Executive Dossier
“Reed will be providing only the seed money for the project” : Nikhil Alva – Miditech CEO
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This time MIP has been good for India. First, documentary makers duo Harry Amarpal Singh and Rishi Rana Bharadwaj bagged an international pitch at MIPDOC, and now Miditech CEO Nikhil Alva’s been invited to be on the jury of the AIDS programming pitch, backed by the United Nations, at the ongoing MIPTV. Alva was one of the members of the panel of internationally known broadcasters and producers who comprised the jury that had to select the best of the short film and long documentary pitches presented. We met up with him after the awards were given out for his take on the pitch,the participants and the award. 
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How would you rate the pitches that were made today? Each production house had an interesting idea. They were from different cultures, and each had potential in its own way. But ultimately, we had to choose the one that would be most practical to translate into reality. |
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What were the criteria on which the pitches were judged? There were three criteria on which they were judged – creativity, practicality and potential of the project. |
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And how did the winners match up to the criteria? In both cases – the short and the long format – the stories were very original, and both had partial funding in place, which was also important. Reed will be providing only the seed money for the project. In the case of Pyra Media’s short film from Egypt, it’s a powerful story that breaks through the clutter, has strong female characters and coming from a region that has not had many such films on HIV-infected persons in the past, we thought it deserved a chance. In the case of long format film, Article Z (the production company), we were floored by the sheer creativity of the idea. And then, it helped that they had a chunk of the funding ready too. |
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Finally, how has this MIPTV been for you? I come here primarily to touch base with my international distributors, and to get a feel of international content. This is the place where you can make out where the market is going to be headed in the next six months! |
MUMBAI: Game faces on, pressure high India’s gaming ambitions are levelling up. Good Game, billed as the world’s first as-live global gaming reality show, has officially launched in India with a bold mission: to crown the country’s first Global Gaming Superstar.
Blending esports with mainstream entertainment, the show brings together competitive gaming, creativity and on-camera performance in a format that tests more than just joystick skills. Contestants will be judged on gameplay, screen presence and their ability to perform under pressure, reflecting how gaming has evolved from pastime to profession and pop culture currency.
Fronting the show are three high-profile ambassadors: actor and entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant, and gaming creator Ujjwal Chaurasia. The winner will take home Rs 1 crore ($100,000) among the largest prize pools for any Indian reality show along with the chance to represent India on a global stage.
Backed by a planned annual investment of up to Rs 100 crore, Good Game is also courting brand partners, promising a minimum reach of 500 million among India’s core youth audience. The creators position the show as a bridge between entertainment and interactive culture, offering long-format content, community engagement and commercial scale.
Auditions are now open to Indian citizens aged 18 and above, inviting amateur and professional gamers, creators and performers alike. Shortlisted candidates will be called for in-person auditions in Mumbai on 14 and 15 February, and in Delhi on 28 February and 1 March 2026.
With big money, big names and even bigger ambition, Good Game signals a shift in how India views gaming not just as play, but as performance, profession and prime-time spectacle.
