The Economic Times

Meghalaya is developing a creative economy focused on film production and digital content. The state's Film Tourism Policy 2025 offers incentives for productions and local talent. Its OTT platform 'Hello Meghalaya' supports regional content creators and their monetization. Bollywood professionals expressed interest in Meghalaya's locations and emerging creative pool. This strategy aims to create a comprehensive creative value chain for economic growth.

Bigg Boss Bangla has returned after nearly a decade with its third season on Star Jalsha and JioHotstar. Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly hosts the Bengali reality show, which features 15 contestants including Monami Ghosh, Bharat Kaul, Durnibar Saha, Dipendu Biswas, Alexandra Taylor, Srijla Guha and Sonamoni Saha, alongside influencers, entrepreneurs and social media personalities.

Comedian Samay Raina is facing criticism for remarks made about people from Bihar and Kashmiri Pandits. Clips of the exchange from India's Got Latent, Season 2, circulated widely on social media. BJP MLA Ram Kadam condemned the statements, calling them attention-seeking and disrespectful. Reactions from the Kashmiri Pandit community were mixed regarding the comedian's jokes. The episode also featured an exchange about vlogging with Archana Puran Singh.

'Awarapan 2' starring Emraan Hashmi has made a splash at the global box office, crossing the impressive two hundred crore rupee milestone. The film, directed by Nitin Kakkar, sees Hashmi reprising his iconic role as Shivam. As Shivam navigates the ruthless Bangkok underworld, his mission is to rescue kidnapped children. Featuring performances from Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi, this sequel builds on the legacy of the original 2007 film.

Gaana and Fenix360 have partnered to launch a new artist-fan ecosystem. This integration combines discovery, engagement, and monetization within the Gaana app. Artists can now build digital storefronts and offer merchandise directly to fans. The platform also enables ticket sales and paid live streams for artists. This new ecosystem aims to foster stronger artist-audience connections and revenue streams.

The National Company Law Tribunal approved a repayment plan for Essel Group founder Subhash Chandra. This plan does not signify banks writing off nearly all of Rs 22,000 crore in loans. The Rs 22,006 crore figure represents claims against Chandra as a personal guarantor. Corporate borrowers remain liable for their debts, and creditors retain recovery avenues. This case is an exceptional personal-guarantor resolution, not a corporate debt write-off.

Media baron Subhash Chandra states his personal insolvency claim totals Rs 3,992 crore. He has not borrowed any money directly from any lender. Dissenting creditors claimed Rs 22,000 crore against him in proceedings. A third member of NCLT approved a plan for Chandra to pay Rs 6.5 crore. This decision allows for potential recovery from borrowing entities directly.

JioStar vice chairman Uday Shankar said sports, particularly cricket, has been a major investment for the company, helping it build a digital audience of 600 million monthly active users. However, he said soaring cricket media rights costs have made the business increasingly difficult.

The Greek island of Ithaca anticipates increased tourism following the release of the Odyssey film. Businesses and officials expect many visitors to follow the epic poem's inspiration. While the movie generated publicity, no scenes were filmed on the island itself. Visitors will find Homeric monuments and literary heritage points of interest. The island's natural beauty and mythological connections draw interest beyond typical beach destinations.