iWorld
JioHotstar bags 200+ Emmy nods
MUMBAI: JioHotstar has struck Emmy gold again. With over 200 nominations at the 77th Emmy Awards, the platform has proved its muscle as the go-to destination for high-calibre global content in India. From brooding anti-heroes and dysfunctional families to culinary showdowns and sharp-tongued satire, the streaming giant’s buffet of premium storytelling is turning heads and racking up accolades.
Leading the charge is The Penguin, waddling in with 24 nominations, including best limited series, and acting nods for Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti. The show also scored big in directing and writing, making it the bird to beat. Sharing the spotlight is The White Lotus, another 24-time nominee, basking in glory with noms for best drama, and its ensemble cast featuring the likes of Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, and Parker Posey.
On the comedy front, Hacks cracked 15 nominations, while culinary chaos came alive with The Bear roaring in with 13, featuring nods for Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, plus a directing shoutout for the tear-jerker episode “Napkins”.
Not to be left behind, heavy hitters like The Last of Us, Paradise, The Pitt, and Andor brought the drama, with multiple nominations in lead and supporting categories. Comedy staples Abbott Elementary and Only Murders in the Building also made the cut, ensuring laughter wasn’t left off the ballot.
In the limited series and unscripted corners, Dying for Sex and Top Chef brought spice and surprise, while Last Week Tonight with John Oliver reminded us that even satire can win serious awards.
From House of the Dragon to The Grammys, and even Pee-wee, JioHotstar’s growing trophy shelf reflects a shrewd curation of global storytelling with universal bite. As Emmy night looms, one thing’s clear: when it comes to world-class TV in India, this streamer isn’t just playing—it’s winning.
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.
