iWorld
Shemaroo MarathiBana’s Diwali gesture for Police and Families
Mumbai: The festive season is a time of joy and togetherness with family and friends. However, for our police personnel who tirelessly serve and protect our communities, this period often means being away from their own families, ensuring our safety during the festivities.
As a tribute to the sacrifices and dedication of our police force, Shemaroo MarathiBana took the initiative to celebrate Diwali with the police and their families, who are unable to partake in the festivities due to their duty. The channel acknowledged the immense contribution of our police personnel, who work selflessly, often in challenging conditions, to keep our cities safe. The celebration aimed to shine a light on the lives of these unsung heroes, making their festival brighter and memorable.
Adding to the fervor of this celebration in Bhoiwada Police Station in Parel, Mumbai, the talented actors of Shemaroo MarathiBana’s new show, ‘Sau. Pratap Manasi Supekar,’, Pradeep Ghule, and Tanvee Kiran also joined in to extend their heartfelt Diwali wishes and spread joy. With a commitment to the community and a spirit of celebration, Pradeep and Tanvee interacted with the residents, spreading joy and positivity. It was a moment that brought smiles and a sense of togetherness to the lives of these real-life heroes.
This visit holds a special place in their hearts as they engaged with the residents of the police quarters in Mumbai, offering their respect and gratitude to the Police Officers who dedicated their lives to ensuring our safety. This event offered a platform for the police officers and their partners to share emotional moments in their lives where they have been pillars of strength for each other, ensuring the smooth flow of the wheel of life. The actors distributed gifts and Diwali Faral (Diwali Delicacy) to the police personnel and their families as a small token of appreciation and a way to light up the festive season for those who work tirelessly to safeguard our communities. The initiative also included a range of activities tailored to provide a memorable Diwali experience.
Pradeep and Tanvee’s visit reflects the values of ‘Sau. Pratap Manasi Supekar,’ a show that emphasises the importance of support and strong relationships. It’s a beautiful way to start the Diwali festivities and spread the message of unity, love, and joy within the community.
In addition to Mumbai, Shemaroo MarathiBana will also share the joy of Diwali celebrations with the police and their families in Pune and Sangli.
iWorld
Applause Entertainment partners with Story TV for premium microdramas
Collaboration to produce and adapt content for mobile-first audiences starting 2026.
MUMBAI: Applause Entertainment just shrunk the drama screen because when stories fit in your pocket, even the biggest plots feel like a quick binge. Applause Entertainment, the Aditya Birla Group-backed content powerhouse behind hits like Black Warrant, The Hunt, Criminal Justice and Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, has entered an exclusive partnership with Story TV, India’s leading microdrama platform, to create a slate of premium short-form series for mobile-first viewers.
Under the agreement, the two companies will co-produce new-age microdramas across multiple genres. Story TV will also acquire rights to Applause’s romantic-thriller series Hello Mini and adapt it into a vertical microdrama format.
Story TV, which launched in July 2025, has quickly become a dominant player in the microdrama space with a library exceeding 1000 titles in romance, thriller, action and family drama across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The platform ranks as the second most downloaded entertainment app worldwide, according to Sensor Tower data.
Story TV founder and CEO Saurabh Pandey said, “As an early entrant into microdramas in India we are at the forefront of blending storytelling and technology to expand this emerging format into mainstream territory. Our partnership with Applause Entertainment will further expand the audience of microdramas with a focus on premium storytelling that is yet to be seen in the Indian entertainment industry.”
Applause Entertainment chief business officer Prasoon Garg added, “At Applause, our focus has always been on building strong stories across formats. As newer storytelling formats like microdramas gain momentum, we see value in engaging with them through meaningful collaborations. Our unique partnership with Story TV enables us to explore this emerging space alongside a platform that has demonstrated strong understanding of the format and its audiences.”
The tie-up positions both companies to capitalise on the rapid rise of bite-sized, vertical content tailored for smartphone consumption, where attention spans are short and global reach is instant.
In a screen-sized world where stories now race against the scroll, Applause and Story TV aren’t just making microdramas, they’re proving that the smallest screen can still deliver the biggest emotional punch, one vertical episode at a time.
