iWorld
India’s biggest Karate League returns: WKKL season two presented by Watcho
Mumbai: Watcho, one of India’s fastest-growing OTT platforms, is proud to present season two of the Watcho Khel Karate League (WKKL). WKKL has swiftly ascended to become the nation’s premier karate sporting event, amassing an impressive reach of more than 20 million. Season two of WKKL is scheduled to take place from 9 to 11 September 2023 at the prestigious SMS INDOOR STADIUM in Jaipur and will be broadcasted exclusively on Watcho exclusives from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
DishTV’s OTT platform, Watcho, actively supports various sports by broadcasting live sporting events, offering exclusive sports content, and furnishing real-time updates. Their commitment to sports enthusiasts enhances the overall experience, making it one of the go-to platforms for sports enthusiasts to stay engaged and informed. Moreover, Watcho’s aggregation service, boasting 17 diverse OTT platforms, empowers users to access a wide array of sports content, solidifying Watcho’s position as the ultimate one-stop destination for sports fanatics across the nation.
This thrilling karate extravaganza, dedicated to the principles of strength and well-being, is poised to enthral audiences nationwide. WKKL’s core mission is to identify, nurture, and empower talented karate players in India, offering them a sustainable, competitive, and entertaining platform. Over 3000 karate players from 28 States and eight Union Territories of India will compete, showcasing their exceptional skills and dedication to the sport.
WKKL Season Two will also witness the participation of 20 of the nation’s sports icons, including luminaries such as Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Sangram Singh, Krishna Poonia, Deepak Hudda, Babeeta Phogat, and Yogeshwar Dutt. These renowned athletes will grace the opening and closing ceremonies. Additionally, the grand finale will feature a mesmerizing concert by Bollywood singer Swaroop Khan.
Dish TV India Ltd CEO Manoj Dobhal said “Watcho, our OTT streaming platform, is thrilled to present Watcho Khel Karate League season two, a celebration of karate’s spirit, skill, and dedication. Through this partnership, we aim to not only promote this incredible sport but also support the growth and development of talented karate players across India. With this exciting collaboration, Watcho aims to bring the power of karate and entertainment to millions of households across the nation. We look forward to an exhilarating season of action, competition, and entertainment!”
“As the founder of the Khel Karate League, I am immensely proud to welcome Watcho as our chief presenter for Season 2. This partnership signifies a shared vision for promoting martial arts and sports in India. It’s an exciting moment for the league and for karate enthusiasts across the nation. Together with WATCHO, we are set to elevate the league’s reach and impact, bringing the thrill of karate to households. Season 2 promises to be an extraordinary journey filled with talent, passion, and fierce competition”, Khel Karate League founder Dhananjay Tyagi.
Launched in 2019, Watcho exclusives offers many original shows, including web series like Aarambh, GillHarry, Joint Account, Manghadant, Avaidh, Explosive, Aarop, Wajah, The Morning Show, Bauchaar-E-Ishq, Gupta Niwas, Jaunpur among others. That’s not all, Watcho also offers Korean Drama and various other international shows. Last year Watcho forayed into the OTT aggregation business with its signature Rs 253 per month plan. Featuring 17 popular OTT apps, it is fast becoming the go-to destination for an all-in-one OTT subscription. Watcho also features a unique platform for user-generated content called Swag where people can create their own content and discover their potential. Watcho can be accessed on a variety of devices (including Fire TV Stick, Dish SMRT, Android, and iOS cellphones, and D2H Magic devices) or online.
iWorld
Prime Video to stream Tamil thriller Exam from May 15
Seven-episode series from National Award-winner A. Sarkunam streams in India and 240-plus countries
MUMBAI: Prime Video announced on April 27th that Exam, a taut seven-episode suspense drama set against the crucible of high-stakes competitive testing, will premiere on May 15th in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Written and directed by A. Sarkunam, a National Award-winner, the series is produced under the Wallwatcher Films banner by the creative duo Pushkar and Gayatri, who have previously delivered Suzhal: The Vortex (both seasons) and Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie for the platform. Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan lead the cast, with Abbas in a pivotal role.
The show will stream in Tamil with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, and subtitles in 15 languages, including English, a distribution sweep that underscores Prime Video’s push to globalise Indian regional content.
Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India, framed the series as both timely and commercially astute. “Exam is a very timely and relevant story that captures the emotional intensity of competitive exams and masterfully transforms it into a thrilling high-stakes drama,” he said. “We believe it is a story that will resonate deeply with millions.” Madhok noted that it was a privilege to once again collaborate with Pushkar and Gayatri following the success of Suzhal and Vadhandhi.
For Pushkar and Gayatri, the series is as much a moral reckoning as a thriller. “With Exam, we wanted to dig into ambition, injustice, and those moral crossroads that people face when pushed to the edge,” the creative producers said. “At the heart of this story is a young woman who refuses to remain powerless. Her journey is not about glamorising defiance, but about exploring the emotional and ethical cost of standing up to a system stacked against her.” They described Prime Video as “an incredible collaborator” and “the perfect home” to bring the series to global audiences.
Wallwatcher Films, which Pushkar and Gayatri founded and run, has been on a productive streak with the platform. Beyond Exam, the company is also readying Vadhandhi Season 2 for Prime Video, making the duo one of the platform’s most active regional creative partners.
The real exam, it seems, is for Prime Video itself: can a Tamil drama about systemic injustice and a young woman’s defiance crack audiences from Chennai to Chicago? If Pushkar and Gayatri’s track record is anything to go by, the answer is likely yes, and the results will be out on May 15th.
