iWorld
Short takes, big applause as Kuku TV rolls out India’s first microdrama awards
MUMBAI: When stories come in snackable sizes, the celebrations can still be supersized. Kuku TV rolled out the red carpet for the country’s first awards ceremony dedicated entirely to microdramas, hosting the inaugural Kuku TV Awards 2025 on January 7 at The Nines, Juhu, Mumbai.
The evening marked a milestone moment for India’s fast-growing microdrama ecosystem, bringing together actors, creators and industry voices who are shaping this short-form storytelling boom. The event drew several familiar faces from television and digital entertainment, alongside Kuku TV’s founders and leadership team, underscoring the format’s growing cultural and commercial relevance.
Designed to celebrate a genre that thrives on brevity and binge-worthiness, the awards spanned 19 categories, with winners decided through a blend of audience engagement data and platform-led voting. The night balanced accolades with entertainment, featuring stand-up comedy by Anirban Dasgupta and live musical performances between award segments.
Among the top honours, My Homeless Billionaire Husband was named best microdrama, having clocked over 200 million views on the Kuku TV app. Abhyuday Pandey and Puja Bharati Sharma took home best actor and best actress respectively, while Nikhil Kulshrestha won best director, Ananya Patnayak best writer and Santosh Bajantre best cinematography.
Character-led storytelling took centre stage too. Awards were handed out for categories such as Best billionaire character, Best vamp character, most fashionable character, Best senior character and best child character, highlighting how even short-format narratives can build memorable screen personas.
In a nod to its community-driven ethos, several trophies were presented by Kuku TV users themselves, reinforcing the platform’s audience-first approach and the close creator–viewer loop that powers microdramas.
Commenting on the occasion, Kuku co-founder Vinod Kumar Meena said the awards were created to recognise the shows, performances and creators across Kuku TV’s ecosystem, reflecting how far both the platform and the microdrama format have come in India.
The debut edition of the Kuku TV Awards signals that while microdramas may be short on duration, they are no longer small on ambition or applause.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
