iWorld
Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 becomes India’s #1 reality show of 2025
MUMBAI: Amazon MX Player’s Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 has cemented its place as the country’s biggest unscripted success story of the year. As per Ormax Media’s latest ranking of the Top 50 OTT Originals for H1 2025, the show emerged as India’s most-watched reality series, and the only one to trend for 11 consecutive weeks on Ormax’s weekly list of top OTT web shows.
Season 2 brought India’s underground hip-hop dance movement into the mainstream with over 25 million unique viewers tuning in to witness raw talent, breakout performances, and deeply personal journeys. The series was anchored by judges Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora, and amplified with appearances by leading personalities including Rajkummar Rao, Abhishek Bachchan, Raftaar, Sara Ali Khan, Munawar Faruqui, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Rohit Shetty, making it one of the most high-profile reality shows of the year. The finale crowned Shubhankar Gawde as India’s second hip-hop dance champion, capping off a season that redefined youth entertainment.
Speaking on the show’s success, Karan Bedi, Head, Amazon MX Player, said: ‘Hip Hop India Season 2 stood at the intersection of culture, content, and commerce. It brought a powerful subculture into the mainstream and gave brands a credible, high-engagement platform to connect with young India. The response has been phenomenal both in terms of viewership and brand resonance.’
The show raised the bar for branded content integrations and co-marketing at scale. Alongside title sponsor Realme, brands like Sprite, Tuborg, Pokémon, Spotify, and SpiceJet joined the movement in highly engaging ways. From innovative in-show integrations, immersive media ads, on-site and social media led gamification, to in-flight co-branding, Pokémon-themed dance acts, Spotify playlist integrations, the show created a high-impact ecosystem where brand narratives blended seamlessly with cultural moments.
Echoing the sentiment, Amazon MX Player director and head of content, Amogh Dusad added, ‘With Realme Hip Hop India Season 2, we set out to showcase hip-hop not just as a dance form, but as a cultural voice. This season’s response proves that authenticity, when paired with relevance, wins big. We’re proud to see the franchise has become both a fan obsession and a brand magnet.’
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.
