iWorld
Vodafone Idea plans new music streaming service
MUMBAI: The largest telecom player of India is now planning to bet on a music streaming service. Vodafone Idea Ltd has plans in store to launch a new music streaming app while its biggest rivals already have ventured into the segment. The telco player will come up with the new app through partnership though did not reveal the name of the concerned company.
At a time when all the telco players are upping their content game, the strategic move will definitely help Vodafone Idea going forward, especially to take on Bharti Airtel’s Wynk Music and Reliance Jio’s JioSaavn. With the entry of the new music streaming app, the existing Idea Music app will be shut down.
“We are sunsetting the Idea Music app and we will come up very soon with an offering that will provide the best-in-class music streaming services, through a partnership that we are in the final stages of closing," Vodafone Idea chief executive officer Balesh Sharma said in a post-earnings conference call with analysts.
The move could help the telco giant to retain subscribers also. Since the entry of Jio in the market, the ARPU of the operators has declined rapidly due to the ongoing tariff war. Two legit players including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea saw revenues from wireless business drop significantly over last two years.
However, the competition for Vodafone Idea’s new entrant will not be easy. Along with Wynk Music and JioSaavn, there are other players like players Gaana, Hungama, Apple Music and Google Play Music. Moreover, Spotify is expected to enter the Indian market by March as per media reports.
iWorld
Prime Video unveils trailer for Tamil series Exam, streaming May 15
Dushara Vijayan, Aditi Balan headline scam thriller set in exam world
CHENNAI: Prime Video has dropped the official trailer of its upcoming Tamil Original series Exam, a high-stakes suspense drama set in the murky world of competitive entrance exams.
Backed by creative producers Pushkar and Gayatri under Wallwatcher Films, the seven-episode series is written and directed by National Award-winner A. Sarkunam. It stars Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan in lead roles, with Abbas playing a pivotal character.
Set in the fictional town of Thykara, the series follows Jhansi, played by Dushara Vijayan, as she attempts to expose a deep-rooted scam, aided by her mentor Jayachandran, played by Abbas. Standing in her way is DSP Maramalli, portrayed by Aditi Balan, setting up a tense face-off driven by ambition, pressure and moral choices.
The show will stream from May 15 on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories. It will be available in Tamil, with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada, along with subtitles in 15 languages.
Writer-director A. Sarkunam said the story aims to resonate across geographies and social strata, going beyond the scam to explore ambition, pressure and the consequences of personal choices. He added that the narrative unfolds through the intersecting journeys of Jhansi and Maramalli, building tension as their worlds collide.
Dushara Vijayan described Jhansi as a fierce and determined character, calling the role both demanding and rewarding, with the story capturing the difficult choices her character must make.
Aditi Balan said the series offers a hard-hitting look at the exam ecosystem, adding that her character is layered and shaped by both internal conflict and external pressures.
Abbas, marking his return to mainstream Tamil entertainment, said the series stands out for its layered storytelling and unpredictable twists, with his character adding depth to the central narrative.
With its mix of suspense, social commentary and character-driven storytelling, Exam is shaping up to be a tense watch as it dives into one of India’s most high-pressure systems.
