iWorld
aha’s new web series ‘Alludu Garu’ to premiere on 29 Oct
Mumbai: Telugu streaming platform aha has announced a new web series “Alludu Garu” that is slated to release on 29 October.
The series stars Abhijeet Poondla, Dhanya Balakrishna, Y Kasi Viswanath, Sudha, and Shalini Kondepudi in key roles. The show is directed by Jayanth Gali (known for “Love Life” and “Pakodi”) and produced by Tamada Media. Bru is the presenting sponsor for the show.
“Alludu Garu” is a coming-of-age story that revolves around a newly-married couple Ajay and Amulya. It focuses on the plight of Ajay, who is forced to stay with his clingy in-laws Ashok, Nalini in a conservative household. Despite his initial reluctance, Ajay tries hard to meet their expectations and fit into the family, keeping his contrasting world views aside. While his struggles will tickle your funny bones without a doubt, you are sure to empathise with his plight.
“aha has made it a habit to deliver one hit show after the other in multiple genres, from ‘Tharagathi Gadhi Daati’ to ‘Kudi Yedamaithe’ to ‘The Baker and The Beauty’. We’re sure ‘Alludu Garu’ will be an equally promising addition to our diverse content library of Telugu web originals and movies,” said aha CEO Ajit Thakur. “The show has the potential to strike a chord with audiences across all age groups, for it’s a relevant take on relationships within a middle-class household in a lighter vein. We’re happy to collaborate with Bru and are hopeful to continue our wonderful association in the future. “
“Being a regional OTT player, we are the one-stop shop for fulfilling all entertainment needs with the convenience of local language connect. Accordingly, our partnership with brands allows us to create more engaging formats. We are delighted to partner with Bru in this,” said aha head – non-subscription revenue Nitin Burman. “As our roadmap is to find unique stories of the Telugu land that are relatable to the constantly progressing audience and fans, we look forward to continuing our associations.”
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
