iWorld
Graphic India & Arka Mediaworks announce new animated series Baahubali: Crown of Blood
Mumbai: Graphic India and Arka Mediaworks announced that their new animated series, Baahubali: Crown of Blood, has ranked as the #1 show in Hindi on 20 May 2024 above all other live-action shows and films on Disney+Hotstar.
Having premiered on May 17th, Season 1 of the series is a trailblazer, setting a groundbreaking new milestone for the Indian animation industry as the first original 2D-animated show to ever appear at the top of the streaming charts.
Graphic India’s previous hit series, The Legend of Hanuman, has previously also reached number one status on the streaming charts in each of its three seasons as a 3D-animated show (most recently in January 2024) – making Graphic India the most successful animation producer in India, with two separate shows reaching the #1 ranking on Disney+Hotstar in just the last 5 months.
Independent media consulting and data analytics group, Ormax Media listed Baahubali: Crown of Blood as the Top 3 Hindi shows or films in India for the past week across all streaming platforms in the country. Ormax estimates the show received 3.3 million viewers in just the first few days.
Bahubali: Crown of Blood was created by S.S. Rajamouli and Sharad Devarajan and produced by Rajamouli, Devarajan & Shobu Yarlagadda, with a story by Devarajan and directed and produced by Jeevan J. Kang & Navin John.
The epic new chapter in the Baahubali universe takes audiences into an animated untold story of epic adventure, brotherhood, betrayal, conflict and heroism.
Creator of the Baahubali universe, S.S. Rajamouli, said, “The world of Baahubali is vast, and the film franchise was the perfect introduction to the same. However, there’s so much more to explore, and that’s where Baahubali: Crown of Blood comes into the picture. This story will reveal for the first time many unknown twists in the lives of Baahubali and Bhallaladeva and a dark secret long forgotten as the two brothers must save Mahishmati. We are extremely happy to introduce this new chapter to Baahu’s fans and to bring this story in an animated format, which brings a new, exciting look to the world of Baahubali. Arka Mediaworks and I are delighted to collaborate with Sharad Devarajan, Disney+Hotstar and Graphic India as we reshape Indian animation for a broader audience beyond kids.”
Baahubali co-creator, writer and producer Sharad Devarajan: Crown of Blood said, “S.S. Rajamouli’s epic storytelling and groundbreaking Baahubali films have captivated the imagination of hundreds of millions of fans across India, redefining all of Indian entertainment for a generation. He is one of the greatest creators in the world and it’s a dream come true to collaborate with him and Arka Mediaworks to share these new untold stories. Baahubali: Crown of Blood is an animated action-packed adventure filled with political intrigue, drama, betrayal, war, heroism, loyalty and courage. This is my second animation project with Disney+Hotstar after ‘The Legend of Hanuman’ franchise and they have been the perfect partners for us at Graphic India to launch these groundbreaking new older animated shows for the country.”
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
