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‘CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2023’ honours India’s brightest youth icons
Mumbai: ‘CNN-News18 Indian of the Year’ (IOTY), the largest awards platform on news television, has revealed the nominees in its ‘Youth Icon’ category for this year. The platform seeks to honour young trailblazers who have emerged as influential voices among India’s youth today.
Recognizing excellence across seven categories – entertainment, business, sports, youth icon, rising Sports Star, Social Change, and Climate Warriors, the 13th edition of ‘CNN-News18 Indian of the Year’ promises to be a celebration of India’s finest achievers on the global stage.
The nominees for the Youth Icon category encompass exceptional individuals and internet personalities who have ingrained themselves into India’s pop culture. This distinguished roster includes AP Dhillon, Kusha Kapila, Anirudh Ravichander, Ranveer Allahbadia, and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju.
A notable figure in the global music scene, A P Dhillon seamlessly blends traditional Punjabi folk music with modern hip-hop, captivating the youth with his distinctive style. His recent release ‘With You’ garnered an astounding 37 million views on YouTube in just a month, a testament to his impactful storytelling and authentic embrace of identity.
Social media influencer and versatile artist Kusha Kapila has earned widespread acclaim for her roles in Masaba Masaba Season 2, Shilpa Shetty-starrer Sukhee, and Rhea Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor’s production ‘Thank You For Coming.’
Renowned Chennai-based composer-singer Anirudh Ravichander, celebrated for his globally popular ‘Why This Kolaveri Di,’ continues to dominate the Indian music scene. Hits like Kaavaalaa, Chaleya, and the Jawan title track have solidified his position as the anthem creator of the year, especially for Shah Rukh Khan’s fans.
A pioneer in Indian podcasting, Ranveer Allahbadia has spearheaded ‘The Ranveer Show’ on his YouTube channel ‘BeerBiceps.’ With over six million subscribers, Allahbadia’s podcasts feature some of India’s most successful individuals, contributing to meaningful conversations and thought leadership.
Karnataka’s first trans-woman doctor and a trailblazer in Indian content creation, Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, has established a safe platform for the queer community. Her acting debut in Made in Heaven Season 2, coupled with recognition on “The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List 2022,” underscores her multifaceted impact.
The winner in the youth icon category will be revealed at the star-studded grand finale celebrating luminaries in Indian entertainment at The Indian of the Year 2023 award ceremony.
CNN-News18 IOTY has a rich legacy of honoring exceptional talent across various fields, with past winners in the category including Allu Arjun, Neeraj Chopra, Yogi Adityanath, and Marimuthu Yoganathan.
This year, the winner selection process will combine expert judgment and public voting, with 50 per cent of the decision-making power given to the audience and the remaining 50 per cent entrusted to the jury. To cast your vote for your favourite Indian and for more details regarding the awards, visit www.indianoftheyear.com
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
