iWorld
Prime Video announces line-up for 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
Mumbai : Prime Video returned to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) for its 55th edition, with a line-up of exclusive premieres, performances and more. Demonstrating its continued to promoting excellence in cinematic arts and appreciation for diverse storytelling, Prime Video’s presence at the iconic IFFI will be marked with several high-octane events. These include:
World Premiere of Unscripted Telugu Original Series—The Rana Daggubati Show: 21 November
Showcasing the first episode of the highly anticipated unscripted Telugu Original series—The Rana Daggubati Show at the festival, Prime Video will treat the attendees with a glimpse into the world of Rana Daggubati and his guests as they indulge in entertaining conversations and engaging activities that bring out a never-seen-before side of his guests. The premiere will be attended by none other than Rana Daggubati himself, along with Sonal Kabi, Director & Head – Marketing, Prime Video, India. Following the special screening, Rana will spill the beans on his exciting line-up of guests in the upcoming series and will engage in a tete-e-tete with the audience. Created and hosted by Rana Daggubati and executive produced by him under the banner of Spirit Media, the eight-episode series will feature a dazzling line-up of guests, including Dulquer Salmaan, Naga Chaitanya Akkineni, Nani, Rishab Shetty, Siddhu Jonnalagadda with Sreeleela, S.S. Rajamouli with Ram Gopal Varma, and many more prominent celebrities. Brimming with unfiltered conversations and unexplored facets of celebrities, The Rana Daggubati Show presents a refreshing take on the celebrity talk show format, as Rana and his guests unmask their fun side and reveal insights into their personal lives that are unknown to their fans and unheard of by the world while partaking in exciting activities and passionate hobbies that go beyond the silver screen. The Rana Daggubati Show will premiere exclusively on Prime Video starting November 23 in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, with new episodes dropping every Saturday.
Asia Premiere of Internationally Acclaimed Original Movie The Mehta Boys: 25 November
The Mehta Boys will make its Asia debut at IFFI on 25 November. The movie will take the audience on a heartfelt exploration of the complex and often turbulent bond between a father and son, who are compelled to spend 48 hours together under challenging circumstances. The Mehta Boys stole the spotlight at the 15th Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) with the exclusive world premiere on the Opening Night on September 20th. The movie was honoured with the prestigious Best Feature Film award. The Mehta Boys marks Boman Irani’s directorial debut, has received this accolade for its compelling storytelling and heartfelt performances, resonating deeply with audiences and critics alike. The premiere will be attended by the film’s cast, including actor, writer, director, and producer Boman Irani, along with writer Alexander Dinelaris Jr., actors Avinash Tiwary, Shreya Chaudhry and Puja Sarup and producer Danesh Irani.
Musical Performance by Bandish Bandits Season 2 Team at the Closing Ceremony: 28 November
Known for celebrating India’s cultural diversity through powerful storytelling, Prime Video will present at IFFI’s closing ceremony, a vibrant Jugalbandi performance featuring the highly talented team of its upcoming musical drama Bandish Bandits Season 2. Audiences will enjoy both soulful and energetic compositions performed live by musicians Nikita Gandhi, Digvijay Singh Pariyar and Mame Khan. The event will also be attended by the lead cast Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhary, Producer Amritpal Singh Bindra, Director Anand Tiwari, and Nikhil Madhok, Head of Originals, Prime Video, India. The live music performance will be followed by an exciting show reveal.
In addition to the above, Prime Video will also participate in the Knowledge Series at NFDC’s Film Bazaar at IFFI:
Panel Discussion on Greenlighting Your Project: Strategies for Film & Series Creators: 22 November
Prime Video India director – Content Licensing Manish Menghani will participate in this highly insightful panel session that will also feature industry leaders including Jyoti Deshpande, CEO of Viacom18, filmmaker Nikhil Advani, and Shobha Sant, CEO of Creativeland Studios, with filmmaker Richie Mehta moderating the discussion. Together, they will guide creators through the process of getting their projects greenlit, and offer expert insights into content development.
Besides this, Prime Video director & head – SVOD, Shilangi Mukherji will address the audience at a special event at IFFI.
iWorld
WhatsApp may soon let users to pick who sees their status updates
The messaging giant is borrowing a page from Instagram’s playbook as it pushes to give users finer control over their social circles.
CALIFORNIA: WhatsApp is quietly working on a feature that could make its Status function considerably smarter and considerably more private.
According to reports from beta tracking platforms, the app is testing a tool called Status lists, which would allow users to create named groups such as close friends, family and colleagues, and control precisely which group sees each update. It is a meaningful step up from the platform’s current blunt instruments, which offer only three options: share with all contacts, exclude specific people, or manually select individuals each time.
The new feature draws an obvious comparison with Instagram’s Close Friends function, and the resemblance is unlikely to be accidental. Both platforms sit within Meta’s family, and the company has been nudging them toward a common logic of audience segmentation for some time.
The move also fits neatly into WhatsApp’s broader privacy push. The platform has been rolling out enhanced chat protections and is exploring the introduction of usernames, which would allow users to connect without exchanging phone numbers. Status lists extend that philosophy from messaging into broadcasting.
Meanwhile, Status itself has been evolving well beyond its origins as a simple photo-and-text slideshow. The feature now supports music stickers, collages, longer videos and interactive elements, pushing it closer to the social-media-style story format pioneered by Snapchat and refined by Instagram. In that context, finer audience controls are not merely a privacy feature. They are a precondition for people sharing more.
The feature remains in development and has not been confirmed for release. WhatsApp routinely tests tools that are later modified or quietly shelved. But the direction of travel is clear: the app wants Status to be a destination, not an afterthought. Letting users decide exactly who is in the audience is how it gets there.
