iWorld
Six web shows that celebrate the magic of girl power
Mumbai: International Women’s Day is just around the corner…and there’s a long weekend in store for us too! What better way to mark this occasion than watch interesting shows that celebrate feminism? The digital landscape has given storytellers the opportunity to explore woman-centric subjects with freedom, and some shows have truly been standout spectacles this year! Here are six such female-led titles that make for a must-watch on Women’s Day:
1. Maharani- Season 3 (SonyLiv)
Huma Qureshi’s back with a bang! The tale of an uneducated housewife who transforms into a driven and feisty chief minister, Maharani sends across the powerful message that women can move mountains with their grit and determination. The third season of the show is expected to be even more thrilling with twists and turns one can never see coming.
2. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To (Pocket FM)
If fresh and engaging podcast shows are your cup of tea, Pocket FM’s ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To’ could be right up your alley! It depicts the rollercoaster journey of Anika, an 18 year old girl weighing 120 kilos who has never been intimate with anyone in life, and yet ends up pregnant! On returning to her hometown after 6 years with a daughter, Anika has to tide through a horde of haters who are now her die hard fans, and find her twin son as well as the real father of her children. In this audio drama, expect the unexpected!
3. Karmma Calling (Disney+Hotstar)
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! Karma Calling is the suspense laden tale of a young woman who swears revenge on a powerful family that wronged her. Headlined with flair and finesse by the impeccable Raveena Tandon, this show is tailor made for lovers of revenge thrillers where nothing is what it seems like, and every person has a dark and deadly secret hiding under their smile.
4. The Royal Bengal Family (Pocket FM)
Another edge-of-the-seat audio series from Pocket FM, this show explores the mystery-filled life of Debina, who returns home after spending 10 long years on a deserted island. The only mission in her mind is to unearth the real truth behind her mother’s demise. But, how far will she go to seek the truth? Is there more to this death, than what meets the eye? The Royal Bengal Family will leave you hooked for more after each audio episode!
5. Raisinghani vs Raisinghani (SonyLiv)
A courtroom saga led by the incredible Jennifer Winget, Raisinghani v/s Raisinghani is an intense family legal drama. It tells the story of Anushka Raisinghani, a talented female lawyer who’s always sidelined by her father who considers her empathy to be a weak trait. When a seemingly innocent intern joins her firm with a hidden agenda, a can of worms are opened, and it is up to Anushka to unravel the truth.
6. Aarya- Season 3 (Disney+Hotstar)
Ever since the first season hit screens, audiences have been captivated by this ‘loving wife turns dangerous drug lord’ show. The final chapter of the Aarya universe, Aarya Season 3 sees Sushmita Sen in her edgy and fiery best as she battles countless villains in the quest to keep her family safe. With the threats increasing by the day, can Aarya succeed in her mission? The final season is centered around this gripping plot.
iWorld
Micro-Dramas Surge in India, Redefining Mobile Content Habits
Meta-Ormax study maps rapid rise of short-form storytelling among 18–44 audiences.
MUMBAI: Micro-dramas aren’t just short, they’re the snack that ate Indian entertainment, and now everyone’s bingeing between the sofa cushions. Meta, in partnership with Ormax Media, has released ‘Micro Dramas: The India Story’, a comprehensive study unveiled at the inaugural Meta Marketing Summit: Micro-Drama Edition. The report maps how the vertical, bite-sized format is reshaping content consumption for mobile-first audiences aged 18–44 across 14 states.
Conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 through 50 in-depth interviews and 2,000 personal surveys, the research reveals that 65 per cent of viewers discovered micro-dramas within the last year proof of explosive adoption. Nearly 89 per cent encounter the format through social feeds and recommendations, making algorithm-driven discovery the primary engine rather than active search.
Key viewing patterns show a median of 3.5 hours per week (about 30 minutes daily) spread across 7–8 short sessions. Consumption peaks between 8 pm and midnight, with additional spikes during commutes and work breaks classic “in-between moments” that the format fills perfectly. Around 57 per cent of viewing happens in ambient mode (while doing something else), and 90 per cent is solo, enabling more intimate, personal storytelling.
Romance, family drama and comedy lead genre preferences. Audiences show growing openness to AI-generated content, 47 per cent find it unique and creative, while only 6 per cent say they would avoid it entirely. Regional languages are surging after Hindi and English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada dominate consumption.
Meta, director, media & entertainment (India) Shweta Bajpai said, “Micro-drama isn’t a passing trend, it’s rewriting the rules of Indian entertainment. In under a year, an entirely new category of platforms has emerged, built audience habits from scratch, and created a business vertical that is scaling fast.”
Ormax Media founder-CEO Shailesh Kapoor added, “Micro-dramas are beginning to show the early signs of becoming a distinct content category in India’s digital entertainment landscape. When a format aligns closely with how audiences naturally engage with their devices, it has the potential to scale very quickly.”
The study proposes ecosystem-wide responsibility, universal signposting of commercial intent, shared accountability among advertisers, platforms, creators, schools and parents, built-in safeguards, and formal media literacy in schools.
In a feed that never sleeps and a day that never stops, micro-dramas have slipped into the cracks of every spare minute turning 30-second stories into the new national pastime, one vertical swipe at a time.
