iWorld
Amazon miniTV’s ‘Dehati Ladke’ nostalgically revisits college life
Mumbai: Amazon miniTV, Amazon’s free video streaming service, is all set to bring a smile to its viewers, with this coming-of-age story Dehati Ladke. Based on a best-selling Hindi novel, Dehati Ladke explores the universal themes of friendship, first love, and the hardships of life, all shown through the lens of Rajat starring Shine Pandey, Raghav Sharma, Tanish Neeraj, Saamya Jainn, Aasif Khan, and Kusha Kapila in pivotal roles, the series is slated to stream exclusively from 15 December on Amazon miniTV for free.
The engrossing trailer launched today takes us through Rajat’s story of self-discovery as he moves from a village to a big city to pursue his dream of clearing the UPSC exams. It chronicles Rajat’s journey of exploring his freedom and following his heart as he makes new friends, experiences first love, and wants to live his life to the fullest, while navigating pressure from his family and staying true to his goal. With the many challenges that life throws at him, Dehati Ladke will showcase how Rajat’s modest life shapes up amidst the glare of city lights.
Amogh Dusad content head at Amazon miniTV Amogh Dusad said, “College friendships are always special and very near to every individual’s heart. Dehati Ladke series talks about the unique yet universal journey one takes when one starts college life away from home in a new city among new people.”
Talking about the series Kusha Kapila shared, “A journey from home to hostel always brings thousands of stories and memories. Dehati Ladke is one such special story that will surely resonate with the viewers. The first year of college life is full of many emotions, from curiosity and budding love to the stress of exams and a fun night with friends. Rajat’s journey is also the same experiencing new and undiscovered emotions while focusing on his goal. My character, Chaya, is a modern and liberal woman who brings out the undiscovered side of Rajat.”
Sharing his excitement about being part of the show, Shine Pandey said, “Dehati Ladke is dedicated to everyone who comes from a small town in the pursuit to find their identity in a new city. Rajat is a simple and innocent boy who is sharp-minded but lacks the many experiences of a big-city life.His friends, who are his strength and also his confidantes, help him navigate through life in Lucknow and transform him into a confident young boy. I am hoping that the audience will enjoy the show and I am sure it will take them back to all the fun they had in their college days”
Dehati Ladke will be available for streaming exclusively for free on Amazon miniTV from 15 December. You can watch it on the Amazon shopping app, Fire TV or download the Amazon miniTV app on Playstore.
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
