iWorld
INS launches Spotlight and web show with Rannvijay
MUMBAI: Integrated Network Solutions (INS), a division of Viacom18 Pvt. Ltd, launches its third vertical – SPOTLIGHT, with an idea of creating an ‘INStant Connect’ for brands, celebrities and audiences. With an array of 30 plus celebrities on board; brands will now have an opportunity to leverage the glamour quotient, to seed customized branded content. After launching LIVE Viacom18 and BE Viacom18 last year, INS now completes the circle of offering brands a 3600 multi-dimensional marketing solution with SPOTLIGHT creating endless opportunities for brands to connect with millions of consumers.
SPOTLIGHT has already a strong roaster of more than 30 celebrities (like Raghu Ram, Amrita Rao, Sherlyn Chopra, Diana Hayden, Manoj Bajpayee to name a few)
SPOTLIGHT, in collaboration with Colosceum Media & One Digital Entertainment, has announced an interesting concept in the form of a 16 part web series called ‘JACK&JONES HITCHED’. A first of its kind show, it will give audiences an opportunity to be a part of the celebrations as MTV VJ Rannvijay gears up for his big fat Punjabi wedding.
Commenting on this power-packed concept, Mr. Jaideep Singh, Sr. Vice President and Business Head – INS, Viacom18 Pvt. Ltd. said, “We’re living in a digital era, and to stay relevant to a constantly evolving audience it is essential for brands to innovate how they communicate and reach out to their consumers. Paying attention to this urgent need, the time was right for us to launch SPOTLIGHT. SPOTLIGHT provides that platform for brands to harness the power of the glamour world through celebrity associations and takes their message further to the audience in a much more engaging manner. Our first property under SPOTLIGHT, JACK&JONES HTCHED will set the tone for more such innovations to come in the future.”
Speaking on the association Mr. Vineet Gautam, Country Head JACK&JONES said “JACK&JONES has always positioned itself in youth space and believed in clutter breaking ideas. It is our constant endeavour to find innovative ways of reaching out to them. JACK&JONES HITCHED is the first of its kind online reality show which will be aired on digital platforms only. The youth today, especially men are spending more time on digital mediums and it’s growing as we speak and this association seems to be a great and innovative way to engage and interact with them. Rannvijay is a youth icon who has dared to be different and inspired many. And that is exactly the brand philosophy of JACK&JONES to be daring, innovative and adventurous but in style. At JACK&JONES we always believe in experimenting and hence this association is a perfect sync at both ends.”
Commenting on the strategic partnership, Mr. Gurpreet Singh, COO of OneDigital Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. said “Being the largest MCN for YouTube in India operating in the original content space for more than a year now, we have developed the skills and capability to understand the digital engagement and user needs. We know the pulse of the user to a large extent and also realize that the viewership behavior is shifting and changing fast. Our promise is to create, innovate and engage users and brands and bring value for both the sides. Colosceum is the market leader in creative content and we feel we have struck a great partnership with them and Viacom 18 for this initiative.”
Speaking on the collaboration, Mr. Rajiv Lakshman, Chief Creative Officer – Colosceum Media said “Colosceum Media is a creative powerhouse, having been key contributors in the creation of many successful & long running television franchises. We’re always looking to pioneer new frontiers of creative expression. We consider digital content as the future, and wanted to leverage the intimacy & engagement value of this platform. Colosceum has a long association with Rannvijay, and are proud to partner with him to create this first-of-its’-kind innovation that gives Rannvijay’s multitude of fans an inside peek into his life as he navigates through this transition. As a friend, I find Rannvijay’s life fascinating, and am excited to be part of a team that gives his fans an access into the method & the madness that is his life.”
The webisodes will start airing from Monday, 31st March, 2014, exclusively on Rannvijay’s YouTube channel, which is managed by SPOTLIGHT. So log on to watch heartthrob Rannvijay live the last of his bachelor days as marries the woman of his dreams on a first of its kind show which can be viewed on PC, Tab and Mobile on www.youtube.com/rannvijayofficial , www.zengatv.com/rannvijay and other digital platforms.
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.
