Movies
Panorama bets Rs 100 crore on Malayalam films with Nivin Pauly
MUMBAI: Panorama Studios International has struck a landmark partnership with Malayalam star and producer Nivin Pauly to back a slate of feature films with a cumulative budget of Rs 100 crore, signalling a sharper push into southern cinema.
The films will be produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak for Panorama Studios, alongside Nivin Pauly as producer. The multi-film slate will span genres, aiming to balance story-first narratives with mainstream appeal for Indian and overseas audiences.
Since its inception, Panorama Studios has built a reputation for marrying box-office heft with critical acclaim. Its filmography runs from Omkara to commercial hits such as Pyaar Ka Punchnama 1 and 2, Drishyam 1 and 2, Raid 1 and 2, and Shaitaan, with Drishyam 3 currently in production. The studio has garnered more than 50 major awards.
Nivin Pauly, one of Malayalam cinema’s most bankable names, is known for his range and script sensibility. He has won two Kerala State Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, two Kerala Film Critics Association Awards and six Siima Awards.
“Malayalam cinema has consistently set benchmarks for storytelling and performance-led films,” said Panorama Studios chairman Kumar Mangat Pathak. “Partnering with Nivin Pauly, who combines credibility with mass connect, is a natural progression as we invest in meaningful cinema at scale.”
Calling the collaboration “extremely exciting”, Nivin Pauly said Panorama’s vision and commitment to quality aligned closely with the stories he wants to tell. “Together, we aim to create films that are rooted, entertaining and impactful,” he said.
The alliance underlines Malayalam cinema’s rising national and global pull, as deeper pockets and star power converge around content-driven filmmaking.
Hollywood
Trump invested over $1.1m in Netflix bonds at the peak of Warner Bros bidding battle
Financial disclosures show U.S. president also bought Warner Bros Discovery debt during high-stakes media takeover race.
WASHINGTON: New government financial disclosures show that U.S. president Donald Trump purchased more than $1.1 million worth of bonds issued by Netflix over the past three months. The transactions occurred during a period when Netflix was engaged in a competitive bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, a potential merger that the Trump administration had publicly criticised on antitrust grounds.
Between December and January, the president acquired Netflix bonds valued between $1.1 million and $2.25 million. The bonds carry a 5.375 per cent interest rate and are scheduled to mature in November 2029. Financial disclosures also revealed an additional investment in Warner Bros Discovery bonds. The purchase was valued between $500,002 and $1 million, with the debt reportedly bought at roughly 92 cents on the dollar. The bonds are now trading at around 95 cents on the dollar, leaving the position currently in profit.
The timing of the investments has drawn scrutiny because the administration had been openly critical of Netflix’s market activities at the time. While the president’s trust was purchasing the debt, the administration reportedly pressured Netflix to remove board member Susan Rice and expressed concerns that a Netflix–Warner merger could harm competition.
The White House has dismissed conflict-of-interest concerns, stating that the president’s assets are managed independently by his children. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said U.S. presidents are legally exempt from the conflict-of-interest laws that apply to other federal officials.
Despite the financial interest, Netflix ultimately lost the race to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Paramount Skydance secured the deal on 27 February with a $110 billion offer. The acquisition was backed by Larry Ellison, who guaranteed $40 billion to support the bid, while major lenders including Bank of America, Citigroup and Apollo Global Management provided $39 billion in financing.
The final acquisition leaves the combined Paramount entity carrying roughly $85 billion in debt, while Netflix withdrew its bid roughly two weeks before the official disclosure report was released.
