iWorld
Ex-Disney+Hotstar head Sajith Sivanandan jumps on to Jio Platforms
MUMBAI: It’s a homecoming of sorts of Sajith Sivanandan. He worked with the team at Disney+Hotstar and he’s transitioned from there (with the same folks who have moved to the merged company) as president of Jio Mobile Digital Services under Jio Platforms. In this role, Sanjith will lead the development of AI-driven digital services for Jio Mobile, with a focus on enhancing user experience and scaling digital solutions.
Sajith brings a wealth of experience to his new position, having previously served as the head of Disney+ Hotstar from October 2022 to December 2024. During his tenure, he managed the platform’s strategy, growth, and product development, helping it remain a major player in India’s streaming market. Prior to this, he worked at Google for 15 years, holding various leadership positions, including managing director and business head for Google Pay and Next Billion User Initiatives in the Asia Pacific region.
Sajith has also worked at various other notable organizations, including XA Network, where he was a member from February 2021 to December 2023; Affle UK Ltd, where he was a director of market development and consumer insight from October 2006 to October 2007; and The Gallup Organization, where he was an associate partner from May 2001 to September 2006.
Sajith’s expertise in digital media, business strategy, and analytics will be instrumental in driving Jio Mobile’s digital services forward. He will work closely with cross-functional teams to build a suite of digital services at scale for Jio Mobile, underpinned by AI. Sanjith’s appointment is a significant milestone in Jio Platforms’ mission to revolutionise the digital landscape in India.
Sajith holds an MBA in finance from the Asian Institute of Management and a bachelor’s degree in History from Hindu College, Delhi University. He has also completed his MBA in marketing from FORE School of Management, New Delhi.
Sajith’s appointment is a significant milestone in Jio Platforms’ mission to revolutionize the digital landscape in India. With his extensive experience in digital media, business strategy, and analytics, he is well-equipped to drive Jio Mobile’s digital services forward and enhance user experience for customers.
(Earlier, the article had mentioned Sajith’s name as Sanjith. We have corrected it since. A big thank you to Peter Mukerjea for pointing it out. The error is regretted – Editor.)
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.
