MAM
Kindle Direct Publishing announces winners for the fifth edition of ‘Pen to Publish’ contest
Mumbai: Amazon’s self-publishing service Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), has announced the results of the fifth edition of its contest: Pen to Publish. The contest received a great response from aspiring authors who submitted their eBooks to be evaluated by an esteemed panel of jury members. KDP Pen to Publish contest recognises literary excellence among self-published authors across genres. Through this contest, KDP recognised 11 self-published eBooks in each of the three participating languages of English, Hindi, and Tamil. The top three winners received a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh each, and the first runners-up were awarded ₹50,000 each. The second runners-up won a cash prize of Rs 30,000 each, while the remaining 8 participants from the top 11 were granted an amount of Rs 10,000 each.
The jury panel comprised of best-selling authors Sudeep Nagarkar and Sudha Nair for English entries, Satya Vyas and Vijay Kakwani for Hindi entries, and Naga Chokkan and Cable Sankar for Tamil entries. This year, the contest witnessed participation spanning genres such as literature & fiction, romance, science fiction & fantasy, and mystery & thrillers. The entries were judged on the basis of several criteria including originality, creativity, and quality of writing by the judging panel.
Aggarwal said, “For the last ten years, Amazon KDP has been consistently working towards helping the writers community by encouraging and providing them with a service that enables them to self-publish their eBooks and become recognised authors. The fifth edition of KDP Pen to Publish contest received entries from budding and established authors from different walks of life such as doctors, lawyers, engineers and homemakers.”
Best-selling author and jury member for the English language Nagarkar said, “Passion and dedication could be felt in every eBook that was submitted for Amazon KDP’s Pen to Publish contest. I enjoyed reading the English language entries given the variety of stories and their quality. However, the engaging stories also made judging quite difficult. It was an honour to be a part of the jury panel as I believe that this contest encouraged many aspiring writers to complete their stories and share it with the world.”
English language winner Mainak Dhar said, “The KDP Pen to Publish contest is an incredible opportunity for aspiring writers to realise their potential and receive recognition. I am quite thankful to Amazon as well as the jury members of the contest for making it possible. This award exemplifies how anyone with talent and a story to tell can reach readers all over the world with their work.”
Author, storyteller and jury member for the Hindi language Vijay Kakwani said, “Reading the entries submitted in Hindi for the fifth edition of Pen to Publish contest was an absolute pleasure. I can completely understand the anticipation and excitement of every participant as I have been in their shoes a couple years ago. I came across so many new styles of writing across genres, and each had its own distinct flavour. I am truly inspired by every participant and wish them the very best for a bright future ahead in the field of writing.”
Hindi language winner Pradumn Rakesh Chourey said, “To say that I am elated at this moment would be an understatement! Winning Pen to Publish is a huge achievement as well as encouragement for me to write more. I am thankful and grateful to Amazon KDP for recognising the writer in me through my eBook.”
Chokkan said, “The Pen to Publish contest not only motivates writers but also fuels an environment for writing and sharing meaningful content. This was evident in the originality of the content across entries this year. Amazon KDP continues to provide writers the enormous opportunity of reaching audiences far and wide by self-publishing their eBook.”
Dilip Narayanan, winner from Tamil language said, “It feels great to have won the Amazon KDP’s flagship Pen to Publish contest. Amazon KDP enables me to reach out to an expansive audience as well as generate royalties.”
MAM
Lego brings Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Vinicius together
Campaign clocks 314 million views ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 buzz.
MUMBAI: Four legends, one frame and not a single tackle in sight. Lego has pulled off a crossover few thought possible, uniting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in a single campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 only this time, they’re building dreams brick by brick.
Titled “Everyone wants a piece”, the campaign features the quartet assembling a Lego version of the World Cup trophy, before placing miniature versions of themselves atop it, a playful nod to football’s ultimate prize. Shared widely across social media, the ad carries a pointed disclaimer: it is not AI-generated, a subtle but telling signal in an era where even reality is often questioned.
The numbers tell their own story. The campaign has already crossed 314 million views on Instagram across the players’ accounts, with fans hailing it as a rare, almost nostalgic moment particularly for the reunion of Messi and Ronaldo, whose last shared campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup became one of the platform’s most-liked posts.
Beyond the film, Lego is extending the play with exclusive, player-themed sets tied to each of the four stars, part of a broader football-led programme designed to ride the global momentum building towards 2026. The idea, as echoed by the players themselves, leans into the parallels between football and play experimentation, creativity, failure, and triumph.
Messi described the sets as a way to bring on-pitch moments into an imaginative, hands-on world, while Ronaldo called the transformation into a Lego figure a rare honour, blending sport with storytelling. Vinícius, meanwhile, struck a more personal note, recalling childhood moments of building with Lego and framing creativity as a universal language that transcends borders.
The timing is no accident. With the 2026 World Cup set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and featuring an expanded 48-team format, global anticipation is already building. Argentina, led by Messi, will enter as defending champions, adding another layer of intrigue.
For Lego, the campaign does more than celebrate football, it taps into its mythology. Because when icons become figurines and rivalries turn into play, the beautiful game finds a new kind of pitch. one built, quite literally, by hand.
