iWorld
Netflix gets competition as Hooq enters Singapore market
MUMBAI: Team Netflix, please take note. Video streaming service Hooq is now available in Singapore. It launched in the Philippines early last year, and has since expanded to Thailand, India and Indonesia. In India, Hooq plans to invest $2 million on home-grown content.
Hooq is a joint venture by Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
The platform has a catalogue of over 20,000 movies and television shows, comprising both Hollywood and regional content. Apart from Hollywood content, Hooq has presently sourced Indian films and shows from studios like Rajshri Productions, Reliance Entertainment, Shemaroo Entertainment, Balaji Telefilms and Whacked Out Studios. With the cost of making original English language shows high, the platform is considering Hindi and other Indian language content.
It gives users access to Hollywood, Filipino, Indonesian and Indian content but there are plans to add Korean, Malay and Chinese content within the next 90 days.
In Singapore, a subscription costs from $8.98 a month, to $78.98 for 360 days ($6.58 a month). Discounts are available for longer subscriptions. Hooq has also partnered with Singtel to offer prepaid streaming data bundles starting at $7 for 1 GB of streaming. More bundles will be available for the customers in the next few months.
iWorld
Prime Video and Hrithik Roshan reunite for quirky heist comedy Mess
HRX Films expands pact with quirky heist comedy set for production
MUMBAI: Prime Video is doubling down on its partnership with Hrithik Roshan, announcing a new comedy film Mess that promises chaos, chuckles and a clever twist on the classic heist.
Produced by Hrithik Roshan and Eshaan Roshan under HRX Films, a division of FilmKraft Productions, the film is being made in association with Soda Films Lab. Directed by Rajesh A Krishnan, Mess marks the second collaboration between the streaming platform and HRX Films after the upcoming thriller Storm.
At the heart of Mess lies an unusual premise. A group of robbers break into the home of a man with OCD, only to find themselves outmatched in a night-long standoff that flips the script on who is really in control. It is a set-up that blends tension with humour, turning a break-in into a breakdown of expectations.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok said, “A good story should surprise and entertain, and Mess does both with ease. It brings together a unique premise, memorable characters and a tone that keeps you laughing throughout.”
He added that the collaboration with HRX Films continues to grow stronger, with the new film reflecting a shared appetite for bold and original storytelling.
Hrithik Roshan said, “After Storm, Mess feels like a natural next step in our journey with Prime Video. The film captures the kind of unconventional storytelling we want to champion, with Rajesh bringing a distinctive voice to the narrative.”
Director Rajesh A Krishnan said, “The world of Mess is a mix of comedy and chaos, unusual enough to keep audiences on edge while still delivering humour. It has been a deeply collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience.”
The original screenplay comes from Paul Soter, with adaptation and dialogues by Kapil Sawant, adding another layer of craft to the film’s offbeat narrative.
As production gears up, Mess looks ready to live up to its name, serving up a delightful tangle of mayhem, mischief and movie magic for audiences in India and beyond.
