Captain Praveen Chaturvedi (Retd.) : A Fearless Hindu Warrior and the Visionary behind Prachyam Studios - the World’s First Hindu OTT Platform

Capt. Praveen K Chaturvedi (Retd.) stands at the confluence of maritime valour and cultural renaissance. A former Naval Captain and now an entrepreneur in the media sector, he is the founder and CEO of Prachyam Studios – a stand alone film studio and OTT platform dedicated to Indian cultural content. At a time when India’s history and the present are being narrated contentiously, Capt. Chaturvedi has emerged as a compelling storyteller and a Hindu warrior. Through films and digital media, he rekindles national pride in India’s heritage. This Article sheds light on his journey, challenges, and his role in establishing cultural dialogue with the new generation.

Caption- Capt. Chaturvedi receiving ‘Sanatan Dharmashri’ Puraskar from Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Jayant Athavale

1. Inspiration behind Capt. Praveen Chaturvedi and his life’s journey

Capt. Chaturvedi’s childhood was deeply rooted in Indian culture and Spirituality. He often attributes his spiritual Guru, Swami Shivananda (formerly Shri. Pandit Shiv Shankar Tripathi), for instilling in him a deep curiosity for Indian philosophy, culture, tradition, and science. These formative influences strengthened his faith in Sanatan Dharma and kindled in him a strong desire to contribute to the Nation’s cultural heritage. This internal inspiration led him to an unexpected destination – the deck of a Naval ship became the beginning of a film producer’s journey.

After training as a marine officer, he eventually rose to the rank of Captain. The discipline and broad worldview gained from his seafaring career proved valuable while navigating the turbulent waves of media and ideology. Even during his maritime service, he never severed his connection with India’s cultural roots. In a podcast with the Sanatan Prabhat Media Group, he revealed that it was during his Naval service that he encountered the film industry and developed a keen interest in visual storytelling. Discovering the medium of cinema while at sea became a profound source of inspiration and a turning point in his life.

2. Learning Film production – Purpose and Pursuit

Leaving behind a successful maritime career, he enrolled in prestigious institutions in the United States to study Filmmaking. He received formal training in film production from the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – both globally renowned centres of cinematic education. However, Capt. Chaturvedi did not limit himself to academic learning alone. He immersed himself in the industry to sharpen his craft. He worked with major Hollywood studios such as Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and Twentieth Century Fox. This period allowed him to collaborate with top professionals and gain first-hand experience in high-quality filmmaking.

He emphasised quality over quantity, stating that although online platforms offer vast content, only a few pieces have true repeat value, and he was determined to fill that space. During his time in the West, he realised that the path to visual excellence is paved with slow, deliberate effort – but its results resonate for generations. With this conviction and burning purpose, Capt. Chaturvedi turned his focus back to India.

3. Founding of Prachyam Studios and the Vision

In 2012, inspired by his Guru and driven by patriotism, Capt. Chaturvedi returned to India. His vision was clear – to blend his love for India’s rich culture and heritage with self-produced films. Speaking to the Sanatan Prabhat Media Group, he said, “I was deeply disturbed by the inadequate and sacrilegious portrayal of Indian culture in the media, and I resolved to change that”. His first initiative was the founding of Moonlight Pictures, a film production company focused on Indian themes. Building on this experience, he later launched Prachyam Studios with two young artistes. This initiative would become the foundation of his mission.

Prachyam in Sanskrut means ‘illumination’. But Prachyam was not merely a production company. Capt. Chaturvedi shaped it into a truly Indian, Sanatan media platform – a strong response to the Eurocentric and anti-Hindu trends he had observed. By 2020, Prachyam had emerged as the world’s first genuine Hindu OTT platform. This online channel is dedicated to films, documentaries, and series based on Indian culture, history, traditions, philosophy, and science. It is a medium created ‘for us, by us’ – driven by a cultural worldview.

4. Unique features and goals of Prachyam Studios

Prachyam stands out for its unapologetically Indian perspective. At a time when global streaming giants largely promote Western viewpoints, Prachyam carved its identity as a cancel-proof platform – a safe space for Hindu voices and an open ground for Indian narratives to flourish. In just a few years, Prachyam’s content library has grown to include hundreds of videos, short films and series, garnering millions of views from audiences in India and the global Indian diaspora. This growth is more than a business success – it is a cultural movement that makes the Indian worldview visible on the global media stage.

Prachyam Studios was born with a bold vision : To re-establish Indian storytelling at the global level and restore its rightful place. Its motto, ‘Be Unapologetic !’, reflects its unwavering stance. Capt. Chaturvedi and his team understood that soft power through storytelling can be as influential as any policy – especially in shaping ideologies and social consciousness.

In an interview, he stated that Prachyam aims to revive India’s glorious traditions and messages through cinema and storytelling. To implement this vision, he has combined rigorous research with high production values. Prachyam has also collaborated with subject matter experts across fields – including Indologists, historians, educationists, environmentalists, technicians, and even scientists – to provide authenticity and depth to their content. It is not just the grandeur of visuals but also the intensity of the thoughts conveyed that sets Prachyam Studios apart. The important objective of Prachyam’s work is to refute the long-standing propaganda and prejudiced perceptions created about Hindu culture.

5. Countering anti-Hindu narratives and the birth of the world’s first ‘Hindu OTT’

A key objective of Prachyam’s work is to counter the long-standing propaganda and prejudiced narratives about Hindu culture. Standing up against entrenched narratives is no easy task, and Capt. Chaturvedi had to face many hurdles in the ideological and cultural spheres. One major challenge was the censorship imposed by mainstream publicity platforms while creating an independent platform like Prachyam. He recounts the incident when a short film made by his team on the struggle for the Shriram Janmabhoomi Temple was removed from YouTube within a few hours of release. The film highlighted the decades-long struggle of Shriram devotees to build the grand temple of Prabhu Shriram. Its removal, due to opposition from various quarters in society, left the team bewildered. Capt. Chaturvedi said, “They threatened to shut down our YouTube channel. Only after several appeals was the video restored. This was an eye-opener. It underlined the vulnerability of the Hindu voice on global tech platforms”.

Biased complaints can often be used to silence counter-narratives. However, this setback did not dishearten him and his associates. Instead, it inspired them to become self-reliant. It was in the wake of YouTube’s ban that the concept of a ‘Hindu OTT’ platform was born. In Capt. Chaturvedi’s words, “Prachyam gave Hindus their own voice, one that no one could suppress”. Even so, running an independent platform came with its own set of challenges. There were high costs involved in creating quality content and building the infrastructure for its broadcast. Mainstream broadcasters and OTT giants have vast resources at their disposal.

Capt. Chaturvedi appealed to society for support. Prachyam functions as a ‘no-profit-no-loss’ Trust and invites viewers to contribute through donations or subscriptions. In just a few years, the platform’s viewership grew rapidly. This made it easier to share videos through the platform itself, especially for those hesitant to post them on YouTube or Instagram. Each documentary or podcast, broadcast through this platform, is attracting more new subscribers. As a result, a conscious and aware readership is growing and the impact goes beyond passive viewing. The platform is encouraging viewers to engage with content through both identity and action.

Fortunately, the Sanatan Prabhat Media Group came in contact with Capt. Chaturvedi after recognising his deeply researched and India-centric content. Over time, he has played a key role in building an ecosystem of content creators, who can articulate Indian culture in a way that inspires global appreciation.

Seeing the success of Prachyam, several other independent filmmakers and YouTubers working on India-related topics have been encouraged to pursue their projects. Some partnered with Prachyam, while others sought guidance from him and his team. In short, Capt. Chaturvedi has helped legitimise the space for alternative media within the national discourse. He has proven that one need not depend on traditional studios or channels to achieve one’s mission. By democratising content creation in service of a meaningful cause, Capt. Praveen Chaturvedi has created a legacy that will endure the test of time.

Prachyam carved its identity as a cancel-proof platform – a safe space for Hindu voices and an open ground for Indian narratives !