New Delhi: Moj, a homegrown short video platform from ShareChat, has announced the launch of the Micro Drama Challenge, a first-of-its-kind accelerator programme aimed at strengthening the micro drama ecosystem in India. The initiative comes with an initial ₹20 crore annual budget, focused on scouting, funding, and nurturing upcoming studios in India’s rapidly growing short-form entertainment space.
The Micro Drama Challenge is designed to discover and groom the next wave of storytellers creating vertical micro drama series for India’s fastest-growing short-video audience. By fostering collaboration between content creators, filmmakers, production houses, and storytellers, Moj aims to supercharge the micro-drama landscape, delivering fresh stories that resonate with millions nationwide and open new revenue streams for creators.
The application window is open until 26th January 2026, after which Moj will shortlist 10 applicants by 31st January, each receiving a grant of ₹10 lakhs to craft engaging micro-dramas tailored for short-form vertical viewing. While the initiative allows complete creative freedom, submissions must follow basic format guidelines, with a minimum total duration of one hour, divided into 1-2 minute episodes. Moj will also provide deep consumer insights through its state-of-the-art recommendation systems to help creators maximize engagement.
From the shortlist, participants will enter a high-stakes monthly challenge until 31st March, showcasing their storytelling across genres including action, emotional drama, and culturally rooted tales. Uploaded content will face real-time audience testing through Moj’s 60 million-strong micro drama viewer base.
The competition will reward the top three teams: ₹25 lakhs for first place, ₹15 lakhs for second, and ₹5 lakhs for third, enabling winners to scale operations, produce more compelling series, and be considered for future Moj Originals.
Manohar Singh Charan, Co-Founder & CFO, ShareChat & Moj, said: “This recurring monthly accelerator program acts as a launchpad, building a robust ecosystem that enables discovery of new storytellers. We are committed to building an enabler ladder where independent studios and creators can thrive alongside industry giants. It not only accelerates talent development but also ensures a steady influx of diverse, culturally rooted stories from all parts of India, bringing out something of interest and relevance for everyone. Our state-of-the-art recommendation systems will sit on top of this treasure trove and enable discovery of the right audience for each of these stories. We are moving to a world where every user should be able to access a deep supply of content tailored to their own unique taste. With ShareChat and Moj uniquely positioned to democratize access to micro-drama content to its users, this initiative reflects our resolve towards enabling a cohesive ecosystem that fosters innovation and growth across the board.”
The initiative aligns with Moj’s vision of innovation in India’s booming short-video space. Through the Micro Drama Challenge, studios gain professional resources, revenue access, mentorship, and exposure, while users benefit from an ever-expanding library of binge-worthy micro-dramas, marking a major step forward in shaping India’s short-form entertainment ecosystem.
