Marking a significant milestone in its catalogue expansion journey, Times Music owned by The Times Group announced the acquisition of Catrack Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., its third strategic acquisition and a key step forward in its ongoing partnership with Primary Wave Music. The deal brings a culturally significant Punjabi music catalogue into its fold, unlocking a legacy repertoire for renewed global discovery and commercial scale.

Established in 1990, Catrack Entertainment is a pioneering Punjabi music label that helped shape the genre’s defining era. Its golden era catalogue features iconic artists such as Babbu Maan, Malkit Singh, Channi Singh, and Dolly Singh, while also supporting early talent like Manmohan Waris, Surjit Khan, and Sukhwinder Panchhi. With a strong digital footprint and enduring cultural relevance, the catalogue offers significant opportunities across sync, film and OTT, brand collaborations, and contemporary reinterpretations.

This follows Times Music’s earlier acquisitions of ARC Musicq and Symphony Recording Co., as the company emerges as a steady and trustworthy deal closer to many such acquisitions.

Mr. Vineet Jain, Managing Director, The Times Group shares, “At The Times Group, we have always championed the voices that define India’s cultural fabric and with the acquisition of Catrack; Times Music reaffirms it’s commitment to preserving and powerfully amplifying the rich heritage of Punjabi music worldwide.”

Mandar Thakur, CEO, Times Music, said, “The Catrack catalogue is a cultural treasure that defined an era for Punjabi music lovers. This acquisition strengthens our commitment to preserving and re-energising India’s most iconic music and artists.”

Gaurav Trehan, Director, Catrack Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., said, “Times Music is an ideal partner for preserving the legacy of music created by Catrack, and the integrity and speed with which they closed this acquisition is commendable.”

David Loiterton, President, Indo & Asia Pacific, Primary Wave Music, added, “We’re delighted to welcome the legendary music of Catrack to our partnership with Times Music. Catrack is a great example of our pursuit of unique, iconic music IP that can transcend generations and cultures, and we’re looking forward to helping Times Music bring that music to new audiences around the world.”

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Director Buchi Babu Sana recently locked June 25 as the release date for Ram Charan’s Peddi, a period action drama co-starring Janhvi Kapoor. The move ended hopes of an early June release and has now placed Akhil Akkineni’s Lenin (featuring Meenakshi Chaudhary as the leading lady ) in a tricky situation, as the film is already slated for June 26. Both films are aiming at a wide release.

Akkineni Nagarjuna, one of the producers of Lenin, appears unfazed by the competition. The actor recently watched the first cut of his son’s rural romantic action entertainer and expressed immense confidence on social media. “I say this with confidence and pride… you are about to witness a new AKHIL on June 26, 2026. Mark the date,” he wrote, effectively reaffirming the planned release despite the looming clash.

watched the first cut of our film LENIN last night.
I say this with confidence and pride… you are about to witness a new AKHIL on June 26 2026.
mark the date!!!
see you in the theatres🔥

— Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) April 29, 2026

Ram Charan and Akhil Akkineni share a close off-screen bond. Akhil had once described Charan as his “3 a.m. friend.” “Our bonding is more than that. I have a handful of friends and some people are very special, and Charan is right up there,” Akhil had said in an earlier interview. But friendship and business rarely operate on the same script in cinema. If both films hold their dates, Tollywood could witness one of its most interesting face-offs in recent times.

Fans are also wondering why Peddi doesn’t move to June 4, recently vacated by Toxic. The date offers a huge solo-release advantage. However, the likely hurdle could be pending post-production work and heavy VFX requirements.
Another possibility remains whether Lenin could shift to June 4 instead. Yet Nagarjuna’s emphatic June 26 post suggests the team has little intention of moving. As of now, Ram Charan and Akhil Akkineni appear headed for a high-stakes back-to-back box office showdown.

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Samantha Ruth Prabhu has recently commenced promotions for her upcoming crime thriller, Maa Inti Bangaram (MIB). Directed by Nandini Reddy, the film is currently slated for release on May 15, 2026. However, just as promotions begin to gather momentum, Samantha and her team are reportedly evaluating a fresh development.

MIB distributors’ concern

The cascading effect of the IPL is no longer unusual, as it often influences film release dates. As the tournament moves closer to the knockout phase, audience interest intensifies. The massive popularity of the IPL is now said to be impacting the release strategy of Maa Inti Bangaram. According to sources, distributors of the film have advised the team to avoid clashing with the cricket tournament’s peak viewership. Buyers are reportedly suggesting a June 4 release date, which would also coincide with the end of the IPL season. However, Samantha is yet to take a final call. She also produces the film under her banner while her husband Raj Nidimoru serves as the creator

While the actress is said to be confident that the film will connect with audiences, she also reportedly understands the concerns of distributors. Samantha, who is also backing the project, is currently reviewing the matter. A decision may be taken after consultations with key stakeholders. Historically, April-May has often been a cautious release window for filmmakers due to IPL viewership, though strong content has occasionally broken through the competition. The MIB team is expected to reassess the situation and plan promotions accordingly.

MIB garners curiosity

Maa Inti Bangaram remains one of the more anticipated films of the summer. Apart from being headlined by Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the project also reunites the actress with director Nandini Reddy for the third time, further raising expectations. The film reportedly features Samantha as a newlywed woman on a mission, hiding a violent past.

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