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!
Gaming
IICT signs three MoUs to boost AVGC-XR and esports
Partnerships with Zenfluencers, Yologram and Eruditio at Chennai Gaming Show 2026 strengthen education, XR innovation and nationwide talent outreach.
MUMBAI: IICT has just levelled up the game in a big way. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies signed three strategic Memorandums of Understanding on 17 April 2026 at the CII Summit FX – India Gaming Show in Chennai, forging alliances with The Zenfluencers, Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. and Eruditio Consultants to accelerate India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem.
The tie-ups combine IICT’s strengths in education, skilling and research with specialist expertise across esports, immersive technologies and large-scale outreach.
- With The Zenfluencers, IICT will roll out globally benchmarked esports programmes, including joint certification courses, industry workshops, tournaments and masterclasses, creating clear career pathways across the full esports value chain.
- The partnership with Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. focuses on gaming, immersive storytelling and extended reality (XR), delivering industry-aligned curriculum, faculty mentorship, student showcases and collaborative research in immersive AI and virtual production.
- Collaboration with Eruditio Consultants targets awareness, accessibility and career alignment, with nationwide counsellor training, institutional engagement and structured guidance frameworks to reach students beyond Tier-1 cities.
IICT CEO Vishwas Deoskar said, “As the AVGC-XR sector evolves at a rapid pace, strong collaborations between industry and academia are essential. These partnerships will create meaningful impact across education, innovation and outreach.”
Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. founder Aditya Mani added, “AI-driven creator worlds are transforming games into engines of culture, commerce and careers. Together we aim to empower a generation to build immersive futures.”
Eruditio Consultants founder Indrajit Ghosh noted, “This is not just about awareness, it is about building a structured ecosystem that connects aspiration with opportunity.”
The Zenfluencers CEO Atharva Gupta said, “This MoU is a big unlock moment for the esports ecosystem in India. We’re building a structured pipeline for talent across the full stack.”
By bringing together academia, industry leaders and ecosystem players, IICT is creating scalable models that blend cutting-edge skills with real-world relevance. In a sector racing toward the future, these three partnerships ensure India’s next generation of creative technologists won’t just keep up, they’ll set the pace.
