iWorld
Studio9 launches LGBT-focused Docu-series ‘This Is Me’ on News9 Plus
Mumbai: Studio9 announces the release of ‘This Is Me’, a unique English-language non-fiction docu-series on the LGBTQIA+ community that seeks to enlighten and engage viewers on the many aspects of a community that remains shrouded in misconception, and also to tell intensely personal stories of struggles and triumphs of the community’s members.
The series will premiere on News9 Plus, India’s first news OTT, to commemorate Pride Month 2024. Through a scientific, cultural, and historical lens, the series provides audiences with an intimate look at the science, legality, and socio-cultural challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, primarily in India but also across the world.
‘This Is Me’ features prominent members of the LGBTQ+ community, including India’s first transgender judge Joyita Mondal, India’s first trans celebrity hair designer Sylvie Rodgers, interdisciplinary artist Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee and others, who share deeply personal and moving stories that speak to the indomitable human spirit.
Their stories are complemented by insights from notable lawyers, activists, medical experts, and other professionals, including Supreme Court advocate Sanjay K. Chadha, cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rajat Gupta, leading psychologist Dr. Jayanti Dutta and activist Anjali Gopalan among many others. These experts add enlightening and comprehensive perspectives to the narrative that makes ‘This Is Me’ both informative and emotionally powerful.
Over the course of five episodes, the series sheds light on the often misunderstood notions of gender identity and sexual orientation while simultaneously highlighting the significant challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community today. ‘This Is Me’ also explores the historical and social influences that have shaped social perceptions of the LGBTQ+ community over time, to give viewers a deeper understanding of oft-misunderstood subjects such as the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation, the psychological impact of gender dysphoria, and the significance of gender realignment surgery.
Episode Highlights:
Episode 1 – Introduction of key LGBTQI+ figures, exploration of gender fluidity, and societal pressures faced by those defying traditional norms.
Episode 2 – Exploration of various sexual orientations, gender dysphoria, and gender realignment surgery.
Episode 3 – Bullying, lack of family support, and historical impacts of British colonialism on the LGBTQI+ community.
Episode 4 – The transformative power of education and workplace challenges for the LGBTQI+ community.
Episode 5 – Love, marriage, family life, and the legalities surrounding same-sex marriages and adoption.
“Having spent more than two decades in front of the camera, ‘This is Me’ is my directorial debut and a celebration of the triumph of humanity over social norms. It’s a docu-series about the struggles of a few special individuals of the community, whose narratives are interwoven with invaluable factual insights from experts and professionals. Viewers will be moved to tears by the bravery and resilience displayed by my protagonists – the members of the LGBTQIA+ community”, said Studio9 the director of the series and the founder Arpita Chatterjee.
The premiere of ‘This Is Me’ and the spirit it represents will be celebrated by a launch event which will feature the who’s-who of the LGBTQIA+ community, and will celebrate the unique essence of every identity over an evening of wine and cheese.
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.
