iWorld
Short takes, big applause as Kuku TV rolls out India’s first microdrama awards
MUMBAI: When stories come in snackable sizes, the celebrations can still be supersized. Kuku TV rolled out the red carpet for the country’s first awards ceremony dedicated entirely to microdramas, hosting the inaugural Kuku TV Awards 2025 on January 7 at The Nines, Juhu, Mumbai.
The evening marked a milestone moment for India’s fast-growing microdrama ecosystem, bringing together actors, creators and industry voices who are shaping this short-form storytelling boom. The event drew several familiar faces from television and digital entertainment, alongside Kuku TV’s founders and leadership team, underscoring the format’s growing cultural and commercial relevance.
Designed to celebrate a genre that thrives on brevity and binge-worthiness, the awards spanned 19 categories, with winners decided through a blend of audience engagement data and platform-led voting. The night balanced accolades with entertainment, featuring stand-up comedy by Anirban Dasgupta and live musical performances between award segments.
Among the top honours, My Homeless Billionaire Husband was named best microdrama, having clocked over 200 million views on the Kuku TV app. Abhyuday Pandey and Puja Bharati Sharma took home best actor and best actress respectively, while Nikhil Kulshrestha won best director, Ananya Patnayak best writer and Santosh Bajantre best cinematography.
Character-led storytelling took centre stage too. Awards were handed out for categories such as Best billionaire character, Best vamp character, most fashionable character, Best senior character and best child character, highlighting how even short-format narratives can build memorable screen personas.
In a nod to its community-driven ethos, several trophies were presented by Kuku TV users themselves, reinforcing the platform’s audience-first approach and the close creator–viewer loop that powers microdramas.
Commenting on the occasion, Kuku co-founder Vinod Kumar Meena said the awards were created to recognise the shows, performances and creators across Kuku TV’s ecosystem, reflecting how far both the platform and the microdrama format have come in India.
The debut edition of the Kuku TV Awards signals that while microdramas may be short on duration, they are no longer small on ambition or applause.
iWorld
Coke Studio Bharat unveils Season 4 artist line-up, Rekha Bhardwaj, Aditya Rikhari to lead
New season blends folk roots and modern voices in rich musical mix
MUMBAI: Coke Studio Bharat is tuning up for its fourth outing, unveiling a diverse artist line-up that promises to strike a chord between tradition and today.
After three seasons of blending regional sounds with contemporary flair, the platform returns with Season 4, opening with ‘The List’ that introduces a vibrant mix of voices from across the country. Among those taking centre stage are Rekha Bhardwaj, Aditya Rikhari, Kutle Khan, Faheem Abdullah, Arsalan Nizami, Mame Khan and Mohammad Faiz, alongside a host of emerging and established names.
If the previous season leaned into poetic revival and festive anthems, this edition dives deeper, weaving stories of devotion, longing and memory through India’s rich musical landscape. From Rajasthani folk and Punjabi Sufi traditions to Kashmiri storytelling and urban love ballads, the new season stretches across regions and emotions with equal ease.
Rekha Bhardwaj said, “Every generation rediscovers its roots in its own way. Coke Studio Bharat creates a space where tradition can evolve without losing its soul.”
Aditya Rikhari said, “My music has always been personal. This platform allows that intimacy to grow while reaching a much wider audience.”
Faheem Abdullah said, “Music carries memory and identity. Being part of this platform lets me bring my Kashmiri storytelling to a national stage.”
Backed by Coca-Cola India and in collaboration with Universal Music Group, the platform continues to position itself as a meeting ground for heritage and experimentation.
Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia IMX lead Shantanu Gangane said, “Coke Studio Bharat brings together folk traditions and contemporary voices, creating a powerful cultural narrative at scale.”
Universal Music Group chairman & CEO, India & South Asia, & senior vice president of strategy for AMeA Devraj Sanyal said, “The platform reflects the kind of creative ecosystem India needs, one that honours regional depth while building globally relevant sound.”
With fresh collaborations, unexpected pairings and stories rooted in place yet ready to travel, Season 4 looks set to turn up the volume on India’s many musical voices, one track at a time.
