Music and Youth
POCO ‘MTV Hustle 03 REPRESENT’ gears up for a blockbuster season
Mumbai: Building on the mega-success of MTV Hustle 2.0, India’s leading youth entertainment channel, MTV from Viacom18, announces the highly anticipated return of its iconic desi hip-hop reality show. POCO MTV Hustle 03 REPRESENT, co-powered by GOVO Soundbars, T-Series, Wildstone, and Appy Fizz, the latest season will bring unprecedented, fresh rap sounds from all corners of India. The show is set to premiere on 21 October and air every Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 pm on MTV and JioCinema.
Desi hip-hop has found its own voice and following in recent years. The new season acknowledges its growing presence across India, representing its youth, people, and ideologies. As the show has emerged to be the definitive stage for fresh rap talent, ‘India Ab Tumhari Baari’ is the season’s clarion call, urging young India to proudly celebrate the representation of their hood, culture, music, passion, stories, beliefs, issues and even identity. This season is poised to reinforce MTV as a culture catalyst for young India.
Leading the charge once again will be none other than the trailblazing rap supremo and global rap artist Badshah. To hone talent and create industry-ready professionals, eminent Indian rap powerhouses Ikka, Dee MC, Dino James, and EPR will assume the role of Squad Bosses. This time, the stakes will be higher for them, and not just the contestants. Packed with meticulously designed cutting-edge graphics and acoustics, the new season’s performances will have a concert-like vibe, amplifying the excitement and vigour three-fold for fans. Musically inclusive, the songs will also feature regional, folk, Bollywood influences and unplugged versions. Fans can also access their favourite performances on multiple platforms including KaanPhod Music.
https://www.youtube.com/@KaanPhodMusic
The grand success of the previous season, which featured over 100 chartbusters and viral hits, has given an impetus for the latest one to transform into an equalizer bringing underground rap talent with varying degrees of experience, forte and prowess – all on the same stage. Intensifying the competition, the pan-India talent pool will be challenged through different episode themes, to diversify their skill-set, musicality and performances across rap genres like chill hop, lo-fi, trap, jazz, and more.
Viacom18 head – youth, music, and English entertainment Anshul Ailawadi said, “MTV has always been a co-creator in India’s evolving youth story. The stage of MTV Hustle has truly pioneered the desi hip-hop revolution, with a powerful cultural impact across the sub-continent. The new season will represent India’s youth in the truest sense. We’re proud to bring this sonic revolution, across multiple platforms for our audience.”
On this exciting partnership, POCO India country head Himanshu Tandon said, “Rap is more than just music; it’s a powerful expression of the youth’s unyielding spirit. POCO has always been the brand for those who dare to be different, who embrace challenges, and who set new trends. Our association with MTV Hustle 03 REPRESENT is a testament to our commitment to understanding and empowering the vibrant energy of the young generation. Through this collaboration, we’re not just sponsoring a show; we’re becoming a part of a cultural movement that resonates deeply with the millennial and Gen Z audience. POCO is thrilled to amplify the voices of India’s rap sensations and contribute to the growth of an art form that speaks volumes about the passion and resilience of our youth.”
Recently the IP was in the news for its ground-breaking global partnership with T-Series. In a first-of-its-kind initiative by a non-fiction IP in India, this partnership provides exclusive music rights for worldwide distribution. Amplifying the vision of building industry-ready rap professionals, the show is committed to empowering artist journeys at a global scale.
For the exciting third season of Hustle 03, JioCinema has planned a range of exciting and engaging interactivities for its viewers. A Fantasy League has been designed that will allow audiences to make their own squad and win points for predicting which contestants will get Radio hit, highest squad scores and who would be eliminated. The person that wins will stand a chance to watch the show live. Adding to the entertainment is a fun a watch and win contest where viewers will be asked one question during the Sunday episode that will allow viewers to win exciting prizes daily. Everyone is aware of the popular meme culture, keeping this in mind, the audience will be given templates from the iconic show on which they can create their own memes. The immersive interactivities above is sure to make this season of Hustle on JioCinema an engaging experience.
Get ready to witness the rise of the next generation of hip-hop stars as they REPRESENT India like never before with POCO MTV Hustle 03 REPRESENT, starting 21 October, every Saturday and Sunday, at 7:00 pm on MTV and JioCinema!
MUMBAI: Mumbai is about to witness something it has never seen before. The Global Youth Festival arrives on 6-7 December at Jio World Garden with 15,000 attendees and 60-plus experiences sprawled across six sprawling arenas. On its sixth edition, this is no ordinary jamboree—it is a carefully orchestrated collision of wellness, adventure, arts, music, yoga and social change.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis will throw open the proceedings with a landmark ceremony, signalling the state’s backing for a movement that has already mobilised youth across 20-plus countries and 170-plus cities. The sheer scale is staggering: 500-plus volunteers powering the machine, 600,000-plus volunteer hours logged across previous editions, and millions of lives touched annually.
The speaker roster is formidable. Diipa Büller-Khosla and Dipali Goenka, chief executive of Welspun India, will share the stage with Malaika Arora in conversations spanning leadership, creativity and culture. Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Mansukhbhai Mandaviya will also attend, reinforcing GYF’s reach into the corridors of power.
But this is not mere talk. The Solaris Mainstage promises concerts from renowned Indian artists. Innerverse delivers a 360-degree LED spectacle of art, technology and sound. The Love and Care Arena houses hands-on projects spanning women’s empowerment, child education, rural upliftment and animal welfare. India’s largest outdoor sound-healing experience awaits. An inflatable obstacle course, neon drifter karts and open-sky bouldering cater to thrill-seekers.
Some have branded GYF the “Coachella of Consciousness.” Others call it “India’s Largest Sober Festival.” Spiritual visionary Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, who inspired the festival, will deliver the Wisdom Masterclass. Every rupee goes to charity.
After Mumbai comes Kolkata on 14 December. New York looms next year. For one weekend in December, Mumbai becomes the epicentre of youth-driven change—and nothing will be quite the same after.
Tickets available on BookMyShow. Visit youthfestival.srmd.org or follow @globalyouthfestival on Instagram.
