Radio City and Mid-day brought to audiences the culmination of ‘Hitlist OTT Awards’ Season 4 through a virtual award ceremony with Radio City’s RJ Archana as the event host for the evening!

The award ceremony was conducted virtually on 17th March 2023 where the brightest talent in the digital content industry from around the world was recognized and celebrated. Being recognized as the original and most credible awards for the OTT industry, Hitlist OTT Awards acknowledged exceptional achievements of the prominent artists and performers in original programming and content created for Over-The-Top platforms. The virtual ceremony also featured special performances, exclusive interviews, and surprise appearances from some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.

Following the immense success of the previous three seasons, the fourth season of Hitlist OTT Awards left the audiences in awe as this season saw 67.5mn votes where the ‘aam janta’ voted for their favorite artists, web series, and movies across 16 categories. The renowned in-house jury, consisting of Mayank Shekhar, a well-known film critic and Mid-day's entertainment editor, along with Radio City’s RJ Salil Acharya, India's recognized star influencer, shortlisted the nominees from an extensive range of categories such as drama, comedy, reality TV, documentaries, and more, making the grand finale night the most magnificent event of the year.

Speaking on the culmination of season 4 of Hitlist OTT awards, Mr. Kartik Kalla, Chief Creative Officer, Radio City, said, “This year has been immensely spectacular as we culminated Season 4 of the Hitlist OTT Awards with a whopping 67.5 million votes from the audience. Hitlist OTT Awards is one of our marquee properties and the most credible event that truly represents the best of the OTT world. The award ceremony was a night to remember as we celebrated the notable work of the stalwarts from the OTT entertainment industry. Our expanded categories, spanning drama, comedy, reality TV, and documentaries, elevated the event to a new level. We are elated to have acknowledged the game changers in the world of OTT Entertainment and their commitment to the industry. Radio City along with Mid-day will continue to brace the OTT entertainment industry through Hitlist OTT Awards in the coming seasons."

Mayank Shekhar, Entertainment Editor, Mid-day said, “This season, people voted like never before—running into tens of millions! Fans got excited, the short-lists were appreciated and the favourites won. That’s what we had worked for, and couldn’t have asked for more—in the fourth season of the Hitlist OTT Awards! Onwards to another year of bingeing.”

Here's the list of Game Changers in the World of OTT Entertainment!

Category Winners
Best New Series Mukhbir: The Story Of A Spy
Best New Season Panchayat S02
Best Adaptation (Book/Series) Mukhbir: The Story Of A Spy
Best Direct-to-Web Film Sharmaji Namkeen
Best Actor (Male): Series Ishwak Singh
Best Actor (Female): Series Shefali Shah
Best Supporting Actor (Male): Series Suvinder Vicky
Best Supporting Actor (Female): Series Tillotama Shome
Best Actor (Male): Film RajKummar Rao
Best Actor (Female): Film Shefali Shah
Best Supporting Actor (Male): Film Gajraj Rao
Best Supporting Actor (Female): Film Juhi Chawla
Best Ensemble Cast: Series Shantanu Shrikant Bhake
Best Non-Fiction Indian Predator: Murder In A Court Room
Top Internet Sensation Munawar Faruqui
Best Creator/ Show runner TVF

HT Health Shots, a fast-growing digital health and wellness destination for millennial women, has tied up with DOOH network TagTalk to spread awareness on holistic health and wellness.

The content about fitness, health and wellness tips from Health Shots will reach the Gen-Z and millennial audience through TagTalk digital displays across gyms. TagTalk has recently expanded its DOOH network to key fitness centers like Anytime Fitness, Cloud9, SK27 by Salman Khan, Wellness Club by Rahul Dev and Fit7 by MS Dhoni.

Shipra Yadav, Business Head, Health Shots, says, "At Health Shots, we truly believe in the power of the digital medium and technology in making people more aware and alert about healthcare. Our website, app and social media handles feature expert-backed content across nutrition, fitness, mental health, sexual health and more. This tie-up with TagTalk extends our visibility beyond the online medium to educate our target audience about their health while they work on their fitness."

According to Gautam Bhirani, Founder - Eyetalk Media Ventures and TagTalk, "Fitness is the antidote to the chaos and complexity of modern-day life. As people are becoming increasingly health conscious, they are turning to gyms and wellness platforms to make positive changes to their lifestyle. As one of the leading digital platforms for women’s wellness in India, Health Shots has emerged as a catalyst in that direction. At TagTalk, we are happy to share important health content through our digital displays."

The iTV Network is hosting the We Women Want Festival on 18th March 2023 at the Juhu Hotel in Mumbai. The event marks the second edition of the We Women Want Shakti Awards, honouring India's women achievers. The day-long festival which is an extravaganza celebrating women and saluting their spirit will be will be telecasted live on NewsX 10 am onwards on Saturday, 18th March.

The august presence of the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt Smriti Irani, Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde, and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis will grace the We Women Want Festival.

We Women Want Festival will host riveting sessions with India's women in forces such as Surg Cdr Shazia Khan, Lt Cdr Annu Prakash, Lt Cdr Prerna Deosthalee, and Lt Cdr Kumari Sonam. The festival will witness a compelling session with acid attack survivors Daulat bi Khan, Reshma Saira Bano, and Ashu as they share their stories and discuss what must be done for women's safety.

Indian fisherwomen, female cab drivers, and female dabbawallas will be at the event on a panel titled 'bursting stereotypes.' Women sportswomen, including Indian shooter Anjali Bhagwat, Padma Shri cricketer Diana Edulji, and hockey player Helen Mary Innocent will speak about their journeys in a previously male-dominated sphere of sports.

Women in Cinema, Television, and OTT will be represented through veteran actors Raveena Tandon & Rupali Ganguly, Rasika Dugal, and Tina Dutta. Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, Sanjana Sanghi, Saiyami Kher, and Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia will join the festival to talk about their journeys as rising stars of India. We Women Want Festival will also host singers Jaspinder Narula & Sona Mohapatra.

'We Women Want' is an initiative to showcase women's indomitable spirit through their grit and resilience stories.

Bipin Pandit, COO, The Advertising Club, shares his experiences of completing 25 years in the advertising body.

“It was on 1st March, 1998 that I joined The Advertising Club. My appointment letter was issued by the most respected, ever smiling and immensly popular Ramesh Narayan, who was the President then. Time really flies and how 25 years have gone by is something of which I think now and look upon the entire journey with lots of satisfaction, sense of achievement and accomplishment.”

Pandit further says: “It is extremely satisfying that I have been the point person and an integral part of 22 Effies, 21 Emvies, 10 Abbys, 15 Goafest, 12 Adasia, 3 Marquees, 500 plus jury sessions.”

After working on award-winning international and multilingual media productions across the world, former Indian journalist & independent filmmaker, Prerana Thakurdesai, launches her own film production company - Ghumantu Pictures. The New York based company will specialize in creating art that elevates innovation in filmmaking, undiscovered ideas and culturally authentic storytelling.

The title of the company alludes to Prerana’s nomadic and colorful childhood as an armed services kid, and her passion of unveiling stories from nooks and corners of the world as a journalist and filmmaker. At a time when Indian documentaries are gaining international attention, Ghumantu Pictures aims to be the creator that bridges the gap between India and the rest of the world through the power of art that intersects with transcontinental ideas. “This moment of exploration is here to stay. We will continue to explore each other's lives, cultures and minds. Ghumantu Pictures will be a collaborative and equitable vehicle that aims to go deeper into finding meaning and linking it to entertainment,” says Prerana.

The just launched production company has already lined up its first co-production due to premiere in summer 2023. The Last Ecstatic Days is a transformative feature documentary film about conscious dying, set in Asheville, North Carolina. The film traces the journey of a young dying man named Ethan Sisser who uses viral social media posts to manifest an incredible death care community in real life led by an Indian American doctor. Directed by Scott Kirschenbaum, The Last Ecstatic Days is executive produced by David Seidler, Oscar-winning writer of The King’s Speech; Tommy Pallotta, Emmy Award-winning producer of Waking Life, A Scanner Darkly, and Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood; Dr. Jessica Zitter, palliative care expert, New York Times writer and subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary Extremis; & boasts of original soundtrack by Grammy & Golden Globe winning composer, Alex Ebert.

Homegrown ice cream brand NOTO has raised 2 million USD in pre-series A funding led by investors White Whale Ventures and Rainmatter.

Previously, the brand had raised ₹4 crores in a funding round led by investors such as Titan Capital, Rockstud Capital, VCAT (Venture Catalysts), Bollywood actor and producer John Abraham, WEH Ventures, and other angel investors. Since its inception, the brand has been satisfying the sweet cravings of many Indians with its low-calorie ice creams and fruit popsicles. Now with funding, the company aims to strengthen its foundation in existing markets as well as tap into the vast market in tier-1 and tier-2 cities. Besides that, NOTO will also be working toward new product development and building on the core team. Currently, the company has an ARR of 35 crores and is targeting an ARR of 50 crores by the end of the summer. The company has indeed grown by leaps and bounds and is being led by a workforce of more than 200 people.

"Consumers today are more conscious about their diet and are unable to find healthier alternatives to indulgent categories. NOTO has carved a niche in the ice cream market, offering low-calorie, guilt-free ice creams with an uncompromising focus on taste. Through a combination of great products, attractive packaging, and affordable pricing, NOTO has garnered a loyal customer base and built a strong brand in a short period of time. We are excited to be on board Varun and Ashni's journey in creating a serious dent in the ice cream market in India." says Shapath Parikh, partner at White Whale Ventures, a multi-asset investment manager focusing on venture capital and listed equities in India.

"What we've realized at Rainmatter is that it's not reasonable to expect people to stop bingeing on things they love. Instead, the better thing to do is to make healthier alternatives easily available. That's what we love about NOTO, and we're excited to join them on this journey," says Nithin Kamath, director of Rainmatter Foundation.

The brand was founded in 2019 by the husband-wife duo Ashni and Varun Sheth. A paradise for ice cream lovers, NOTO brings forth delicious ice creams with a healthy twist! This is a market that is dominated by many national and international players, such as Amul, Baskin Robbins, Havmor, Vadilal, and more; however, that hasn't stopped NOTO from becoming a force to be reckoned with. The company is now on track to become profitable by FY24 and aims at strengthening its distribution via digital channels and making a bigger impact all over India. As of now, NOTO is available in more than 5 cities, which include Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Nagpur, Jaipur, Mangalore, etc. Also, NOTO is available for on-demand delivery on order.eatnoto.com and on food delivery platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Instamart, Zepto, and BBnow, in addition to being in gourmet stores across the country. The company operates on a hyper-local dark store model, which allows them to cater to impulse demand within 30–40 minutes. NOTO solely runs and manages all dark stores across five cities and, hence, is able to give the best product experience to the customer.
Besides that, the company has also decided on keeping its product mix dynamic based on customer feedback, establishing a strong distribution network, and working towards maintaining clear, honest communication in order to stay relevant and stand out from its competition in the market.

"NOTO was born to revolutionize the way people consume sweets. It's a common myth that if it's easy on the calories, it's not going to satiate those taste buds. We aim to disrupt this misconception one dessert at a time. Finding the sweet spot between taste and health has been the brand's mission, and they've achieved it by ensuring each scoop is just as creamy and satiating as regular ice cream.

With over 6 categories ranging from fruity popsicles to mini bites of ice cream to a vegan range and even traditional Indian mithai, NOTO is for everyone who wants to make healthy living a lifestyle," says Ashni Sheth, the co-founder and marketing and communications head of NOTO. She is a communications major from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, and design alumni from Istituto Marangoni, Milan.

The story of NOTO began when Varun Sheth, NOTOs co-founder, and product development head, came face-to-face with his battle of curbing his sweet cravings in a bid to manage his weight. "It got me thinking — life's real joy is in that extra scoop to celebrate your friend's promotion, a cupcake too many on your birthday, or more than a generous helping of cake just because. We shouldn't have to give up on that. We Indians have a strong sweet craving, but we also wish to cut down on our sugar intake for health reasons. That's when the idea of starting a brand that provides a healthier, guilt-free alternative hit us," says Varun, who holds a degree in Culinary Arts from New York.

NOTO's main mission is to spread happiness with its healthy yet tasty desserts. Each 125-ml tub of ice cream has 75–95 calories, 3 grams of fat, 75% less sugar, and more protein compared to regular ice creams. The ice creams are made of high-quality ingredients and are available in a variety of flavors, such as Dark Chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, Blueberry, Strawberry, Mangoes &Cream, Salted Caramel, and lots more. Then there is also a range of fruit popsicles that have zero added sugar and are made with 40% real fruit (unsweetened), apple concentrate (not the one that comes in a tetra pack), vitamin C, and prebiotic fiber. The selection includes flavors like Strawberry Raspberry, Kala Jamun, Orange, Piña Colada, and Mango Coconut.

NOTO also has a delightful range of vegan frozen desserts with zero added sugar and made with almond protein, in addition to ice creams and popsicles. This is because vegan is a rapidly growing category, contributing upwards of 30%. Then there are the 'Mini Bites of Ice Cream,' which are a crowd favorite. A divine combination of creamy ice cream coated with crunchy dark chocolate, each Bitecarries 30 calories and has zero added sugar. Finally, it's difficult to resist NOTO's delectable range of Indian mithais, which are made by halwais using age-old traditional techniques and the purest ingredients, all while adhering to our promise of bringing you low-calorie sweet treats with ZERO added sugar.

"When we started NOTO, it was a blank canvas; creating awareness for the category was challenging but also very fulfilling. As founders, we were present at every front-facing event or point of sale to understand and converse with our potential customers. It gave us tremendous insight into behavioral and consumption patterns, which in turn helped us tailor our strategy and communication," says Varun.

NOTO has a lot in the works, both in terms of product and geographical expansion, and the brand is determined to become a one-stop shop for all 'good for you' desserts.
"There is no set formula or key to success when one starts an entrepreneurial journey. It's a balancing act of passion and reality: being agile enough to understand what the market needs and, most importantly, listening to your consumers. It's important to celebrate milestones irrespective of how small or big they may be," says Ashni.