News Headline
Devdatta Potnis parts ways with Cosmos-Maya
Mumbai: After a ten-year partnership during which time the company grew steadily, Devdatta Potnis, the current chief growth officer, has announced his decision to leave Cosmos-Maya.
Dev joined the studio as head of sales in 2011 and was instrumental in getting the animation studio’s first domestic IP, Motu Patlu, off the ground. The show is celebrating its ten-year milestone this year. In 2015, he planned another strategic move, diversifying the studio’s revenue streams by establishing one of the biggest digital kids’ networks globally, WowKidz, which has over 90 million subscribers worldwide across YouTube and Facebook. With Dev at the helm, the studio went on to produce a multitude of shows with leading kids’ broadcasters in India including Nickelodeon, Disney, Cartoon Network, Sony, Discovery and also cemented bonds with all the key OTT players like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Voot, Zee5 and Disney+ Hotstar among others.
After this domestic success, the studio set its sights on international markets overseen by Dev. He placed Cosmos-Maya on a structured growth path across the European, Asian, and North American markets, and became the face of the animation studio globally. It was thanks to these consistent efforts, that the studio grew from 30 people to 1200+ artists & the coveted private equity investment came into the animation business, first with KKR backed Emerald Media in 2018 and then with TPG affiliate NewQuest Capital Partners in 2021. According to media reports, the company has grown phenomenally in the last decade, from one Indian series in 2012 to a market leadership position in India with a valuation of more than 90 million USD. Dev was a key architect in these endeavours.
“It has been a pleasure working with this incredible company, Cosmos-Maya, and I thank the founders, Ketan Mehta, Deepa Sahi and Anish Mehta, who gave me the opportunity to grow this company, plan its strategic direction, and take it to the stage where it is now India’s #1 animation studio. I owe a lot of my professional expertise and development to Cosmos-Maya and the team, who will always be special to me, personally and professionally. I wish them all the best for the future,” said Potnis.
Dev’s next move will be announced soon.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
