iWorld
NewQuest buys out Emerald Media’s majority stake in Cosmos-Maya
Mumbai: Indian animation major Cosmos-Maya on Monday announced that Hong Kong-based NewQuest Capital Partners (NewQuest) has acquired a majority interest in it from Emerald Media, an investment platform backed by KKR. The company has not disclosed the terms of the transaction, but The Economic Times reported that the deal values the Ketan and Deepa Mehta promoted studio at $90 million.
Having gained significant market share in India, the animation company is aggressively expanding its operations in the western markets producing several successful TV series, shows, and independent feature films for leading platforms in Europe and the US. The company has also become one of the largest providers of animated content to leading edtech players in India and the US.
Said Ketan Mehta: “Cosmos-Maya has had a phenomenal journey of 25 years in animation and has grown by leaps and bounds during this period. The partnership with Emerald Media heralded a strong growth era for us. I am very happy that we are now getting a partner in NewQuest. The partnership marks yet another important chapter in the global journey of our studio, which is poised for accelerated growth.”
“Cosmos-Maya has been one of the most dynamic companies in this segment with a remarkable growth trajectory, ” said NewQuest partner & head of India & southeast Asia Amit Gupta. “With a portfolio of over 20 IPs and a highly talented team, we strongly believe that Cosmos-Maya is exceptionally well placed to consolidate its leadership position in the segment.”
“We are privileged to have worked closely with Ketan and Anish (Mehta- the current CEO of Cosmos Maya) over the years to support Cosmos-Maya’s journey in becoming a leading animation studio in India and the wider region,” said Emerald Media MD Rajesh Kamat. “Emerald Media has leveraged our industry expertise and the strength of our platform to help the company establish a solid foundation to expand its footprint in India and across the globe. Cosmos-Maya has shown a robust growth trajectory on the back of its creative and innovative IPs through the years, and we are confident that the company will continue its success in the future with NewQuest.”
“This is a new and interesting chapter for us as we look at larger markets and newer challenges,” said Anish Mehta. “Emerald Media has been a great support in our growth story and now this investment from another great investor like NewQuest is a testament to our market leadership and strong operating performance. We are excited to bring NewQuest on board as we embark on our next growth phase to become a fully integrated, global animation production and distribution company. Their experience, network, and industry knowledge will help supercharge our growth, organically and through strategic acquisitions.”
GCA acted as an exclusive financial advisor to Cosmos-Maya and its shareholders. SNG & Partners and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas acted as legal advisors, and EY and BDO acted as due diligence and transaction tax advisors.
The Economic Times reported that Emerald Media’s exit gave it a 3X-4X ret return on its investment it made in Cosmos-Maya in 2018. Today the latter is producing anywhere between 18-20 animation shows for local and international broadcast networks; some of which are being co-produced.
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.
