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Jaman.com and NFDC to jointly premiere 30 films online
MUMBAI: The online movie download space jhas ust got more exciting. Unlike sites like netflix.com which offer direct-to-home video rentals, Jaman.com has decided to differentiate itself by delving into hi-definition downloads of socially driven cinema, produced by India‘s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). |
The California based website and NFDC have signed a 30-film online distribution deal wherein films from directors like Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal and Mrinal Sen will be available for download on website. Jaman‘s CEO and founder Gaurav Dhillon said, “While excellent films are made all over the world every year, less than one percent of them get traditional distribution in the U.S. Our partnership with NFDC makes the work of India‘s top directors available to anyone with internet access. These films clearly show that alongside a prolific Bollywood film industry, India has a deep and rich history of cinematic excellence.” |
The long-term Jaman and NFDC deal will kick off with 30 worldwide premieres that includes titles like Kundan Shah‘s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Sudhir Mishra‘s Main Zinda Hoon, Saeed Mirza‘s Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, Ketan Mehta‘s Mirch Masala, Govind Nihalani‘s Party, Basu Chatterjee‘s Tok Jhal Misti, Murali Nair‘s Arimpara amongst others. The NFDC is the Indian government‘s primary agency dedicated to promoting excellence in cinema and it has produced over 300 films. Several of these films have won national and international awards. |
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
