KRAFTON recently hosted the much-anticipated Battlegrounds Mobile India Awards, recognizing the talented creators who fuel the game’s vibrant community. The first category, the JOD Content Creator Award, saw a fierce battle between some of India’s biggest BGMI names. Fans eagerly voted using in-game tokens, and after a thrilling race, the winner has finally been crowned!

Mortal Takes Home the Prestigious JOD Award

Dominating the competition is none other than the legendary Mortal (Naman Mathur)! Known for his exceptional skills, strategic brilliance, and captivating content, Mortal has been a force to be reckoned with since the PUBG Mobile days. His massive YouTube channel boasts millions of subscribers, a testament to his contribution to the popularity of both PUBG Mobile and its successor, BGMI. Renowned for his humility and relentless pursuit of excellence, Mortal’s victory comes as no surprise to his devoted fan base.

Naman Mathur, the gamer behind the Mortal persona, began his journey in 2016 with a YouTube channel featuring Mini Militia gameplay. However, it was PUBG Mobile in 2018 that truly launched him into stardom. Mortal’s competitive achievements are equally impressive, including victories in the PUBG Mobile India Series (2019) and the PUBG Mobile Club Open – Spring Split: India (2019). He even secured the Esports Mobile Player of the Year award at the Indian Gaming Awards in 2019. The transition to BGMI saw Mortal continue his dominance, leading Team SouL to victory in the 2022 Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series.

Mortal’s influence extends beyond gameplay. He’s a vocal supporter of esports growth in India and co-owns S8UL, a prominent gaming content creation organization. S8UL’s success, including winning the Content Creator of the Year award at the Esports Awards in 2022 and 2023, further underscores Mortal’s impact.

The Runners-Up

While Mortal reigned supreme, the other nominees deserve recognition. Shreeman Legend, known for his entertaining Marathi streams, secured the runner-up position.

Lolzzz Gaming, a member of the Godlike Organization, claimed the third spot, lauded for his dedication to rank push streams and fostering a strong community.

Joker Ki Haveli, Classified YT, Bandhookbaaz Ritesh, Regaltos, Krutika, Eagle Gaming (Malayalam), and Tyson Noob (Tamil) all play crucial roles in the BGMI ecosystem, each with their unique styles and dedicated fan bases.

The JOD Content Creator Award is a testament to the power of content creators in the gaming industry. Mortal’s victory highlights his unwavering dedication, while the recognition of all nominees showcases the diverse and vibrant BGMI community they nurture. As BGMI continues to flourish, these creators will undoubtedly remain at the forefront, shaping the game’s future.

The Indian gaming scene is warming up. S8UL, a prominent esports and gaming organization, has announced the onboarding of three dynamic gaming creators: Sunny Jha, Adil Maniar, and Arpit Wadhawan. These creators are set to spearhead S8UL’s Grand Theft Auto Role-Play (GTA RP) roster. Besides, a move that will help S8UL focus on expanding its influence in the GTA RP community.

This strategic addition will significantly enhance S8UL’s efforts in promoting GTA RP. Moreover, a genre that emphasizes role-play, collaboration, and narrative-driven interactions among players. With the addition of these creators, S8UL plans to elevate the multiplayer experience of “Grand Theft Auto V” (GTA V).

Lokesh Jain, known in the gaming world as 8Bit Goldy and co-founder of S8UL, shared his enthusiasm about the new additions. “I believe the addition of Jha, Maniar, and Wadhawan to S8UL is more than an extension of our GTA roster. It aims to be a testament to S8UL’s commitment to nurturing and promoting talent within India’s gaming landscape,” Jain commented.

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Sunny Jha, Adil Maniar, and Arpit Wadhawan are all known for their unique contributions to the gaming community. Their involvement is expected to inject fresh energy into S8UL’s GTA RP initiatives. Furthermore, attracting new players and viewers, and setting new standards for interactive and immersive gameplay.

S8UL’s focus on GTA RP comes at a time when the genre is gaining significant traction among gamers worldwide. Role-playing in GTA V allows players to create and live out complex stories. However, interacting with other players in a virtual world that mimics real-life scenarios. This form of gameplay not only entertains but also fosters creativity, strategic thinking, and community building.

With the addition of Jha, Maniar, and Wadhawan, S8UL is well-positioned to become a leading force in the Indian GTA RP Roster scene. As S8UL continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in esports and gaming. However, the future looks promising for Indian gamers eager to explore new horizons in the world of GTA RP.

Saurabh Netravalkar, the Oracle engineer who spearheaded the US cricket’s team win over Pakistan at the T20 World Cup this week, is a man of many talents. Few know that the 32 year old cricketer plays the ukulele and is also a good vocalist. Besides, with a staunch and growing fan following on Instagram.

The Indian-born American cricketer and software engineer who has captained the United States team. Furthermore, has been living in the US since 2015 but obviously hasn’t forgotten his roots. While he regularly posts his recipes for ragi porridge and yoga regimen on Instagram. However, it’s his passion for music which has struck a chord with his 34.3k followers. His latest video of him singing Shankar Mahadevan’s popular Marathi track ‘Man Udhaan Varyaache’, posted on May 25, has garnered over 15000 likes and counting. Singing to the accompaniment of his favourite instrument, the ukulele, he wrote, “Winding down strumming on our rest day! This song is a Great life lesson on the nature of the ever wandering human mind! Mann Udhan Varyache sung by @shankar.mahadevan sir! What a gem of a song!”

His love for Marathi songs is apparent. A few days earlier, he sang another popular track ‘Radha Hi Baavari’, captioning it “Wind down casual strumming on the ukulele after the game! Radha Hi Bawari, just love this song by @swapnnil_bandodkar !”
Among other tracks he has put out are the devotional track ‘Keshava Madhava Tujhya Naamaat Re Godva’ and the ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ chant. He has also earlier sung Strings’ Duur, and several other songs from Marathi movies. Netra as he is known among colleagues, is obviously a Marathi movie fan!

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Saurabh Netravalkar, who made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy on 22 December 2013. And moved to the US for further studies. During the USA vs Pakistan match, Saurabh picked up 2 wickets in a spell of 4 overs and delivered the Super Over too. Moreover, where he successfully defended the target to hand the USA the now famous win.
After his spectacular performance, memes flooded social media. However, proclaiming him to be living the Indian dream – an engineer by day, and playing international cricket.

Indian moms just unlocked a new character to compare their sons to https://t.co/pRmbOgQ99e

— Dr. Parik Patel, BA, CFA, ACCA Esq. (@ParikPatelCFA) June 7, 2024