iWorld
SonyLIV launches first Malayalam offering ‘Kaanekkaane’
Mumbai: SonyLIV’s first Malayalam offering “Kaanekkaane” is set to premiere on 17 September.
Directed by Manu Ashokan, the film features Aishwarya Lekshmi and Shruti Ramachandra in lead roles. “SonyLIV has opened a door of opportunities for the Malayalam film industry to showcase its content. Kaanekkaane is my second project as a director, and I am happy that I got to team up with writers Bobby and Sanjay once again,” said Ashokan, who is also known for the Malayalam film “Uyare”.
“After successfully exploring content in various languages, we are delighted to announce our first Malayalam offering. The film promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as we connect with the Malayalam speaking audiences in India and across the globe,” said Sony Pictures Networks India head of content for SonyLIV and Sony Entertainment Television Ashish Golwalkar.
Written by celebrated writers Bobby and Sanjayhe, the film is a mix of family drama and murder mystery. Produced by TR Shamsudheen, under the banner DreamKatcher, the film also features actors Dhanya Mary Varghese, Rony David Raj, Prem Prakash, Binu Pappu, Sruthy Jayan, and Alok Krishna in prominent roles.
“Each character in Kaanekkaane has been brilliantly written, and I had a great time working with Tovino and Aishwarya. My character has many facets to it and I enjoyed unravelling each layer in the film,” said actor Suraj Venjaramoodu.
“It feels great when you have such a brilliant team of cast and crew to work with. After a long time, I had the opportunity to work with Aishwarya Lekshmi and director Manu Ashokan and the experience was amazing,” said actor Tovino Thomas.
iWorld
OneOTT partners with UP govt for Project GANGA broadband rollout
Initiative to connect 2M plus households, empower 8,000–10,000 entrepreneurs in 2–3 years.
MUMBAI: Uttar Pradesh just got a digital Ganga flow because when broadband meets ambition, even villages start streaming faster than city traffic. OneOTT Intertainment Ltd. (OIL), the broadband arm of Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) under the Hinduja Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Transformation Commission (STC), Government of Uttar Pradesh, for Project GANGA (Government Assisted Network for Growth & Advancement).
The MoU, signed on 7 March 2026 in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Finance & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, aims to empower 8,000–10,000 local entrepreneurs at the Nyaya Panchayat level as independent Digital Service Providers (DSPs). A significant number of these DSPs are expected to be women. The initiative will deliver high-speed broadband to over 2 million households in the next 2–3 years and create direct and indirect employment for more than 100,000 individuals.
Project GANGA will support government priorities in digital education, healthcare and public services while enabling MSMEs and enterprises with reliable connectivity. DSPs will receive structured training, financing assistance, network build-out support and technology enablement.
STC CEO Manoj Kumar Singh said, “Project GANGA is a significant step toward expanding inclusive digital infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. By empowering local entrepreneurs, the program will strengthen service delivery and ensure affordable digital access for underserved communities.”
OIL, MD & CEO and HGS whole-time director Vynsley Fernandes added, “This initiative reflects our long-term commitment to enabling digital access and economic opportunity at scale. Project GANGA is structured as a multi-year program focused on entrepreneur onboarding, network deployment and workforce development.”
OIL brings execution strength backed by HGS and NXTDIGITAL’s national footprint, which already connects over 5 million homes across more than 4,500 pin codes in 1,500 cities and towns through 15,000 plus franchise partners and over 2 lakh kilometres of fibre infrastructure. The ecosystem will support broadband, IPTV, OTT, CCTV, satellite internet and cybersecurity solutions for households, businesses and public institutions.
In a state racing toward digital inclusion, Project GANGA isn’t just laying cables, it’s laying the foundation for millions to connect, learn, heal and earn, one Nyaya Panchayat at a time.
