iWorld
YouTube views for Hindi dub of ‘Sarrainodu’ soar
MUMBAI: Telugu actor Allu Arjun as well as the South Indian film industry has hit a new milestone. Telugu-language action film Sarrainodu, after being released in 2016, was dubbed in Hindi and Malayalam. The Hindi dubbed version has been raking in the views becoming one of the most watched Indian movies on YouTube.
Since the day the Hindi version was uploaded on YouTube, it was super hit and created new records. In a span of nine days, the film garnered 25 million views with 1.75 lakh likes. Now, after six months, 145 million viewers have watched the Hindi version on YouTube. Moreover, the movie now has more than 5 lakh likes.
The success of the film again proves that the increased use of social media is helping regional content to reach audiences across the country. The success of Sarrainodu has banked, to a large extent, on Allu Arjun’s increasing following in North India. The success of the movie also indicates the Indian audience’s growing affinity for video-streaming services.
Other than social media, the Boyapati Srinu-directed film was also a hit at the box office. According to reports, back in 2016, the film raked in Rs 127 crore at the box office. It was the fifth South film to enter the Rs 100 crore.
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iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
