iWorld
Sprinklr insights reveal Barbie mania sweeps India
Mumbai: The release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, has taken India by storm both on the big screen and across online and social media platforms. Barbie saw a steady increase in online mentions in recent weeks leading up to its release, owing largely to the tremendous hype generated by its quirky marketing campaigns and vivid visual trailers. This excitement peaked over the release weekend, as excited fans logged on to gush about the movie and post pictures of their all-pink outfits for the occasion – making it one of the most talked-about cinematic events of the year online.
As Barbie continues to paint the online world pink, we have compiled a snapshot of the trends and data surrounding Barbie on social media platforms over its opening weekend. This data has been compiled using the social listening capabilities of Sprinklr Insights, aggregating mentions from India across selected news outlets, and social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit.
Sprinklr Insights allows businesses and organisations to monitor, track, and analyse social media conversations and mentions related to their brands, products, or topics of interest.
Most Popular Regions
Of the 200,000+ mentions that Barbie received online in India over the last few weeks, a majority came from the metro regions across the country. The pinktacular motion picture made the biggest splash in Mumbai with over 15.6k online & social media mentions, while Delhi and Bengaluru followed closely with 12.4k and 8.8k mentions respectively.
Most Popular Hashtags
Buoyed by the sea of conversations surrounding the release, Barbie made its way to the top of the trending charts while its release date twin, the Christopher Nolan biopic Oppenheimer, took the runner-up spot. The two films, which have been affectionately given the online moniker ‘Barbenheimer,’ dominated the India trending charts throughout the weeks leading up to their opening weekend. Actor Priyanka Chahar Choudhary’s recently released song ‘Baarish Aa Gayi Hai’ also boosted her into the top five, setting up the trending hashtags list in India to look as follows:
Most Popular Collaborations
Redefining the realm of marketing, the Barbie film has launched a number of high-profile collaborations to delight fans and let them channel their inner Barbie every day. A number of iconic brands have caught the Barbie fever, unveiling vividly designed collaborations in the style and aesthetic of the film – and the fans are loving it! From clothing and makeup to tabletop and console games, here is a full list of the most popular Barbie collaborations that have gotten fans buzzing online:
iWorld
Prime Video drops trailer for Lukkhe, a rap crime drama starring KING in his acting debut
Eight episodes of revenge, redemption and hard-hitting rap arrive on the streaming platform on 8th May
MUMBAI: Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for Lukkhe, an eight-episode musical action drama built around the world of rap, crime and bruised relationships — and it has done so in suitably loud fashion, launching it at a live concert in Mumbai featuring electrifying performances by KING, Amira Gill, Akshath, Raashii Khanna, Ruaa Kayy and RUTVXK. As if that were not enough, the show’s music album was also dropped at the event, in collaboration with exclusive music streaming partner Amazon Music and music label Warner Music India.
The series is directed by Himank Gaur and produced by Vipul D. Shah and Rajesh Bahl under the banners of Optimystix Entertainment and White Guerrilla LLP. It is created and executive produced by Agrim Joshi and Debojit Das Purkayastha.
The cast is the talking point. KING, the acclaimed Indian rapper and songwriter, makes his acting debut as MC Badnaam, a performer consumed by rivalry and hunger for recognition. Raashii Khanna, returning to Prime Video after Farzi, plays Gurbani. Palak Tiwari, making her streaming debut, plays Sanober. Lakshvir Singh Saran plays Lucky. The ensemble also includes Nakul Roshan Sahdev, Kritika Bharadwaj, Shivankit Parihar, Yograj Singh and Ayesha Raza Mishra in pivotal roles.
The trailer plants its flag squarely in the tension between MC Badnaam and his rival MC OG, played by Parihar, while threading in the love story between Lucky and Sanober. The soundtrack, which spans hard-hitting rap anthems to emotionally charged melodies, is as much a character in the show as any of its leads.
Gaur was candid about what drew him to the project. “Lukkhe gave me a chance to dive into a world that’s loud, emotional, and constantly on edge,” he said. “What stayed with me was how every character is chasing something personal, and music becomes their way of expressing it. Working with this cast, especially KING in his debut, along with Raashii, Lakshvir, and Palak, was incredibly rewarding because they brought honesty that elevated every moment.”
Khanna reflected on her character with evident relish. “Playing Gurbani in Lukkhe was a really intense and fulfilling experience,” she said. “What I found most interesting was how her strength comes from something deeply personal, which shapes every decision she makes. It was about finding that balance between vulnerability and grit.”
KING, stepping in front of the camera for the first time, was characteristically direct. “Stepping into Lukkhe as MC Badnaam has been a defining moment for me,” he said. “What drew me in was how real his hunger and need to be heard felt. It’s something I connect with as an artist. Bringing music into his journey made the experience even more personal.”
Tiwari described the role as a first on multiple fronts. “It was my first time working with Prime Video, and the whole experience felt new and creatively satisfying,” she said. “Being part of a story that has both intense and heartfelt moments, along with a team that brought so much honesty to it, made this journey truly memorable.”
Saran, for his part, zeroed in on what made Lucky tick. “Lucky is someone who’s trying to move forward while still carrying the weight of his past, and that push-pull made him really interesting to explore,” he said. “There’s a sincerity to his journey that I hope people connect with.”
Lukkhe premieres on Prime Video in Hindi on 8th May, across India and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. In a streaming landscape drowning in crime dramas, this one is betting that putting a rapper at its centre – and meaning it – is enough to cut through the noise. On the evidence of the trailer, it might just be right.
