iWorld
Culture machine acquires Telugu YouTube channel ‘Viva’
Mumbai: Culture machine is planning to strengthen the content creation space in SouthIindia by acquiring popular youth Telugu channel Viva. Viva’s content resonates with the youth of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the expat community alike. Put Chutney is one of the humorous South Indian channels in the Tamil space of the multi-channel network Culture Machine.
Culture Machine co-founder Sameer Pitalwala said – “We have always aimed to expand and reach out to as many markets. With the success of the Comedy Factory, Put Chutney and Aithe Ok, in the Gujarati, Tamil and Telugu audiences respectively, we now want to able to provide as much variety in entertainment for the Telugu speaking market with viva.”
It has released the first video titled ‘Every Hyderabadi’ that encapsulates every aspect of being a true Hyderabadi. Cutting a slice of life observation from any localities’ life, this video depicts how most of the youth spend their time in the city. The video shows the life and habits of one Hyderabadi guy who goes about life greeting people, delaying, laughing, talking and enjoying life the way he likes. Moving through life with ease, life to a Hyderabad just happens along the way. One can identify with them from a distance from their unique style of walking, talking and going about life.
Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
