Documentary
Yash Raj Films promotes Hemant Kundnani to sr general manager communications
MUMBAI: Hemant Kundnani has been promoted to senior general manager – communications at Yash Raj Films (YRF), one of India’s most prestigious film production companies. The promotion comes after three years of service at the Hindi cinema powerhouse, where he previously held the position of general manager – communications.
Kundnani brings industry experience to his elevated role, having previously served as head of marketing at Pooja Entertainment from March 2020 to August 2021. During his tenure there, he oversaw marketing for Bellbottom, notably one of the first film projects globally to complete production during the coronavirus pandemic.
Before joining Pooja Entertainment, Kundnani spent nearly six years at The Walt Disney Co in increasingly senior positions. He served as senior manager for digital strategy, analytics and alliances at Fox Star Studios (a Disney subsidiary) from December 2016 to March 2020, where he focused on understanding cinema audiences and building data analytics capabilities to optimise marketing expenditure.
His Disney career began in the interactive division, where as manager of products, marketing and alliances, he spearheaded a global strategic alliance with the International Cricket Council to develop the official game of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. The game achieved the number one position in sports app rankings across India, UK and Australia, garnering one million downloads within three days of release.
Kundnani’s entertainment industry credentials also include a three-year stint at UTV, where he worked as senior associate marketing for UTV Stars movie channels. During this period, he contributed to the Walk of the Stars project, described as “a tribute to the big stars of Hindi cinema” and the first attraction of its kind in India.
Documentary
Netflix and Warner Music ink landmark documentary deal
The streaming giant has just unlocked one of the richest vaults in music history. Its rivals should be worried
CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK: Netflix and Warner Music Group have signed an exclusive multi-year deal to produce documentary series and films drawn from the label’s storied artist roster, the companies announced on Friday — a move that hands the streaming platform access to one of the most formidable catalogues in music history.
Warner Music Group represents legends including David Bowie, Cher, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell, alongside contemporary superstars such as Charli XCX, Coldplay and Bruno Mars. That is a staggering breadth of material for a platform hungry for prestige content and subscriber growth to match.
Under the agreement, Warner Music will work with Unigram, the production company aligned with the label, which will serve as the studio for its long-form projects. Each title will be developed in collaboration with the artists themselves or their estates, ensuring the kind of intimate access that turns a documentary into an event.
The deal reflects an intensifying race between music-rights owners and streaming platforms eager to turn deep catalogues into premium visual content. Music documentaries have become a vehicle for fan-driven, culturally resonant programming — a trend underscored by Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” film, which grossed over $260 million globally and reminded every platform chief just how lucrative the genre can be.
Netflix already boasts formidable credentials in music storytelling, with “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” and “Quincy” among its highest-profile releases. The Warner deal sharpens that edge considerably. Rival platforms have not been idle: Disney+ has released “The Beach Boys”, while Max has drawn attention with “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” Apple Music, meanwhile, has pushed into original content through its Apple Music Live series, producing documentaries and livestreamed concerts featuring Harry Styles and Billie Eilish.
The battle for music’s visual soul, then, is well and truly on. Netflix has just made its boldest move yet.
