iWorld
‘Kesariya’, from Brahmastra makes history!
Mumbai: The timeless allure of ‘Kesariya’, from the movie Brahmastra continues to captivate audiences worldwide as it achieves a monumental milestone. With its heartfelt lyrics and enchanting tunes, the love anthem becomes the first Indian song to cross 500 million streams on Spotify, solidifying its place in music history! “Kesariya” is acknowledged as one of the most successful collaborations among Pritam, Amitabh Bhattacharya, and Arijit Singh. With this milestone, the song has undoubtedly been crowned to be the biggest hit in the careers of these maestro’s till date.
Released on 17 July 2022, ‘Kesariya’ featuring the favourite couple Ranbir-Alia, continues to resonate deeply with listeners across the globe. This love anthem ‘Kesariya’ from Brahmastra enthralls audiences with its soulful melody and lyrics penned by the acclaimed wordsmith Amitabh Bhattacharya. Coupled with Pritam’s musical brilliance and emotive vocals of Arijit Singh, further elevating its charm to unparalleled heights.
Elated by the achievement, Indian composer Pritam shared, ‘Kesariya’ has been a deeply emotional journey and witnessing a landmark moment of 500 million streams is beyond exhilarating! This milestone reaffirms the enduring power of music transcending barriers and touching souls. I am grateful to the entire team behind ‘Kesariya’ and to the listeners who have made this extraordinary milestone possible!”
Reflecting on Kesariya’s journey and its unprecedented success, Karan Johar expressed, “‘Kesariya’ has been an unforgettable experience for me and I couldn’t be prouder of its record-breaking achievement. It’s an honor to be a part of such a historic moment, it fills my heart with immense joy and gratitude.”
Sharing his excitement Ayan Mukerji, Indian filmmaker, Director, Brahmastra expressed, “I am so overwhelmed by the incredible journey of my passion project Brahmastra. I am thrilled to see ‘Kesariya’ to be the first Indian song hitting such a massive milestone! It fills me with immense pride. This achievement is also a celebration of the magic of Indian music and cinema. Here’s to the continued success of ‘Kesariya’ and the countless more hearts it will touch in the future.”
Breathing life into the rendition, acclaimed singer Arijit Singh shared his joy, “‘Kesariya’ holds a special place in my heart, I’m grateful to the fans for their unwavering love and support till date.”
The lyrical genius Amitabh Bhattacharya also expressed, “It’s overwhelming to see ‘Kesariya’ touch the hearts of millions and make history in the process. Seeing the track cross 500 million streams, is still so surreal. This milestone belongs to everyone who contributed to its journey. Here’s to the enduring magic of ‘Kesariya’ and to the listeners who have embraced it.”
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
