iWorld
OTTplay Changemakers Awards 2024 to honour trailblazers of south Indian cinema
Mumbai: OTTplay, an OTT App and AI-based recommendation engine platform is set to unveil the second edition of the OTTplay Changemakers Awards on 26 October 2024, at the prestigious Taj Coromandel in Chennai. The highly anticipated event will shine the spotlight on the South Indian entertainment industry, honouring the individuals and creative minds who have driven innovation and transformation across OTT platforms and cinema.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition in 2023, which celebrated disruptors from across the Indian film industries, the 2024 awards will focus exclusively on the thriving Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema industries. As south Indian films continue to break barriers with groundbreaking storytelling and commercial success, this year’s event will bring together visionaries from these vibrant industries.
The awards ceremony will felicitate winners in about 35 categories, with special emphasis on the awards for disruptive star, most versatile performer and inspiring actor, across the four south industries, along with celebrating the pioneers of the industry. These categories, for both male and female talents, will highlight the creativity, versatility and social impact made by those who have left a lasting impression in both OTT and traditional cinema.
OTTplay co-founder & CEO Avinash Mudaliar said, “The OTTplay Changemakers Awards is not just about recognizing talent; it’s about celebrating the power of storytelling to bring about real change. This year, with our exclusive focus on South Indian cinema, we’re honouring individuals who have pushed creative boundaries and inspired audiences globally. We are proud to continue the legacy started last year, now showcasing the incredible contributions of South Indian storytellers.”
In addition to individual recognitions, the awards will spotlight two categories: ‘voice of change’ and ‘cinema for change’, which will honour contributions toward social causes such as supporting animal welfare and highlight the industry’s commitment to social responsibility.
Just like last year, the credibility and transparency of the OTTplay Changemakers Awards are maintained through an editorially driven process led by OTTplay and Hindu Tamil Thisai, ensuring that each winner is thoughtfully selected and deserving of the recognition they receive.
The event is supported by prestigious partners, including the Vedanta Anil Agarwal Foundation as the presenting sponsor and Hindu Tamil Thisai as a media partner. The excitement of the awards will reach a broader audience as the event will be streamed on Zee5, the official streaming partner, with Fever FM as the radio partner.
iWorld
OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s lawsuit ahead of trial
Company calls claims “baseless” and accuses Musk of trying to disrupt a rival.
MUMBAI: When the stakes are measured in billions and egos are involved, even Silicon Valley titans can turn a courtroom into a battlefield. OpenAI has issued a sharp public response to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit, accusing the billionaire of filing the case to harass a competitor rather than address genuine concerns. In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account, OpenAI described Musk’s allegations as “baseless” and suggested the lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the company as the case heads toward trial later this month in Oakland, California.
The response comes after Musk’s legal team recently amended the complaint, proposing that any damages potentially exceeding $150 billion should go to OpenAI’s nonprofit entity rather than to Musk personally. OpenAI questioned the timing and motive behind this change, calling it a late-stage attempt to “pretend to change his tune” on the nonprofit structure.
The company further labelled the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”, arguing that Musk’s actions are driven by personal rivalry, ego, and a desire for greater control and financial upside.
At the heart of the dispute is Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. A co-founder who left in 2018, Musk is seeking governance changes, including the removal of CEO Sam Altman from the nonprofit board, and the return of certain financial gains linked to Altman and President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that its current hybrid structure, a public-benefit corporation overseen by a nonprofit parent remains true to its long-term goals. The company has also previously accused Musk of anti-competitive behaviour aimed at weakening its leadership.
As the case prepares for a jury trial, this public exchange highlights the deepening rift between two of the most influential figures in the AI revolution and raises broader questions about governance, mission, and power in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
In the high-stakes game of AI, it seems the real drama isn’t just inside the models, it’s playing out in courtrooms too.
