iWorld
SonyLIV bids high on South content, bags digital rights for two Malayalam films
Mumbai: With an aim to bring diverse content across languages and genres, streaming platform SonyLIV has bagged the direct-to-digital release of two new Malayalam films “Salute” and “Puzhu.” This is for the first time that father-son duo Mammootty and Dulquer Salman will be launching their films on the same OTT platform.
Dulquer-starrer “Salute” is the investigative drama, whereas Mammootty will be seen in the crime thriller “Puzhu.”
Helmed by Rosshan Andrews, “Salute” marks the first association of Dulquer with the director as well as the writer-duo of Bobby and Sanjay. Produced under his production banner Wayfarer Films, it will also be the Malayalam debut of Bollywood actor Diana Penty and will also star Manoj K Jayan in a pivotal role.
Dulquer will also be producing Mammootty’s “Puzhu” under his banner along with S George’s Cyn Cyl Celluloid. Helmed by debutante director Ratheena PT, the film will also star Parvathy Thiruvothu in the lead.
“The story of ‘Puzhu’ excited me the most,” said actor Mammootty. “As an actor, it has always been my aim to keep reinventing myself, and to take up newer, more exciting projects. ‘Puzhu’ marks another step in that direction. We tried to tell a story that we believed in and put our hearts into. Hope the viewers like what they see.”
‘It was a great experience working on ‘Salute,’” said actor and producer Dulquer Salman. “I have always been drawn to roles that push me beyond my comfort zone and challenge me as an actor. Bobby and Sanjay have done a remarkable job with the script. It is an intriguing and taut thriller with the characters going through various emotional conflicts and bearing the consequences of their actions. I have always admired Rosshan Andrews’ craft, and it was an honour to work with him. This is very different from the other films I have done so far, and I cannot wait for the audiences to watch it.”
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.
