iWorld
Tele-connectivity: Nepal’s dependence on India to end in Feb
MUMBAI: The sole dependence of Nepal on India to connect with global telecom services will end soon. The commercial operation of Nepal-China optical fibre link is set to begin in February. The Nepal-China trans-border connectivity project via Rasuwagadi (Nepal) is in the final stage of completion, as per Nepal Telecom (NT) officials.
Following the commercial operation of new optical fibre network, Nepal will be connected to the world via Hong Kong through China Telecom. Nepal, at present, is only linked to other countries through Indian telecommunication companies via different optical fibre connections at Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, and Birgunj, etc., The Himalayan Times reported.
In December 2016, Nepal Telecom and China Telecom had signed a pact to deliver internet protocol (IP) service in Nepal with terrestrial cable route (TCR) connecting the two nations. From February, internet service would become cheaper and more qualitative in Nepal.
NT deputy spokesperson Shovan Adhikari said that the process of laying optical fibre along the determined route had been completed. However, recent heavy snowfall on the Chinese side caused some of the fibres to break in certain areas, which resulted in delay in launching the project.
However, Adhikari said that the commercial operation of the cross-border optical fibre network was likely to begin from February as the Chinese authorities expedited the process of repairing the damaged lines after clearing the snow.
Before starting commercial operations, NT is expected to launch a confirmation testing of the project. The company had tested the operation of the optical fibre network interconnectivity with the neighbour last year.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
