iWorld
Red FM beats the Pujo drum as Dugga Dugga debuts in Delhi this September
MUMBAI: When the dhol beats meet the Delhi streets, you know Pujo has arrived. 93.5 Red FM, India’s largest private radio and entertainment network, is bringing its much-loved Dugga Dugga – Shakti Roopena Sansthita festival to the capital for the very first time. After three packed-out editions in Kolkata, the fourth chapter of this cultural extravaganza unfolds on 20 September 2025 at Talkatora Stadium.
More than just a gig, Dugga Dugga is a full-bodied Pujo experience where literature, theatre, craft, food, fashion and faith come together in one grand celebration of Shakti. Think soulful ragas, electrifying guitars, graceful dance, and the irresistible aroma of Bengali delicacies all under one roof.
The star-studded line-up reflects Bengal’s creative soul: Dona Ganguly and her troupe will bring classical dance elegance, Iman Chakraborty lends her stirring voice, Anupam Roy Band injects contemporary edge, and Anjan Dutta with The Electric Band ensures an electric finale. The mix promises everything from folk traditions to modern rhythms, making Pujo feel both timeless and fresh.
“Dugga Dugga isn’t just a festival, it’s a living expression of unity, joy and resilience,” said Red FM and Magic FM Director & COO Nisha Narayanan. “With Delhi as our new canvas, we are weaving tradition with modernity where classical ragas meet spoken word and Pujo’s soul is reimagined for everyone.”
R FM’s hyper-local spirit shines through here too. Beyond the music, festivalgoers can expect poetry, crafts, artisanal creations and authentic Bengali cuisine. It’s designed as a multi-sensory journey that mirrors the devotion, artistry and community of Durga Puja, but with a Delhi twist.
With a footprint of 69 stations and over 663 award-winning campaigns to its name, Red FM is no stranger to cultural evangelism. But this edition of Dugga Dugga marks a milestone bridging Kolkata’s Pujo legacy with Delhi’s cultural pulse. For one night, the Talkatora Stadium won’t just echo with sound, it will resonate with the spirit of Shakti.
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
