iWorld
Oliver Kahn discusses leadership in ‘Duologue with Barun Das S2E2 CTV premiere
Mumbai: The second episode of ‘Duologue with Barun Das’ Season 2 premiered on India’s only 24×7 digital English CTV news stream News9 Live, at 9 pm on 25 May 2024. Episode 2 features the serial disrupter of the news media landscape engaging in an in-depth conversation with legendary German goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn. The webisode dives into Kahn’s unparalleled career, his insights into leadership, and his reflections on the essence of the beautiful game.
Barun Das, the MD and CEO of TV9 Network, kicks off the conversation by expressing his overwhelming admiration for Oliver Kahn, acknowledging him as a true legend and the “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest of All Time). Delving into the challenges of being a goalkeeper, the two men share experiences about the loneliness at the top and the immense responsibility of serving as the last line of defence – on the pitch or in an organisation.
In a never-seen-before revelation of the secrets to his success, Kahn shares intimate details of his journey, reflecting on the three key levers of leadership. The conversation navigates the delicate balance between physical prowess and mental fortitude in the realm of sports, with Kahn reflecting on how sheer hard work compensated for his perceived lack of natural talent in his early days of football.
In a walk down memory lane, Kahn recalls the reasons for his interest in the art of goalkeeping, and the two men who shaped the destiny of the legend he would go on to become. Retracing the ups and downs of his career, he finds common ground with Barun Das in their approach towards adversity, leadership and responsibility.
While on the subject of the latter, Kahn bares an uncharacteristically vulnerable side to himself, talking about the importance of learning to deal with loss in a sport where, as he puts it, “the winner takes it all”.
One of Kahn’s most defining moments, both as a player and as a person, took place during the crucial, final minutes of the 2002 World Cup final, when Germany conceded a second goal to Brazil, with Oliver Kahn in the post. What was learned only later, however, was that Kahn played on even with torn ligaments in his right hand.
“That’s what you have to do as a leader. There are no excuses. You are responsible”, he says, talking about the ill-fated match. Refusing, even today, to let the injury be cited as the reason for his concession of the goals, he says, “I was the goalkeeper. I made the mistake… And I have to take responsibility for that mistake. There are no excuses for that”.
Ever the goalkeeper at heart, Kahn also shares his appreciation for the keeping chops of the player on the Argentine side who he believes to be the true, underrated star of the 2023 World Cup.
Having plenty of managerial experience as former CEO of Bayern Munich, Kahn also shares his thoughts on the future of football in India, emphasizing three crucial boxes that he believes need ticking for India to take its soccer teams to global turfs.
The conversation, between one legendary CEO and a legendary player-turned-CEO, will be followed by an episode featuring the renowned author and alternative medicine advocate Dr. Deepak Chopra, on Saturday the 1 June 2024, only on News9 Live.
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.
