ITV

Category: iWorld

  • Rise and Fall rises to the top on Amazon MX Player

    Rise and Fall rises to the top on Amazon MX Player

    MUMBAI: Talk about a reality check! Rise and Fall, Amazon MX Player’s latest digital blockbuster, has done everything but fall. The show has stormed into the record books as the most-watched series ever on the platform, amassing over half a billion views and holding its ground in India’s top OTT reality charts for six straight weeks.

    Produced by Banijay Asia, Rise and Fall threw 15 familiar faces including Pawan Singh, Dhanashree Verma, Kubbra Sait, and Kiku Sharda into a 42-day showdown of power, ambition, and strategy. Hosted by Ashneer Grover, the series saw audiences cast more than 11 million votes before crowning Arjun Bijlani as the ultimate winner.

    But the show’s real victory played out online, sparking over 10 billion social media views and a flood of memes, reactions, and fan edits. Hindi cinema and cricket stars from John Abraham to Ishan Kishan jumped on the bandwagon, amplifying the frenzy and turning the series into a cultural talking point.

    In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Rise and Fall aired daily on both Amazon MX Player and Sony Entertainment Television, bridging the gap between traditional TV and digital fandom. The result? Record-breaking engagement and a prime showcase for brands like Lux Cozi, Haier, and McDowell’s, which integrated into the narrative through clever placements and sponsorships.

    “The success and cultural impact of Rise and Fall have been phenomenal,” said Amazon MX Player director and head Karan Bedi. “It’s proof that entertainment and brand storytelling can converge powerfully to capture the nation’s imagination.”

    Banijay Asia founder and group CEO Deepak Dhar added, “This show redefined the scale and storytelling potential of Indian reality television. We wanted to blend ambition, strategy, and emotion in a format that feels fresh and globally resonant, and audiences have embraced it wholeheartedly.”

    Licensed through All3Media International and originally created by Studio Lambert in the UK, Rise and Fall has cemented itself as more than just another reality show, it’s a pop-culture phenomenon and a symbol of India’s evolving entertainment landscape.

  • BIG FM brings Ramayana to life with AI twist

    BIG FM brings Ramayana to life with AI twist

    MUMBAI: What happens when age-old wisdom meets artificial intelligence? You get a Ramayana retelling fit for the reel world. BIG FM, one of India’s leading radio networks, has launched ‘BIG Ramayana’, an AI-powered audio-video series that brings the timeless legend of Lord Ram to today’s screens and streams. Narrated by acclaimed actor Saurabh Raaj Jain, the series transforms the classic epic into bite-sized, visually rich reels, a perfect blend of mythology and modernity.

    The first episode premiered on 20 October 2025, alongside the launch of the BIG Ramayana Anthem, a soulful ode to dharma, devotion, and destiny. Designed for digital-first audiences, the project combines AI-enhanced reels, audio dramas, podcasts, celebrity capsules, RJ specials, and trivia segments, giving the Ramayana a dynamic, cross-platform presence.

    “At BIG FM, storytelling is in our DNA,” said BIG FM CEO Sunil Kumaran. “BIG Ramayana represents our belief that when tradition meets innovation, it creates something powerful and lasting. It’s about connecting today’s youth to stories that have defined generations.”

    Echoing the sentiment, chief marketing & product officer Atul Razdan added, “We wanted to make mythology matter again for Gen Z. With AI and creative storytelling, BIG Ramayana lets audiences rediscover these timeless tales in formats they truly relate to.”

    Listeners can catch AI-enhanced episodes on BIG FM’s social media platforms and tune in to radio broadcasts Monday to Friday at 8 am and 9 pm. The show also streams on Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Prime Music, and Gaana, proving that even an ancient epic can find its rhythm in a new digital dhun.

     

  • Hyderabad levels up as Comic Con and DreamHack unite for epic pop fest

    Hyderabad levels up as Comic Con and DreamHack unite for epic pop fest

    MUMBAI: Heroes, gamers, and dreamers assembled Hyderabad just turned into a real-life multiverse. The Maruti Suzuki Arena Hyderabad Comic Con, powered by Crunchyroll and paired with Dreamhack India, transformed Hitex Exhibition Centre into the capital of cool from 31 October to 2 November.

    Over 40,000 fans including 400-plus cosplayers descended on the venue for three packed days celebrating everything from anime and comics to esports and AR-fuelled fun. Organised by Comic Con India under Nodwin Gaming, the event fused nostalgia and next-gen tech in equal measure.

    Comic lovers geeked out with Mike Costa, writer and executive producer of Lucifer, and J. Gonzo, the artist behind striking covers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Ghost Rider. Joining them were 17 homegrown comic creators, 9 performers, and 80 exhibitors, ensuring every corner buzzed with creative energy.

    Maruti Suzuki kept things fast and fun with a reflex challenge and display zone, while Crunchyroll’s booth had anime fans grooving to a non-stop playlist. Android Land’s Panfest drew BGMI warriors into live open lobbies, where digital battles matched the on-ground adrenaline.

    Meanwhile, Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle blended the old with the new, offering fans a VR-powered dive into India’s mythological universes. The Running Man Rage Room let visitors smash their stress away, while the Predator Badlands Zone and Zootopia 2 Zone kept the high-octane vibes going.

    Adding star power, DreamHack India celebrated its sixth anniversary with a gamer’s paradise of retro titles, KO Fight Night, chess blitz tournaments, and BYOD arenas. KMR YoshiKiller claimed victory in Tekken 8, pocketing Rs 1 lakh, while JLQ Hallmark took home Rs 40,000 as the Super Smash Bros champ.

    The cosplay highlight came with the Hyderabad qualifiers for the Indian Championship of Cosplay 2026, where Pracheta Banerjee bagged the city crown and Rs 50,000, earning a spot in the national finals.

    Gaming icons like Scout, Kaashvi, Ghatak, and Trace God met fans at packed meet-and-greet zones powered by Revenant Esports, while Red Bull athletes and Godlike creators including Jonathan, V3nom, Zgod, Sharkshe, and Payal lit up the Red Bull Tetris National Finals. Even childhood favourite Rob (Harun Robert) of M.A.D. fame joined the party.

    Performers such as Syed Bashaar, Vivek Muralidharan, Karan Singh, Celinedee Matahari, and Kayden Sharma brought music, magic, and mischief to the stage, turning the convention into a festival of pure fandom.

    Reflecting on the success, Comic Con India CEO Shefali Johnson said, “Hyderabad’s energy was phenomenal, people of all ages came together to celebrate pop culture. From Shinchan to Ironman, fans showed up in full spirit.”

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & MD Akshat Rathee added, “We’ve once again brought pop culture and gaming together like never before. The enthusiasm from Hyderabad fuels us to make every season bigger and bolder.”

    With the capes folded and controllers powered down, Comic Con India now heads east with its first-ever Guwahati edition on 22–23 November 2025 proving that India’s pop culture universe is only getting larger, louder, and infinitely more legendary.

     

  • Lionsgate roars louder as Hollywood meets Hyderabad in 2026

    Lionsgate roars louder as Hollywood meets Hyderabad in 2026

    MUMBAI: Hollywood’s roaring lion just found its desi accent. Lionsgate Play, the premium streaming platform that’s redefined Hollywood for Indian screens, is entering 2026 with a bang and a hundred more. The platform has announced a record-breaking slate of 100 plus premieres across languages, cementing its claim as India’s “Home for Action” while widening its cinematic jungle to embrace regional storytelling.

    In just five years, Lionsgate Play has grown from a niche Hollywood service into a full-blown entertainment powerhouse now reaching over 40 million viewers through a vast distribution network that stretches from metros to mini-screens. Its latest evolution? A blend of blockbuster swagger and local soul.

    2025 was the turning point. With audiences increasingly vibing to Southern storytelling, Lionsgate Play turned its camera beyond Los Angeles, premiering Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam titles like Dakshina, Eleven, Soothravakyam, and Racharikam. The result was pure box-office streaming energy, a 40 per cent surge in consumption, even as the global industry reeled from the Hollywood strikes of 2024.

    And now, 2026 promises an even bolder leap. The platform’s upcoming lineup is stacked like never before, a global-meets-local buffet of spectacle and storytelling.

    The Hollywood big guns are back: From Gerard Butler’s Greenland: Migration to Angelina Jolie’s Kiss of the Spider Woman, and from Mutiny to The Rivals of Amziah King, the slate packs serious star wattage with the likes of Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, and Matthew McConaughey.

    The South stays strong: Building on its regional momentum, Lionsgate Play is rolling out 25 plus Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada titles, ensuring that cinematic flavour flows from both sides of the equator.

    The Hindi turn: The streamer is also going desi in Delhi expanding into Hindi originals with a curated mix of crime thrillers, horror comedies, and game shows, each designed to tap India’s ever-evolving taste for drama with a twist.

    And the classics never fade: In between the new, Lionsgate Play is doubling down on its cult collection. Think Sherlock meets Spider-Man, Rambo joins Men in Black, and Charlie Chaplin shares screen space with Jumanji and Anaconda. A line-up tailor-made for every mood, every generation.

    “Our journey so far has been defined by bold storytelling and a deep understanding of what today’s audience seeks quality, variety, and authenticity,” said Lionsgate Play Asia president Rohit Jain. “2026 marks a turning point. We’re scaling our stories, deepening regional connections, and making premium global entertainment more inclusive and accessible than ever before.”

    With its expanding footprint and its eye firmly on cultural inclusivity, Lionsgate Play is no longer just Hollywood’s Indian outpost, it’s a full-fledged entertainment ecosystem where Los Angeles meets Lucknow, and where cinematic worlds collide, connect, and click ‘Play’.

  • Snap to It Mahabharat Finds a New Lens with Historyverse and Snapchat

    Snap to It Mahabharat Finds a New Lens with Historyverse and Snapchat

    MUMBAI: When Mahabharat meets a Snap filter, you know history’s getting a glow-up. Collective Artists Network’s Historyverse, the tech-driven storytelling platform reimagining India’s past, has teamed up with Snapchat to bring one of the country’s oldest epics to one of its youngest audiences.

    In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Historyverse’s AI-enabled series Mahabharat: Ek Dharmayudh will now reach Snapchat’s vast Gen Z community in India, giving the timeless saga a modern makeover through the app’s playful digital formats from bite-sized episodes to immersive AR Lenses that let users step right into the story.

    “Our collaboration with Snapchat is a perfect reflection of what we stand for bridging culture, creativity, and technology,” said Collective Artists Network founder and group CEO Vijay Subramaniam. “With Mahabharat: Ek Dharmayudh, we’ve reimagined a story that has defined generations using AI. Partnering with Snapchat lets us take this heritage and introduce it to Gen Z in their own language and on their preferred platform.”

    Snapchat, long considered a digital playground for India’s 70 million-plus Gen Z users, sees this tie-up as a way to merge myth with modernity. “We’re chuffed to partner with Historyverse to bring the world of Mahabharat to our community,” said Snap Inc head of content partnerships & AR Saket Jha Saurabh. “From short-form content to immersive AR Lenses, this gives millions of Snapchatters a unique way to experience one of India’s greatest epics.”

    The AI-enabled adaptation, created under Historyverse and powered by Galleri 5’s homegrown G5 AI Pipeline, is already streaming on JioHotstar and airing on Star Plus from 25 October. The series uses advanced AI-driven storytelling and visual design to retell the Mahabharat with a futuristic flair where timeless dharma meets cutting-edge tech.

    Meanwhile, Historyverse’s presence on Snapchat has been growing at warp speed. Its vertical Sanatani Itihaas has already crossed 100,000 followers, reached 6 million unique viewers in the past month, and racked up 14 million Spotlight views proof that even ancient tales can trend in the age of AR.

    With this collaboration, Snapchat becomes the new Kurukshetra where tradition and technology spar playfully for Gen Z’s attention. For the Mahabharat’s warriors, destiny was written in the stars; for today’s creators, it might just be written in Snaps.

    As Historyverse and Snapchat team up, the message is clear history doesn’t have to stay in textbooks. Sometimes, all it takes is a camera lens, a clever filter, and a little bit of AI magic to make the oldest stories feel brand new again.

  • Krafton plots India’s path to esports glory

    Krafton plots India’s path to esports glory

    MUMBAI: Indian esports just got its marching orders. Krafton India chief executive Sean Hyunil Sohn has rolled out an ambitious 2026 roadmap designed to transform bedroom gamers into international champions. Speaking before thousands at the BGMI International Cup 2025 in New Delhi, Sohn unveiled an expanded tournament calendar spanning multiple cities—and a new awards ceremony to boot.

    The plan is deliciously simple: build a ladder. At the bottom sits BGMIS (Battlegrounds Mobile India Series), open to anyone with thumbs and ambition. Registrations open in late December 2025, with battles running January through March 2026. Survive that gauntlet and you graduate to BMPS (Pro Series) in May and June, where the winner bags a ticket to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh come July. Then comes BMSD (Showdown), a high-octane LAN slugfest running August to October. The cherry on top: BMIC (International Cup) in October, where India squares off against Korea and Japan on home turf.

    “This is more than a tournament calendar—it’s a structured pathway for Indian gamers to rise from grassroots to the global podium,” Sohn declared. The company is putting its money where its mouth is. In 2025 alone, Krafton’s tournaments offered a collective prize pool exceeding Rs 4 crore.

    The timing couldn’t be better. India’s esports scene has shed its scrappy underdog skin. Stadium-scale events now replace dingy internet cafés. Government recognition and corporate cash are flowing in. Krafton’s BGMI has racked up 240 million downloads, and the company has sunk over $200 million into Indian startups since 2021.

    Krafton India  associate director for esports Karan Pathak reckons the roadmap will democratise opportunity. “We want to give every player—from underdogs to champions—a platform to showcase their skill and represent India on the global stage,” he said.

    Krafton is also launching the inaugural Krafton India Awards on 9 January 2026 in Mumbai, a new annual bash to recognise the country’s gaming talent.

    The message is clear: India isn’t just playing anymore. It’s coming to win.

  • Story TV tests love with Sach Ya Kalesh

    Story TV tests love with Sach Ya Kalesh

    MUMBAI: Now that’s what you call a match made in microdrama heaven! Story TV, India’s leading microdrama platform from the Eloelo Group, is set to shake up digital entertainment with Sach Ya Kalesh, the country’s first-ever microdrama reality show.

    Hosted by the nation’s favourite matchmaker, Sima Taparia, the show dives headfirst into the messy, magical world of modern relationships. Featuring nine real-life couples, each episode will see them face a lie detector test that puts their love, and their honesty, to the ultimate test. The tagline says it all, Har relationship ka asli test.

    Shot in a crisp vertical format designed for mobile-first viewers, the show blends the drama of reality TV with the bite-sized fun of micro content. Expect Sima ji’s trademark sass, awkward confessions, emotional meltdowns, and maybe even a few breakups, all in real time.

    “Sach Ya Kalesh marks a new chapter for India’s entertainment industry,” said  Story TV founder and CEO Saurabh Pandey. “It’s raw, relatable and designed for today’s spontaneous audiences. This is TV 2.0, right in the palm of your hand.”

    Sima Taparia, thrilled about her new hosting role, added, “Modern love is complicated. This show is honest, emotional and full of surprises. What you see on screen is real, the love, the fights, and the chaos.”

    Produced by Aarambh Entertainment, Sach Ya Kalesh will drop new episodes daily starting 2nd November exclusively on the Story TV app.

    With this launch, Story TV continues to lead the microdrama revolution, aiming to release over 800 titles and onboard 100 million users in the next year. And if Sach Ya Kalesh is any hint, drama and love, just found a brand-new format to thrive in.

  • Haryana’s Biggest Web Series “MahaPunarjanma” By Sri Adhikari Brothers to Premiere on STAGE App This Diwali

    Haryana’s Biggest Web Series “MahaPunarjanma” By Sri Adhikari Brothers to Premiere on STAGE App This Diwali

    MUMBAI: Two new episodes will be released every Friday. The web series spans 26 episodes. For the first time, a major Mumbai production house (Sri Adhikari Brothers) is creating a web series for Haryana.

    The web series is being shot in Bhiwani, featuring prominent artists from not only Haryana but also Mumbai. Haryana has never seen a major 26-episode web series before. Viewers are eagerly awaiting the web series. 

    The web series will depict the secrets of past lives, unfulfilled love, and the story of reincarnation.

    Whenever reincarnation is discussed, it’s always said, “Every birth leaves a secret.” The release date of Haryana’s biggest web series, which explores similar secrets and stories behind past lives, has been announced. For quite some time, viewers have been waiting for the release date of this web series, based on the concept of reincarnation. Stage App has announced the release dates for this web series on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. 

    The 26-episode web series “Mahapunarjanma…Janamon Ki Mahagaatha” is releasing on October 31st. This is the first time in Haryana that a web series will be released in a weekly episodic format. The first two episodes of the web series will be released on October 31st, followed by two new episodes every Friday. This web series will keep viewers engaged for 13 weeks. The series has been produced for Stage App by the Sri Adhikari Brothers, and its creators are Kailash Adhikari and Ravi Adhikari. They have delivered dozens of successful shows on Indian television and the OTT world and are now taking Haryanvi content to new heights. November 1st is Haryana Day and also the foundation day of Stage App. Therefore, starting October 31st, just a day before, Stage App has announced a big gift for its Haryana viewers in the form of this web series.

    Story: When birth, karma, and love collide:

    ‘Maha-Punarjanma’ is a story that explores the mysteries of unfulfilled love, karma, and reincarnation from a new perspective. It also explores an unfulfilled love that a lover has reincarnated to fulfill. It remains to be seen whether his previous lover will recognize him. Will society accept this young woman’s love for this ten-year-old boy after a new birth? The story begins with Ajayveer, a man whose life is bound by the karma of his past life. Surrounding him are Mohini, a woman bound by love beyond the boundaries of time, and Guruji, the guardian of the mysteries of karma and birth. Each episode opens the door to a new mystery—sometimes the unfulfilled love of a lifetime, sometimes the unfulfilled account of a deed, and sometimes the search for a soul seeking salvation but unable to break free. This web series is a completely new experience for the people of Haryana.

    A Haryanvi Story on a Cinematic Scale:

    ‘Maha-Punarjanma’ is a game-changing piece of content for a Haryanvi web series. Its visuals, music, and production values ​​are at par with Bollywood and national OTT standards. Shooting is underway in Bhiwani district, Haryana, where the scenes showcase a balanced blend of authentic village soil, folk culture, and modern reality. Crowds of people are flocking to watch the filming in Bhiwani daily, and people are thoroughly enjoying the experience. This is also the first time in Haryana that a web series will be shot simultaneously. The story’s blend of mystery and emotion makes it not just a web series, but an epic saga that transcends generations, yet remains deeply connected to the heart.

    This web series will change the direction of content in Haryana: 

    Producers Web series producers Kailash Adhikari and Ravi Adhikari say, “Maha-Punarjanma isn’t just a story of reincarnation; it’s a depiction of the incomplete journey of a human soul, its karma, and its love. Haryanvi stories have such depth that they deserve to be told on a larger scale, and STAGE App has provided that platform. Our aim is to provide Haryanavi audiences with the same experience as found on national OTT platforms: stunning visuals, a deep story, and heartfelt music. Maha-Punarjanma will prove to be a turning point in Haryana’s OTT journey.”

    STAGE App is the largest home for Haryana’s stories:

    STAGE App, India’s first dialect-based OTT platform, has always brought the stories, art, and culture rooted in Haryana to the digital world. ‘Maha-Punarjanma‘ is the next major step in STAGE’s vision to offer global-quality content in the local language. According to the STAGE App team, “We believe that the stories of Haryana are not just about Haryanvis, they are stories of the soul of India. ‘Maha-Punarjanma‘ is a journey that weaves together emotion, action, and destiny.” 
     

  • JioHotstar’s AI Mahabharat breaks records

    JioHotstar’s AI Mahabharat breaks records

    MUMBAI: JioHotstar has stormed into a new era of digital entertainment with the record-breaking debut of Mahabharat: Ek Dharmayudh, India’s first AI-powered entertainment series.

    The show racked up over 6.5 million video views on launch day, achieving a 2.1 times higher reach than the platform average, the biggest opening for a long-running series on JioHotstar to date.

    With AI woven into its creative process, the series reimagines storytelling at scale, proving that technology can enhance human imagination rather than replace it.

    The platform said the milestone marks a blueprint for the future of AI-driven entertainment, where machine intelligence meets artistic vision to create richer, more immersive narratives.

    JioHotstar’s success with Mahabharat: Ek Dharmayudh underscores its ambition to lead India’s entertainment evolution, blending innovation, tradition, and technology in equal measure.

  • Zee Media set to enter e-sports arena with new gaming IP

    Zee Media set to enter e-sports arena with new gaming IP

    MUMBAI: Looks like Zee Media is ready to trade the news desk for a joystick. In what could be its boldest play yet, the network is rumoured to be levelling up into the world of competitive gaming  and the buzz is electric.

    Word on the street is that Zee Media is developing a large-scale esports property designed to capture the hearts (and thumbs) of India’s youngest crowd: gen alpha, gen z and millennials. If early chatter proves true, the tournament could see over 60,000 players battling it out for a sizable prize pool, with the grand finale set to be nothing short of cinematic.

    The network is also said to be plotting a dedicated gaming Youtube channel, influencer watch-alongs, and brand-driven collaborations: a full-blown content ecosystem to bring esports firmly into the mainstream.

    It’s a move that underscores a bigger shift: gaming is no longer just a pastime, it’s pop culture and Zee Media seems intent on grabbing the controller. For now, the industry watches with anticipation to see whether this media powerhouse can turn its latest idea into India’s next big spectator sport.