iWorld
The Spotlight is on creative rascals’ ‘Spiti Valley’ as nexGTv & Imtiaz Ali announce May winners
MUMBAI: In an announcement that has been eagerly awaited by content developers across the nation, nexGTv, India’s largest subscription-led video entertainment app, has revealed the names of the May winners of its SPOTLight initiative. The winners were selected by renowned director and master storyteller Imtiaz Ali from amongst the top 5 most viewed videos for the month of May.
Delhi-based production house Creative Rascals’ travelogue ‘Spiti Valley’ was selected as the winner by Imtiaz for its charming portrayal of the picturesque locale of Spiti. The runner-up position went to Ahammed Khabber’s ‘I4U’ and its powerful social message of eye donation. nexGTv will be supporting the creative endeavours of the winner and the runner-up with cash rewards of INR 1 lakh and INR 25000 respectively.
Speaking on the announcement, Abhesh Verma, COO, nexGTv, said, “As a talent discovery platform, SPOTLight has been garnering rave reviews from both content developers and viewers owing to its differentiated and user-relevant content. With Imtiaz on board judging the top entries, SPOTLight presents an opportunity of a lifetime for most creators looking to gain visibility and prove their credentials. We are very excited to have unearthed and supported so much budding talent through the initiative and are eagerly looking forward at greater participation from the country’s upcoming generation of imaginative story tellers.”
Founded and operated by Aman Jain and Shailesh Gandhi, Creative Rascals is a Delhi-based production house. The group has created content in different genres such as travelogues, food shows, ad films, corporate films and weddings, and has been involved with some top-notch clients such as Cox & Kings, Sapient, Modo and Iffco-Tokio. Ahammed Khabber, on the other hand, is a 27-year-old MBA graduate who is currently serving as an Assistant Director for popular Kerala-based TV channel Mazhavil Manorama. One of his earlier videos, ‘Passive Smoking’, was also selected as the runner-up on SPOTLight for the month of February.
Imtiaz Ali added, “From social messaging to commentaries on daily life, from fusion music to spooky horror stories, some of the SPOTLight entries have simply blown my mind away due to the freshness of their content and their innovative approach. Having seen the precocious creations on display, I am absolutely delighted to be associated with the project. I am expecting more people to participate in SPOTLight in the future and showcase their artistic flair in front of a nationwide audience.”
As a platform to upload and monetise their offering, SPOTLight has been gathering an extremely enthusiastic response from content creators across the country with videos being received right from Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir to Kottayam in Kerala. With a Modern Master in Imtiaz at the helm, SPOTLight is an opportunity of a lifetime for individuals across the country to test their mettle. So don’t wait! Enter your creations on www.nexgtvspotlight.com today!
iWorld
Prime Video unveils trailer for Tamil series Exam, streaming May 15
Dushara Vijayan, Aditi Balan headline scam thriller set in exam world
CHENNAI: Prime Video has dropped the official trailer of its upcoming Tamil Original series Exam, a high-stakes suspense drama set in the murky world of competitive entrance exams.
Backed by creative producers Pushkar and Gayatri under Wallwatcher Films, the seven-episode series is written and directed by National Award-winner A. Sarkunam. It stars Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan in lead roles, with Abbas playing a pivotal character.
Set in the fictional town of Thykara, the series follows Jhansi, played by Dushara Vijayan, as she attempts to expose a deep-rooted scam, aided by her mentor Jayachandran, played by Abbas. Standing in her way is DSP Maramalli, portrayed by Aditi Balan, setting up a tense face-off driven by ambition, pressure and moral choices.
The show will stream from May 15 on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories. It will be available in Tamil, with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada, along with subtitles in 15 languages.
Writer-director A. Sarkunam said the story aims to resonate across geographies and social strata, going beyond the scam to explore ambition, pressure and the consequences of personal choices. He added that the narrative unfolds through the intersecting journeys of Jhansi and Maramalli, building tension as their worlds collide.
Dushara Vijayan described Jhansi as a fierce and determined character, calling the role both demanding and rewarding, with the story capturing the difficult choices her character must make.
Aditi Balan said the series offers a hard-hitting look at the exam ecosystem, adding that her character is layered and shaped by both internal conflict and external pressures.
Abbas, marking his return to mainstream Tamil entertainment, said the series stands out for its layered storytelling and unpredictable twists, with his character adding depth to the central narrative.
With its mix of suspense, social commentary and character-driven storytelling, Exam is shaping up to be a tense watch as it dives into one of India’s most high-pressure systems.
