iWorld
ZEEL consolidates digital biz, buys remainder in India Webportal for Rs 1.97 bn
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) will be acquiring the remainder 49 per cent equity stake in India Webportal Pvt Ltd Rs 1.97 billion to consolidate the digital business. India Webportal distributes media content on digital platforms through websites such as Bollywoodlife.com, India.com, and Cricketcountry.com.
The company will also be acquiring 12.5 per cent stake in Tagos Design Innovations for Rs 160 million, PTI reported.
ZEEL said in a BSE filing: “In line with the strategy to consolidate digital businesses, the Board of Directors of the company…approved acquisition of balance 49 per cent equity stake in India Webportal, a 51 per cent subsidiary of the company.”
Zee agreed to buy the 49% holding from existing investors Ashok Kurien (5%) and MMC Investments (44%).
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.
