The RCS (also called modern SMS) technology is being promoted by Google in the face of still competition from Apple iMessage…reports Asian Lite News
Despite tough competition from OTT messaging apps, the total number of RCS (Rich Communication Services) subscribers will grow from 1.2 billion in 2022 to 3.8 billion by 2026, accounting for 40 per cent of global mobile subscribers, a new report showed on Wednesday.
This represents a growth of over 200 per cent, according to Juniper Research.
The RCS (also called modern SMS) technology is being promoted by Google in the face of still competition from Apple iMessages.
RCS is a next-generation SMS protocol that upgrades text messaging with features like payments, high-resolution photo and file sharing, location sharing, video calls and much more.
It provides advanced business messaging services, such as chatbots and payments.
However, OTT messaging apps, which control their own development, will provide fierce competition for rich-media business messaging traffic.
To combat this threat, operators must promote the greater reach of RCS to subscribers over the fragmented OTT ecosystem to demonstrate its value, the report noted.
Despite the competition from OTT apps, the research forecasts global operator revenue from RCS will grow from $230 million in 2022 to over $4.6 billion by 2026.
To capitalise on this growth and combat OTT messaging competition, it recommends RCS providers offer a simple price-per-message monetisation model that has already been established through the use of SMS business messaging.
By 2026, the research anticipates that 95 per cent of RCS business traffic will remain on this model.
The Netflix film starring Taapsee Pannu and Tahir Raj Bhasin is a roller coaster ride full of thrills, excitement, and edge-of-your-seat moments…reports Asian Lite News
The first weekend of February is expected to attract the majority of couch potatoes who, rather than venturing out into the cold, would prefer to binge-watch the latest OTT releases. This weekend brings us six amazing stories, each with a unique plot and intriguing storyline. We’ve compiled a list of this week’s releases so you can get a head start on your weekend fun; check it out!
The Great Indian Murder – Disney+ Hotstar
The show, based on the novel Six Suspects, is produced by Bollywood star Ajay Devgn and directed by critically acclaimed Tigmanshu Dhulia. The cast lineup, which includes Pratik Gandhi, Ashutosh Rana, Richa Chadha, Raghubir Yadav, and Paoli Dam, among others, is enough to pique your interest, but the genre – thriller – adds to it. A CBI investigation into the murder of a spoiled brat leads to the arrest of six suspects. Following that, an investigation full of numerous twists, turns, and versions begins. The show is available on Disney+Hotstar.
Detective Boomrah – MX Player
This week marks the return of a detective series after a long hiatus. Detective Boomrah’s first season, which is now available on MX Player, follows a detective duo as they investigate the disappearance of a man who appeared mysteriously in a locked room of a Haveli-turned-heritage hotel in Rajasthan. When Detective Boomrah comes across a Sitar girl and is attacked by an unidentified assailant, the mystery deepens. Sudhanshu Rai, who also plays Detective Boomrah in the series, directed it.
Loop Lapeta – Netflix
The Netflix film starring Taapsee Pannu and Tahir Raj Bhasin is a roller coaster ride full of thrills, excitement, and edge-of-your-seat moments. As the trailer suggests, a major highlight of the film is a time loop referred to as the ‘cycle of life,’ in which both Satya and Savi are trapped. Savi has only 50 minutes to raise Rs 50 lakh to save her boyfriend, who happens to be shot dead. Soon after, he comes back to life, as if time has stopped. Loop Lapeta, directed by Aakash Bhatia, is hailed as the perfect blend of comedy and suspense.
Rocket Boys – Sony Liv
Rocket Boys is a tribute to two sons of the soil – Dr Homi J Bhabha and Dr Vikram Sarabhai – who are regarded as the forefathers of India’s space adventure. The series delves deeper into the lives of great Indian scientists who worked in both foreign lands and India to push India’s space programme past the glass ceiling. The series’ lead actors include Ishwak Singh, Jim Sarbh, Regina Cassandra, Rajit Kapoor, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya, among others.
Murderville – Netflix
Murderville is a must-see for fans of international shows, as it is part scripted crime comedy, part improv exercise, and part immersive plot. In each episode, a celebrity guest joins detective Terry Seattle to solve various cases. Murderville, with its likeable cast, guest stars, and complex mysteries, avoids becoming too intense by including a number of light-hearted and funny moments. As a result, don’t miss out on Netflix’s improvisational crime comedy.
The Mirzapur actress isn’t afraid to experiment with new make-up trends, from classic kohl eyes to edgy winged eyeliner…writes Nimerta C Sharan
If you’ve been binge-watching your favourite episodes on OTT, you’ll attest to the high quality of content available. There’s a lot to look forward to, from sharp scripts to amazing performances. In the midst of it all, there are a few local OTT celebs that are giving us big style goals. The top five on our best-dressed list are:
Shefali Shah
Shah has a wealth of creativity and has produced some wonderful work throughout the years. She never goes undetected, whether it’s on television, in films, or in online series. In terms of fashion, the 49-year-old has a unique track record. She prefers to wear saris, sophisticated co-ord ensembles, and comfortable kaftans.
Rasika Dugal
What is her personal style? Elegant and simple. Dugal wears a lot of flowy gowns, informal Indian attire, and comfortable separates. You can’t help but notice something effortless about her and her style. The Mirzapur actress isn’t afraid to experiment with new make-up trends, from classic kohl eyes to edgy winged eyeliner.
Sobhita Dhulipala
Dhulipala is OTT’s ideal fashion diva, and she can pull off anything. The actress, who appears frequently in fashion magazines, has a particular style that includes unusual silhouettes and bold accessories. Beautiful saris have been a part of some of her most iconic outfits, including the monochromatic Sabyasachi she wore to a Dubai event. Kirti Kulhari
The prominent star’s style is defined as whimsical and eccentric. Kulhari, like her character in ‘Four More Shots Please,’ prefers to dress in vivid, statement-making outfits. She also enjoys experimenting with her hair and make-up, and she frequently appears on best-dressed lists. The actress is just as proud of her pantsuits as she is of her kurtas.
Shweta Tripathi Sharma
Sharma’s style graph swings between playful and ferocious. Her Instagram account, ‘battatawada,’ is full of images about her web series, travel, and some seriously stylish ensembles. Her enthusiasm for patterns, classic pieces, and charming dresses is evident just a brief glance at her profile. Sharma’s latest over-the-top film, ‘Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein,’ is a must-see.
Ajay Devgn, who has produced the show, shares, “‘Six Suspects’, as a book, intrigued and fascinated me greatly. As an ardent fan of thrillers, I am looking forward to ‘The Great Indian Murder’ as it intricately deals with a common subject like class divide and revenge but with a lot of glamour.”…reports Asian Lite News
The trailer of the upcoming thriller series ‘The Great Indian Murder’ was released on Tuesday. The show based on author Vikas Swarup’s riveting novel ‘Six Suspects’ has been helmed by Tigmanshu Dhulia.
The show, co-written for the screen by Tigmanshu Dhulia, Vijay Maurya and Puneet Sharma, presents a gripping narrative which tracks the murder of a spoilt brat Vicky Rai, who is the son of the Home Minister of Chhattisgarh, Jagannath Rai, and the investigation that follows.
Six suspects surrounding Vicky’s murder come under the radar of the case’s investigating officers DCP Sudha Bhardwaj played by Richa Chadha and Suraj Yadav essayed by Pratik Gandhi of Central Bureau of Investigation. Using the Rashomon effect with aplomb, ‘The Great Indian Murder’ explores several versions of a single murder, a story that Sudha and Suraj weave through their investigations.
Talking about the series, director Tigmanshu Dhulia says, “While working on ‘The Great Indian Murder’, I was taken back to my love for thrillers and murder mysteries. Vikas Swarup’s ‘Six Suspects’ has been on my list of top thrillers, so envisioning it for the screen was doubly exciting for me. The story does an excellent job of blending mystery, murder and fate with a unique storyline.”
Highlighting the importance of each character in the story, he adds, “Every character in the series holds the fort with their characteristic individuality that adds to the raw eclectic feel of the series. It is unlike anything I have worked on before. It has been a great journey, and I hope the audience shows ‘The Great Indian Murder’ much love and appreciation. Disney+ Hotstar has been creating some path breaking content over the years so we couldn’t have better partners than them to showcase the show.”
Talking about her affinity for thrillers, Richa Chadha says, “Thrillers have always been an exciting genre for me – it challenges you greatly and stretches your capabilities as an actor. When I read the script for ‘The Great Indian Murder’, I knew instantly that it was a project I wanted to be a part of. There’s an intriguing story to tell here, and Tigmanshu is a brilliant director who was there for me and for the rest of the cast to guide and direct.”
She concurs with her director, “Each character in this series has an intense motive and justification for their actions – it is somewhat relatable, yet nerve-wracking. It is an exemplary example of thriller series writing which only Tigmanshu Dhulia could have pulled off. Can’t wait to see the audience’s reaction to it.”
Pratik Gandhi reveals, “I wanted to be very thoughtful about my next digital outing and ‘The Great Indian Murder’ and Disney+ Hostar seemed like the perfect choice. My character Suraj Yadav was a whole new challenge for me. He is someone who represents the law but never shies away from breaking it or mending it to ease his way.”
He adds, “This grey layer and his easy transition between the dark and light sides make him special and very human. I am extremely grateful to Tigmanshu Dhulia and Richa Chadha for constantly being by my side and helping me to interpret the character. Hope Suraj Yadav receives a lot of love and appreciation.”
Ajay Devgn, who has produced the show, shares, “‘Six Suspects’, as a book, intrigued and fascinated me greatly. As an ardent fan of thrillers, I am looking forward to ‘The Great Indian Murder’ as it intricately deals with a common subject like class divide and revenge but with a lot of glamour.”
Talking about his collaboration with Tigmanshu, he adds, “Collaborating with Tigmanshu Dhulia to bring alive this exhilarating thriller on screen was an obvious choice, given his phenomenal creation of some of the best thrillers in India. Disney+ Hotstar and I share a strong relationship and I relate to their creative ambition and ability to think big.”
Producer Priti Vinay Sinha says, “It’s been an adrenaline filled three-year journey from the day I acquired the rights of the book from Vikas Swarup to producing ‘The Great Indian Murder’ into a fascinating series with a greatly talented cast and crew. I am really excited to share our web series with the audience. Ajay and I partnering as producers under our banner ADF & RLE Media for the first time and working with Tigmanshu Dhulia and Disney+ Hotstar has been a dream run.”
Gaurav Banerjee, Head, Content, Disney+ Hotstar and HSM Entertainment network, Disney Star India, says, “We are thrilled to bring yet another powerful and genre-defining story with ‘The Great Indian Murder’. Starring critically acclaimed actors and helmed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, the series’ crossover of characters from different walks of life makes it a highly intriguing title that is sure to entertain audiences across the country.”
‘The Great Indian Murder’ will be available to stream exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar from February 4 in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali.
Significantly, in 2020 Amazon Prime had released the first edition of Unpaused, which was lauded by the audience. The series is set to release on January 21…writes N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
For cinephiles like us, nothing can be more entertaining than the idea of watching a binge-worthy series on a lazy day. As the winter is yet to remain for some time now and also amid the looming threat of a pandemic, the best bet for a fun-filled weekend is being a couch potato. We have compiled a list of a few web series, slated to release this week across Netflix, MX Player, Amazon Prime and YouTube, that would be your absolute dose of entertainment.
Bhaukaal 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6tMSo7xF_c
The audience had loved it when once the ‘Mahadev’ of Indian television, Mohit Raina donned the cap of a fearless cop who was out to dismantle the nexus of crime and conspiracies. The second season of the show, which is based on real-life events, is set to stream on January 20 and the trailer has already been loved by the audience. In the new season, IPS Sekera would face the aftermath of his actions against the baddies in the first edition of Bhaukaal. The show also stars Bidita Beg, Siddhanth Kapoor, Pradeep Nagar and Rashmi Rajput, among others.
Detective Boomrah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TdT-Pr5G4Y
An all-new series on the list, Detective Boomrah is a detective thriller that would consist of different cases. The first case that the detective is investigating is the care of a missing man, who appeared mysteriously in a locked room of a heritage hotel and later jumped from the terrace to vanish in thin air. Several unique elements of the Indian culture, such as ‘sitar vadan’ and mythological references have been incorporated in the series. Storyteller-turned-filmmaker Sudhanshu Rai is playing the lead in the series while the other cast includes Raghav Jhingran, Shobhit Sujay, Ahmad Akhlaq Azad, Abhishek Sonpaliya, Manisha Sharma and Garima Rai. It is set for a January 21 release.
Ozark Season 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB3xj2BKgHs
The much-anticipated fourth edition of Netflix original Ozark is also included in the list of releases for the week. The new season will reportedly consist of 14 new episodes. As the last season of the thriller drama left the audience with a lot of questions, it would be interesting to see how the new season unfolds. The caption with the trailer read – No one gets out clean, triggering further speculation about the plot. The series stars Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz and Skylar Gaertner. The series starts streaming on January 21.
As we see it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_JA2JXM25Y
The Amazon Prime series is packed with eight interesting episodes, which would chronicle the journey of some roommates on the autism spectrum. How the young ones struggle in their tryst to make a career, develop friendship and romance forms the plot of the series, which is expected to be a wholesome entertainer. All episodes of the coming-of-age drama series start streaming on January 21. The cast of the series includes Rick Glassman, Sosie Bacon, Chris Pang, Albert Rutecki and Sue Ann Pien, among others.
The new Amazon Prime series Unpaused Naya Safar is a collection of different stories around positivity, fresh beginnings and optimism. The four stories weaved together are – Teen Tigada, War Room, Gond Ke Laddu, The Couple and Vaikunth. Significantly, in 2020 Amazon Prime had released the first edition of Unpaused, which was lauded by the audience. The series is set to release on January 21 stars Saqib Saleem, Neena Kulkarni, Shreya Dhanwanthary and Priyanshu Painyuli, among others.
Munich – The edge of war
Based on the international bestseller by Robert Harris. It is Autumn 1938 and Europe stands on the brink of war. Adolf Hitler is preparing to invade Czechoslovakia and Neville Chamberlain’s government desperately seeks a peaceful solution. With the pressure building, Hugh Legat, British civil servant, and Paul von Hartmann, German diplomat, travel to Munich for the emergency Conference. As negotiations begin, the two old friends find themselves at the centre of a web of political subterfuge and very real danger. With the whole world watching, can war be averted and, if so, at what cost?
‘Turning Red’ follows Mei Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang), a confident,dorky 13-year-old who turns into a giant red panda when she gets overly excited, which is incredibly easy to do as an excitable youngster…reports Asian Lite News
Pixar’s upcoming film ‘Turning Red’ would be skipping theatres and will debut directly on Disney Plus on March 11, Disney has announced. According to Variety, the family-friendly animated film follows ‘Soul’ and ‘Luca’ as fellow Pixar releases that went straight to the streaming platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ‘Toy Story’ spinoff ‘Lightyear’, starring Chris Evans, is still slated to release in theatres on June 17.
“Disney Plus subscribers around the world enthusiastically embraced Pixar’s Academy Award-winning ‘Soul’ and the critically-acclaimed ‘Luca’ when they premiered exclusively on the service, and we look forward to bringing them Pixar’s next incredible feature film ‘Turning Red’,” said Kareem Daniel, chairman of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, in a statement.
He added, “Given the delayed box office recovery, particularly for family films, flexibility remains at the core of our distribution decisions as we prioritize delivering the unparalleled content of The Walt Disney Company to audiences around the world.”
‘Turning Red’ follows Mei Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old who turns into a giant red panda when she gets overly excited, which is incredibly easy to do as an excitable youngster.
The voice cast includes Sandra Oh, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Orion Lee, Wang Ching Ho, Tristan Allerick Chen and Addie Chandler. Billish Eilish and Finneas O’Connell wrote original songs for the film, which will be performed by the fictional band 4*Town. O’Connell, Jordan Fisher, Josh Levi, Topher Ngo and Grayson Villenueva play the band members.
Domee Shi, who created the adorable Pixar short ‘Bao’, directs the film, which is produced by Lindsey Collins. ‘Turning Red’ marks Shi’s directorial debut and also the first Pixar movie to be solo directed by a woman, as per Variety. (ANI)
The actor recently spoke with us over the importance of star value for a film, the need for big-ticket releases, and the evolution of his working equation with filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli from ‘Magadheera’ to ‘RRR’….reports Akshay Acharya
Telugu superstar and producer Ram Charan, whose upcoming release ‘RRR’ has been postponed till further notice, states that big releases play a vital role in regulating the economy of the film industry.
The big-budget films not only generate employment but also make sure that people working at the lower rung of the crew get paid well.
The actor recently spoke with us over the importance of star value for a film, the need for big-ticket releases, and the evolution of his working equation with filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli from ‘Magadheera’ to ‘RRR’.
Elaborating on the hardwiring of star value with a film, the actor said, “The aspect of star value is only to bring the masses to the theatres. Post that the story takes over and the story has the responsibility to talk and make the audience sit in the theatre.”
Laying down the framework of commercial potboilers vis a vis the film industry, the producer opines, “Every film has its own role to play the business part of the entire industry but these (big releases) are the films that bring glory back to the theatres. Not differentiating between the OTT films or theatre films but on the whole all these (spectacle) films have their own part to play. Their numbers and their economy are integral to not just the industry but also to the government in the form of taxes.”
Ask him how his working with Rajamouli has changed over the years, and he quips, “As actors we evolve with every year, there has been a sea change especially since the last decade. S.S. Rajamouli has evolved multifold and just to work with such a person, who knows what he exactly wants from us, is a pleasure.”
A filmmaker with clarity of thought at the helm is a blessing for any artiste working on a film set, “Our job gets so much easier when we are working with someone, who is so sure about what he’s making. He has evolved so much, I am really blessed to work with him.”
Although the third wave played spoilsport for the film’s release, he is hopeful that normalcy would soon return and the audience while relieving the stress would also appreciate the efforts into putting this film together, “What I am really looking forward to from this movie apart from it becoming a huge hit is that people appreciate the hard work of the entire team for making a film of this scale.”
“I think it’s been so long that I have been in a theatre enjoying popcorn. Films like ‘Suryavanshi’, ‘RRR’ and ‘Radhe Shyam’ are those that should bring back the theatre days to glory and provide a holistic experience of movie watching to people”, he concluded.
As the Sankranti season is to bring in new releases, the makers of ‘Shyam Singha Roy’ have taken this decision to start streaming the movie on OTT…reports Asian Lite News
Nani and Sai Pallavi’s hit movie ‘Shyam Singha Roy’ will start streaming on OTT from January 21.
‘Shyam Singha Roy’, which was released in theatres on December 24, is still running and earning good numbers.
The Nani-starrer is a time-travel story, with the ’70s-era Bengal and contemporary Hyderabad backdrop. Nani has played the role of a social reformer, while Sai Pallavi allured the audience in the role of a devadasi.
Rahul Sankrityan’s second directorial venture features Nani in a dual role. Nani, Sai Pallavi, Krithi Shetty, and Madonna Sebastian have been receiving critical acclaim ever since the release of the movie.
As the Sankranti season is to bring in new releases, the makers of ‘Shyam Singha Roy’ have taken this decision to start streaming the movie on OTT.
Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya’s ‘Bangarraju’ is slated for release on January 14, which would have an impact on ‘Shyam Singha Roy’. So, the OTT option is one better way to catch up with digital viewers.
Soha is known for appearing in films like ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Khoya Khoya Chand’, ‘Dil Maange More’, ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’, and ‘Midnight’s Children’, among others…reports Asian Lite News
Making her debut in 2004, Soha Ali Khan is one of those actresses who has only appeared in selected films and despite being the daughter of yesteryear actress Sharmila Tagore and sister of actor Saif Ali Khan, she managed to establish herself as a moderately famous actress.
As she makes her comeback in acting and debuts on OTT with ‘Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’, she says the OTT space is so very exciting for her to take up more acting projects.
Soha is known for appearing in films like ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Khoya Khoya Chand’, ‘Dil Maange More’, ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’, and ‘Midnight’s Children’, among others.
Asked about what attracts her towards OTT and Soha told IANS: “I think it is not just about OTT but how the audience is changing. When I started my acting career, back then people would mostly look for aspirational content and wanted to live the life they desire to have, through films. Now people are looking for relatability and they want to see themselves represented on-screen.
“People want to see their own story, desi kahaani that we say…instead of aping the west. That shift has given the opportunity for more stories and made this space interesting. That is why OTT is a more interesting space for me to do more work. I love this idea of telling a story in series because here we have the space for each character where I as an actor will be able to do a multi-layered performance that is more nuanced.”
Soha was last seen in the film ‘Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3’ that released in 2018.
She further added, “In between when I was not working, I was actually quite obsessed with my daughter, I love my daughter. I know, it is a very mummy thing but when I came back on the set and faced the camera, I realised I belong here. Apart from being the mother of my daughter, the next most exciting thing for me is acting.
“I also did another show called ‘Hush Hush’ that will also release soon. But I promised to myself to do more acting assignments because on one hand, thanks to OTT, much more exciting content is in the making and also I learned to balance between my mommyhood and acting gig.”
The show ‘Kaun Banegi Shikharwati’ also features Naseeruddin Shah, Lara Dutta, Kritika Kamra, and Raghubir Yadav, among others – and it was released on January 7 on ZEE5.
In ‘Human’, she will be donning the role of a doctor and a lot of attention is made to make her style statement different in a way to give her a distinguished identity in the show…reports Asian Lite News
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Actress Kirti Kulhari says it was a wholesome journey playing the character of Dr. Saira Sabharwal in the upcoming web series, ‘Human’, which will air on January 14.
Kirti says: “What a wholesome journey it has been playing Dr.Saira Sabharwal. Her character is layered and I love how the styling of the character resonates with the person she is. She has a style quotient which is very strong and can never go unnoticed.” Kirti is known for her work in movies such as ‘Shaitaan’, ‘Pink’ and web series, ‘Four More Shots Please’ among many others.
In ‘Human’, she will be donning the role of a doctor and a lot of attention is made to make her style statement different in a way to give her a distinguished identity in the show.
The actress shares further about her character Dr Saira’s wardrobe and looks. “Saira had a very interesting style quotient for sure. She has a beautiful hand-picked collection of saris. She is someone who enjoys wearing Indian as much as she enjoys wearing western clothes.”
Kirti refers to the stylist of this show, Radhika Mehra and says that she has done her job in an incredible way. “Radhika, our stylist, has done a remarkable job with the styling. The directors and the entire team put Saira in a very interesting manner in terms of her external appearances. Her look almost has a very international touch to it.”
“While I loved getting into the skin of Dr. Saira Sabharwal, playing one of the most complex characters ever, I can’t wait for people to know more about her once the show releases. What you see in the trailer is just the tip of the iceberg,” said the actress.
Radhika, who is also a stylist on the show, throws more light on Kirti’s style in ‘Human’. She says: “Saira’s character is not just a quintessential Bhopal girl. She has exposure to the outside world. She wears what she wants and carries it with confidence.
“You see a lot of small hints of Indian prints, slight bohemian touch in her styling. We’ve given her shirts with small floral Indian prints that she wears with very smartly cut trousers. Her hair and makeup are also subtle yet she stands out.”
Kirti, Shefali Shah starrer medical thriller series “Human” is set to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar.
Directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Mozez Singh, written by Mozez Singh and Ishani Banerjee, ‘Human’ is produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s Sunshine Pictures Pvt. Ltd.
After Human, the actress will next be seen in a feature film ‘Nayeka’ and ‘Four More Shots Please’ Season 3.
