iWorld
Saregama partners with Daler Mehndi to elevate his live performances
Mumbai: Saregama has announced the addition of iconic artist Daler Mehndi to its roster. This collaboration aims to enhance his live performance business across platforms, including colleges, festivals, and corporate events. Known as the ‘Messiah of Masti’ and the Father of Indian Pop Bhangra music, Daler Mehndi’s influence as a live performer aligns well with Saregama’s mission.
Daler Mehndi has spent decades shaping the live music scene, captivating audiences with his stage presence and performances. His shows have set industry benchmarks. Partnering with Saregama, recognised for its artist management and live events, promises to elevate Daler Mehndi’s performances, offering fans an enhanced experience. Saregama’s recent successes, including concerts with Divine, the ‘Yeh Shaam Mastani’ show featuring Zeenat Aman, and the upcoming 13-city ‘Dil-Luminati India tour’ with Diljit Dosanjh, showcase the label’s expertise in producing large-scale events.
Mehndi said, “I am thrilled to be joining hands with Saregama. Their reputation in artist management and live events is unmatched, and I’m excited to embark on this new journey with them. Together, we will bring more energy, more music, and more unforgettable performances to audiences around the world.”
Amidst other releases by the artist, Daler Mehndi’s refreshed version of his iconic party anthem ‘Na Na Na Na Na Re,’ the song, which originally united generations on the dance floor, has been given a modern twist and is already being embraced by fans, globally across age groups. With over seven million streams in a week of release, this remix has reaffirmed its place as a timeless hit.
“We are proud to welcome Daler Mehndi to our roster,” said Saregama’s SVP, films and events – Siddharth Anand Kumar. “Daler Mehndi is more than just an artist—he is an emotion. His energy, his music, and his presence have always had a special connection with fans. At Saregama, we have the expertise in both artist management and live event production to support him and take his performances to even greater heights. Together, we will continue to push boundaries and reach new milestones.”
Beyond his musical endeavors with hits like ’Jaragandi’, Daler Mehndi has also been expanding his artistic footprint. Marking 30 successful years in the music industry, the legendary Daler Mehndi is expected to innovate and provide a new sound – Rabab. Fans can expect more on this from the artist in the coming months.
With this powerful partnership, Daler Mehndi and Saregama are set to redefine the landscape of live performances and continue their legacy of delivering unforgettable music and entertainment.
iWorld
Prime Video to stream Tamil thriller Exam from May 15
Seven-episode series from National Award-winner A. Sarkunam streams in India and 240-plus countries
MUMBAI: Prime Video announced on April 27th that Exam, a taut seven-episode suspense drama set against the crucible of high-stakes competitive testing, will premiere on May 15th in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Written and directed by A. Sarkunam, a National Award-winner, the series is produced under the Wallwatcher Films banner by the creative duo Pushkar and Gayatri, who have previously delivered Suzhal: The Vortex (both seasons) and Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie for the platform. Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan lead the cast, with Abbas in a pivotal role.
The show will stream in Tamil with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, and subtitles in 15 languages, including English, a distribution sweep that underscores Prime Video’s push to globalise Indian regional content.
Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India, framed the series as both timely and commercially astute. “Exam is a very timely and relevant story that captures the emotional intensity of competitive exams and masterfully transforms it into a thrilling high-stakes drama,” he said. “We believe it is a story that will resonate deeply with millions.” Madhok noted that it was a privilege to once again collaborate with Pushkar and Gayatri following the success of Suzhal and Vadhandhi.
For Pushkar and Gayatri, the series is as much a moral reckoning as a thriller. “With Exam, we wanted to dig into ambition, injustice, and those moral crossroads that people face when pushed to the edge,” the creative producers said. “At the heart of this story is a young woman who refuses to remain powerless. Her journey is not about glamorising defiance, but about exploring the emotional and ethical cost of standing up to a system stacked against her.” They described Prime Video as “an incredible collaborator” and “the perfect home” to bring the series to global audiences.
Wallwatcher Films, which Pushkar and Gayatri founded and run, has been on a productive streak with the platform. Beyond Exam, the company is also readying Vadhandhi Season 2 for Prime Video, making the duo one of the platform’s most active regional creative partners.
The real exam, it seems, is for Prime Video itself: can a Tamil drama about systemic injustice and a young woman’s defiance crack audiences from Chennai to Chicago? If Pushkar and Gayatri’s track record is anything to go by, the answer is likely yes, and the results will be out on May 15th.
