Reliance Industries Limited announced the completion of a merger with the India business of global media house Walt Disney on Thursday. With this, Viacom 18 Media Private Limited, Reliance Industries Limited, and The Walt Disney Company announced the formation of a joint venture. The joint venture was formed after the approval by the National Company Law Tribuna (NCLT) Mumbai, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and other regulatory authorities. Reliance also announced that the transactional value of the joint venture was evaluated at Rs. 70,352 crores on a post-money basis.

Reliance, Disney Complete Merger

In a press release, Reliance announced the completion of the merger with Disney following approvals from regulatory bodies. This comes after the two entities announced a strategic partnership to form a joint venture in February. Reliance Industries has invested Rs. 11,500 crores into the joint venture and holds 16.34 percent of the stake in the company. Reliance’s step-down unit Viacom 18, which is also a partner in the joint venture, holds a 46.82 percent stake in the venture while Disney holds the rest of the 36.84 percent.

The joint venture will combine Star and Colors channels on the television side, while it will bring together JioCinema and Hotstar on the digital front. The joint venture will be headed by Nita Ambani, who will act as the Chairperson of the entity.

Highlighting the size of the joint venture, the press release claimed that it holds a combined revenue of approximately Rs. 26,000 crores for the fiscal year that ended in March 2024. Further, the joint venture will now operate more than 100 television channels that produce more than 30,000 hours of content annually.

On the digital front, Reliance claimed that JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar have an aggregate subscription base of more than 50 million, however, this does not account for any overlaps where a user subscribes to both platforms. Additionally, the joint venture also holds digital sports rights across cricket, football, and other sporting events.

Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries said after the merger, “Our deep creative expertise and relationship with Disney, along with our unmatched understanding of the Indian consumer will ensure unparalleled content choices at affordable prices for Indian viewers.”

Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali’s thriller, Kishkindha Kaandam, directed by Dinjith Ayyathan, will soon be available on Disney+ Hotstar. Following its success in cinemas, where it ran for over two months, the movie is reported to release digitally in December. Although an official announcement from Disney+ Hotstar is pending, sources suggest the thriller might debut by the end of November.

As per a report by OTTPlay, the movie is set to release  on November 19, 2024 on the popular OTT platform. The report highlights that the movie might be available in different langauges, including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. That said, there is no official confirmation about the release date of the Kishkindha Kaandam, so we suggest you take this leak with a pinch of salt. The release follows Disney+ Hotstar’s premiere of Ajayante Randam Moshanam, another Malayalam blockbuster, indicating the platform’s strong push for Malayalam content this season.

Official Trailer and Plot of Kishkindha Kaandam

Kishkindha Kaandam is crafted as a mystery-thriller, telling the story of a newly-wed woman who moves in with her father-in-law and husband. She soon finds herself in a web of mystery, trying to uncover the truth behind a child’s disappearance and a missing revolver, all while navigating the emotional complexities of her father-in-law’s deteriorating mental health. The narrative, penned by Bahul Ramesh, has resonated strongly with audiences who favour intense, character-driven plots.

Cast and Crew of Kishkindha Kaandam

The film stars Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali, with Vijayaraghavan playing a significant role. The movie’s screenplay was developed by cinematographer Bahul Ramesh, adding a visual richness that complements the story’s emotional depth. Helmed by Dinjith Ayyathan, the team has aimed to deliver a suspenseful experience.

Reception of Kishkindha Kaandam

Released in theatres in September, Kishkindha Kaandam has been a box-office surprise, gaining popularity for its slow-burn approach to storytelling. The movie has been well-received, especially in Kerala. The movie has received an 8.6 / 10 on IMDb rating. The film’s lifetime box office collection 48.75 crores gross in India and 27.20 crores gross in the overseas market.