iWorld
The Viral Fever and Unacademy bring forth the life of IIT aspirants with TVF Original ‘Kota Factory’
MUMBAI: Delivering on its promise of providing true value brand solutions whilst entertaining Millennials, The Viral Fever (TVF) has partnered with Unacademy – India’s largest learning platform – to launch ‘Kota Factory.’ This TVF Original is part of TVF’s commitment of expanding its content slate in 2019 to include more genres and contemporary narratives; giving viewers across the country a fun summer line-up! Taking a step further, the series will be released in ‘Black and White’.
Set to launch on 16th April on TVFPlay and YouTube, Kota Factory revolves around the lives of IIT aspirants based in Kota, the coaching center industry and the vicissitudes of a student’s life. Starring Mayur More, Jitendra Kumar, and Ahsaas Channa; seamlessly and naturally integrates the various Unacademy offerings into the narrative.
Sameer Saxena, Chief Content Officer and Head, TVF Originals said, “Today brands use various marketing tactics to connect with consumers, branded content being one of them. At TVF, we strongly believe that branded content should be organic and seamless, and the focus should be on making viewers internalise the values the brand is trying to present through the content. And that's exactly what TVF is a pro at! We are extremely delighted to collaborate with Unacademy on a show like Kota Factory which is the first Black and White web series in India, reinforcing TVF's status as a disrupter in the world of digital content. The show falls perfectly in line with our promise to deliver quality content to our viewers while helping brands craft winning branded content.”
Shweta Sivasankaran, Head of Marketing, Unacademy, “We are excited to collaborate with TVF on Kota Factory. Unacademy is a platform that brings expert teachers and dedicated students together. The show is a tribute to the principles that Unacademy stands for. It is also an opportunity to reinforce our brand story while connecting with our learners in an engaging way.”
Kota Factory revolves around the life of Vaibhav (Mayur More) a 16-year-old student who moves to Kota with hopes of clearing JEE and getting into an IIT. The show follows his journey as he learns to cope and compete under pressure with the help of his friends, teacher and Unacademy.
iWorld
Zeel to invest up to Rs 116 crore in PhantomFX for AVGC push
Strategic deal targets VFX, animation and gaming to scale global IP play.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… and now a lot more action behind the scenes Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is doubling down on the magic that happens after the shoot, betting big on visual effects and animation to power its next growth chapter. The company has approved a strategic investment of up to Rs 116 crore in Phantom Digital Effects Ltd., marking a decisive push into the fast-growing Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) segment. The investment will be made through compulsorily convertible debentures in one or more tranches, subject to shareholder approvals.
The move signals a clear shift in Zeel’s playbook from just telling stories to engineering how they look, feel and travel across platforms. With PhantomFX’s global footprint spanning key markets such as the US and UK, the partnership is expected to significantly enhance ZEEL’s ability to create high-impact, visually rich content across OTT originals, animation, gaming and mythology-led formats.
At the heart of the collaboration lies a blend of storytelling muscle and technological precision. Zeel plans to tap into PhantomFX’s AI-integrated production workflows, proprietary pipelines and post-production expertise to improve efficiency and scale across projects. The two companies will also jointly develop original intellectual properties for OTT, gaming and licensing, expanding monetisation avenues beyond traditional formats.
The partnership is structured as non-exclusive, allowing PhantomFX to retain operational independence while continuing to serve its global clientele. For Zeel, however, the alliance offers a steady pipeline of creative and technical capabilities, enabling it to strengthen its omni-channel strategy and build globally relevant content assets.
PhantomFX brings with it an impressive pedigree. Its network includes award-winning studios such as Tippett Studio known for Academy Award-winning work on Jurassic Park and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi and Milk Visual Effects, which has bagged both an Oscar and a BAFTA for Ex Machina.
The investment comes at a time when the AVGC space is rapidly expanding, driven by demand for immersive, effects-heavy storytelling and cross-platform content experiences. For Zeel, this isn’t just a deal, it’s a visual upgrade to its global ambitions, where pixels, pipelines and IP could define the next blockbuster moment.
