporate roles nearly 10 per cent of its white-collar workforce citing efficiency gains driven by AI. Data from Layoffs.fyi shows over 73,000 tech employees have already lost jobs this year, compared with 153,000 in all of 2024.
For Meta, the move echoes its earlier “year of efficiency” in 2022–23, when about 21,000 roles were eliminated amid slowing growth and market pressures. This time, however, the backdrop is different. The company is financially stronger, generating over $200 billion in revenue and $60 billion in profit last year, with shares up 3.68 per cent year-to-date though still below last summer’s peak.
That contrast underlines the shift underway. These layoffs are less about survival and more about reinvention. As Meta restructures itself around AI from autonomous coding agents to advanced machine learning systems, the question is no longer whether the company will change, but how many roles will be left unchanged when it does.
