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Revisiting OTT’s top-level movements in 2022
Mumbai: The year 2022 proved to be a glorious year for OTT in terms of shows that worked and also got global recognition. The highlight has been how regional or local OTT players have found their footing in the media and entertainment industry. Indiantelevision.com has observed people’s movements in the OTT space.
Getting on with movements of who’s who in OTT space ….
Sony Pictures Network India appointed Saugata Mukherjee as content head of SonyLIV. Alt Balaji SVP of marketing, partnerships, & revenue Divya Dixit moved on. Snehil Dixit Mehra was named content & digital media head at ALTBalaji. Planet Marathi OTT roped in Shailesh Amonkar & Darshan Gangakhedkar as strategic advisors.
Netflix
Netflix marketing director (films & series) Shagun Seda moved on. She was in charge of the overall marketing of Netflix’s India content, brand, and talent. Netflix’s co-lead for series marketing, Tara Kapur, has joined Duolingo. Netflix content and brand marketing lead Dipashree Das also moved out of the streaming platform after a nearly six-year stint. Netflix India director – original films & licensing Pratiksha Rao decided to leave the organisation after four years of service.
Netflix has hired Snap’s chief business officer Jeremi Gorman as president of Worldwide Advertising. The company has also roped in Snap’s VP of sales Peter Naylor, who serves as VP of advertising sales.
Amazon
Disney+ Hotstar’s original content head and EVP Nikhil Madhok joined Amazon Prime Video as its Hindi original content head. Amazon Prime Video head of acquisition – India content Manish Menghani has been elevated to director of content licencing for Prime Video and Amazon Studios.
Amazon roped in former Times Network president – strategy & operations, digital & broadcast Vivek Srivastava joined Prime Video channels in India as head of partnerships.
Disney+ Hotstar
Disney’s international content and operations group appointed Sajith Sivanandan as executive vice president and head of Disney+ Hotstar. Disney+ Hotstar’s Udit Sharma joined ShareChat as chief revenue officer (CRO).
Disney+ Hotstar’s marketing VP Goodies Narayanan joined Coursera as APAC CMO & D2C Business Head. Nishant Tandon has been named AVP-growth at Disney+ Hotstar. Disney+ Hotstar executive vice president (EVP) and chief marketing officer (CMO) Sidharth Shakdher took back his resignation. Namita Ved has joined Disney+ Hotstar as the head of customer marketing.
Disney+ Hotstar’s vice president & product revenue strategy (entertainment) head Ankit Desai rejoined Marico as media & digital marketing head. Hotstar’s product SVP Gaurav Shahlot joined Khatabook as product head.
MX player
MX Player’s Vivek Saxena joined InMobi as director of agency, programmatic & new business. MX Player & MX TakaTak SVP and revenue hed Viraj Jit Singh stepped down after an almost four-year stint. MX player head of strategic partnerships (All MXP businesses) – senior director Aditya Jhamb joined Viacom 18 Sports as senior vice president of partnerships (strategy, acquisitions & BD).
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
