iWorld
UMI strikes the right chord with Maddock Films in global music alliance
MUMBAI: The movie business just got a new soundtrack partner and this time, it’s playing to a global beat. Universal Music India (UMI), the Indian arm of Universal Music Group, has inked a strategic tie-up with Maddock Films and its new music label, Mad For Mussic, founded by producer-director Dinesh Vijan. The deal will see UMI serve as Maddock’s worldwide strategic partner for future film soundtracks and allied offerings.
For UMI, it’s more than just a duet, it’s a full-blown re-entry into India’s most dominant music category: film soundtracks. With UMG’s global network as its amplifier, Maddock’s repertoire will now find international stages, while UMI cements its foothold in a market where movies and music are inseparable.
Maddock Films, which has carved its niche with hits like Stree, Bhediya, Munjya and the upcoming Thama, has long treated music as central to its storytelling. Its chartbuster “Pardesiya” from Param Sundari is a case in point, having ruled social media and streaming platforms alike. “Our cinema is the cinema of real India,” said Vijan. “Music has always been one of its pillars. With UMG, we’re ready to scale that ambition.”
Universal, of course, is no stranger to Hindi film soundtracks. Its catalogue has spanned classics from Sholay and Deewar to Devdas and Bombay. But this partnership marks a sharp pivot to contemporary hindi film industry, with an eye on both local dominance and global resonance.
Calling the deal “a crucial step forward,” UMG’s Adam Granite hailed Vijan as “a first-class storyteller with an unparalleled ear for music.” UMI’s India MD Sanujeet Bhujabal called Maddock’s output “fearless, forward-thinking storytelling,” while India SA chairman & CEO Devraj Sanyal noted that the move comes at “the perfect time” for UMI to re-enter the Indian film music market.
With Maddock’s track record of genre-defining cinema from horror-comedies to mainstream hits and UMI’s global muscle, the stage is set for Hindi soundtracks to travel farther and louder than ever. Call it a match made in musical heaven, with India’s stories and songs primed for a world tour.
Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
