iWorld
Creators on VMate show how rural India is fighting Coronavirus
MUMBAI: India is practically under a house arrest by the deadly global pandemic Covid-19 or coronavirus. In the prevailing 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, there is increased reliance on television channels, news websites and newspapers for any information. However, the lockdown has confined the scope of media to a great extent, compelled by restricted movement of journalists and cancellation of events. And this is the situation in metros and other urban areas, which have better literacy, enhanced media and FM stations. But have you wondered how the battle against the pandemic is being fought in rural India?
Videos shared by users on trending short video app VMate, which is also referred to as ‘Rural India’s TikTok’, have showcased how the rural parts of the country are dealing with the unprecedented crisis that has gripped the whole world. Videos shared by creators on the short video app have shown how authorities are leaving no stone unturned and excluding no means of communication to reach out to millions in villages and remote areas.
Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBZR0b6G9VQ&feature=youtu.be
Those of us who grew up in areas beyond metros, loudspeakers on bicycles or autorickshaws, announcing the latest movie release in cinema theatres was a usual sight. And VMate videos have revealed that this same mode is being used by government authorities to disseminate information related to the pandemic/lockdown in villages across India. In one of the videos shared by Jitesh Kumar, a user from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, government officials can be seen announcing the Dos and Don’ts related to the virus on a bicycle. The video also features avid listeners who keenly listen to information such as why they should not venture out of their homes.
Another video, posted by Max Khan from Samastipur in Bihar shows announcements being made from an autorickshaw, telling people that there is still time to take action to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 virus. Similarly, Prince Lal Gabru’s video from Jehanabad shows a police jeep informing people about the lockdown and asking them to stay inside their homes. The announcement further says that only essential commodity shops are allowed to remain functional.
VMate user Deepak has also shared a video of Faridabad police jeep, wherein the cops can be seen warning people against venturing out of homes without valid reasons. SungHo Jamali, another short video creator, has posted a video of similar announcement being made in a regional dialect and people being asked to refrain from even meeting relatives during the lockdown period.
The videos shared by users of the platform, who hail from smaller towns and villages, has displayed how rural India is battling the crisis, which has virtually brought the biggest economies in the world to their knees. While most social media platforms are flooded with trending hashtags and monologue videos, apps like VMate, which is among the 10 most downloaded social media apps globally, has shown the real battle being fought at ground zero.
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.
