The world's first NFT-funded film is Indian, & metaverse comedy | #138

Also, when India last won the Hockey World Cup 🏑

Jan 14, 2023

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Friends,

RRR is making waves all over the world. It recently became the highest grossing Indian film in Japan and its music director MM Keeravani, won the first Golden Globe for an Indian film, by winning the award for Best Original Song.

RRR was also revolutionary in other ways - they partnered with PVR cinemas, who renamed themselves PVRRR in a few locations. But the other interesting part of this partnership, they released PVRRR NFT Collection for fans to collect - such as coins, weapons and props.

In this week’s newsletter, we don’t doge anything in ether but try to look at the intersection of crypto and Indian Pop Culture, bit by bit.

Things we learnt this week 🤓

Vishal Malhotra has been in our lives since the 90s when started out as the host of Disney Hour. Most of us will recognize him from the trendy show Hip Hip Hurray. But the actor has been making NFT’s from 2021 and funded his first directorial debut through the sale of NFT’s. His film Ilm, is considered the first NFT funded film. Selling NFTs to get money for a passion project was a nifty move on Vishal’s part.

ENO has been in our lives (and stomachs) for 50 years now. The antacid brand decided to celebrate its anniversary in the new age with a stand up comedy show in the metaverse. Comedians Zakir Khan along with Rahul Subramainam, Kaneez Surka et. al participated in the show with their avatars interacting with each other in the Metaverse. Wonder if any stand up comedian used an Aunt Acid avatar.

Kids distribute chocolates, men cut birthday cakes, but only legends launch a metaverse platform, on their birthdays. The Mozart of Madras used his birthday to launch a pet project - Katraar, a digital platform for independent artists. This is not the first time that Rahman has done something unique - he directed and produced India’s first full-length VR film ‘Le Musk’ which premiered during the Cannes film festival.