iWorld
nexGTV launches ‘SPOTLight’ with Imtiaz Ali for content creators
NEW DELHI: Subscription-driven video entertainment mobile app nexGTV has partnered director Imtiaz Ali for a project called SPOTLight, wherein users can develop original short videos across a variety of genres.
As per nexGTV, almost 80 per cent of its initial investment has been pumped into marketing the new programme.
NexGTV COO Abhesh Verma told Indiantelevision.com that the publicity and marketing will initially be through bloggers and on social media, which will be used to invite entries but would gradually spread to television, radio spots and then hoardings.
Users can develop original short videos across genres like horror, satire, drama, social, poetry, comedy original music, fiction and reality. NexGTV will carry selected videos under SPOTLight on its ‘TV on mobile’ platform.
The popularity of page views will determine the top five videos, which will then be adjudged by Ali every month. One video will be selected for the grand prize of Rs 1 lakh. A second prize of Rs 25,000 will be given to encourage participants to make his or her next video.
Each of the people who send in videos will be entitled to 11 paise per view after they cross 3000 page views.
When asked about sponsorships, Verma said nexGTV already had the base with the large of number of screen partnerships and more than 100 advertisers. “Each contribution can be of 200 megabytes, which roughly worked out to 10 minutes,” he said.
Calling nexGTV an enabler, he said that if someone who had made a video and sent it to another platform, could still send it to SPOTlight.
With the launch of 4G services in India, Verma was of the opinion that the whole scenario was changing with 4G where a part of the cost could be subsidised and in any case the costs will go down and penetration increase.
For participation in SPOTlight, participants will have to download the nexGTV app and also abide by other guidelines.
Verma said, “SPOTlight means centre stage, and that is exactly what we are looking to offer those bitten by the creative bug. By bringing someone of Imtiaz’s class and calibre, we are offering a unique chance to not just independent video content creators but to everybody to discover and showcase their talent in order to get it judged by a master of the craft. The cash prize is meant as an incentive to encourage the aspiring video content creators to channel their creativity and further innovate.”
Ali added, “India, today, is brimming with talented individuals just looking for ways to express themselves through their creativity. ‘SPOTLight’ gives them the perfect stage to channel their genius to create something that resonates with the public. I am glad to be involved in such a wonderful initiative and will look forward to seeing the best entries.”
He said he had also begun as a struggler but knew he wanted to be a director. This was one reason he agreed to come on to this platform. Ali’s aim will be to see the originality in the talent of the five videos that are shortlisted. In other words, he will look at the videos as a director.
The app, which has a growing library of movies, TV shows and videos on demand, has now commissioned content that will be exclusive to nexGTV.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
