iWorld
Telugu OTT platform Aha announces content slate for 2021
KOLKATA: After a grand Diwali event with Allu Arjun in November, Telugu OTT platform Aha continues with its orange wave of entertainment by bringing forth its 2021 programming line-up featuring 52 originals.
Helmed by the finest filmmakers from the Telugu industry, the content slate will range from blockbuster movies, original web shows, talk shows, and docudramas across multiple genres, targeting global Telugu-speaking from various demographics. Through this, Aha, currently with 7 million app downloads, will serve its strong user base of over 20 million with one of the most innovative and diverse Telugu content libraries in the country.
Previosuly, Aha brought in superstar Allu Arjun on board as its brand ambassador, along with esteemed directors Sukumar, Harish Shankar, Surender Reddy, Vamshi Paidipally, Nandini Reddy, Praveen Sattaru, Dr Sailesh, Pawan Kumar,VenuUdugula, Sudheer Varma, Sagar Chandra, Ranga Yali, Vidya Sagar, Uday Gurrala, Pranav Pingle Reddy and Pallavi Gangireddy amongst others, to team up with eminent actors from the industry. Furthermore, the platform also recently launched the massive talk show Sam Jam hosted by star actor Samantha Akkineni, The Viral Fever (TVF)'s original web series Permanent Roommates’ Telugu remake CommitMental, Maa Vintha Gaadha Vinuma, Anaganaga O Athidhi as its festive offering this Diwali, which opened to a huge response from audience and critics alike.
Coming soon are some of the most-awaited projects like 11th Hour which features actress Tamannaah Bhatia making her debut in the OTT space; well-known producer Swapna Dutt’s Kambalapalli Kathalu, Baahubali producers Arka Media’s Anya’s Tutorial, Sooper Over, Maidanam, Maze, Beyond Textbook, Kudi Yedamaithe, In the Name of God, Thodelu, Rudraveena and Qubool Hai, amongst others.
Aha promoter Ramu Rao Jupally said, “In a short span of time, aha has grown to be recognised as a gamechanger in the Telugu entertainment industry. Today, the OTT industry is one of the fastest-growing markets which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 28.6 percent for the next four years as per the PwC report. With over 50 million Telugu content consumers across both Telugu states, we believe the market potential is huge. We are confident that the line-up featuring the biggest names in the industry will offer our audiences to enjoy through relatable and entertaining content.”
Going from strength to strength, Aha is counted amongst the fastest-growing OTT platforms in India. On the back of offerings that can be enjoyed by one and all, Aha will ensure that its content in the coming year keeps viewers entertained.
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.
