iWorld
Illusion Reality Studioz partners with Kunal Kohli for Ramyug
Mumbai: After successfully venturing into the digital space with the web series State of Siege: 26/11, Illusion Reality Studioz has added another title to their list – MX Player’s highly anticipated series Ramyug.
Directed by Kunal Kohli, the magnum opus is the latest visual interpretation of Ramayana that uses modern technology in a never-seen before manner to narrate the epic. The MX Original series is also the first mythological web series that has been produced from the ground up and starts streaming on MX Player on 6 May.
Backed by Abhimanyu Singh, Illusion Reality Studioz has become the go-to destination for animation and VFX needs across industries, with some popular projects under their belt including the Mahayoddha Rama, Battle of Saragarhi 21 Sarfarosh, Vighnaharta Ganesha, ‘American Pie Girls’ Rules’ and ‘Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy’.
Illusion Reality Studioz, CFO and business head, Nitin Dadoo said, “Lately, there has been an increasing demand for quality content strengthened by advanced visual effects. At Illusion Reality Studioz, we aim to extend our services to create high-quality narratives across mediums. Ramyug is the first mythological show to hit digital screens and it gives us great pride to be in the premier league of creating game-changing and cutting edge content. We will continue to expand our visual effects division to support storytellers”
Contiloe Pictures was the first to pioneer real-time facial motion capture on the small screen. It has also received the National Award in the Best Animation Film category for the 3D animation feature Mahayoddha Rama. In March, Contiloe Pictures rebranded its VFX division to Illusion Reality Studioz, led by Nitin Dadoo.
“The team at Illusion Reality Studioz (Contiloe Pictures) has been reliable and extremely proactive, given the pressure of content, delivery, and time to present world-class visual effects. They have truly become a VFX – CGI outfit at par with the best in the world. The detailing in their work is immaculate. Their contribution to Ramyug cannot be described in words. From CGI to VFX, they have created memorable content and truly brought Ramyug to life”, filmmaker Kunal Kohli said about the association.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
