My name is Hariharaman, but almost everyone in the online gaming world knows me by my moniker – PVS. Well, nothing fancy, it started as a simple username, but now, it has become my identity.
It has been a long journey from my small village tucked in a corner in Tamil Nadu to where I am today – making a living with gaming and content creation. And when I look back, I think the only thing that kept me going was hope and being ready for opportunities – that hope that someday, things would change.
My Early Years
I was born and raised in Purushanur, a sleepy little village that was so far away from any rat race. No high-quality Internet, not many resources and well, certainly absolutely no one around who was making YouTube videos or being involved in any form of content creation. Growing up, we didn’t have grand ambitions. My parents always told me, “Study hard, get a good job, support your family.” That was the dream. And I followed it sincerely – just to get a stable job and get my life on track.
Now, in 2015, I had to move across to Gujarat – a state that seemed so far away, but I had to pursue MBBS. I still remember the moment I boarded that train – I was nervous, excited, and completely unaware of how difficult it would be to adapt to a new state, a new culture, and a new language. In Tamil Nadu, I was at home. In Gujarat, I was an outsider struggling to understand people and wanting to be accepted.
I did not want to simply be immersed in just studies – I wanted to do something more. I felt a strong responsibility to help my family financially. So, I started looking for part-time jobs. Well, it was no joke trying to balance medical studies and work. I did not know Gujarati, and this was becoming extremely draining. Even simple tasks like shopping or asking for directions were challenging. Hence, working outside the campus just wasn’t an option.
There was helplessness and I was questioning my decisions. I had come so far to study and succeed – but now I couldn’t even find a way to support my family. And this is where, something unexpected happened.
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Introduction to Free Fire
Some of my Gujarati friends introduced me to a mobile game called Free Fire. I had never seen anything like it before. It was fun, competitive, and instantly addictive. We would often play together after classes, and I became quite the expert. One day, one of my friends casually said, “Why don’t you upload some of your gameplay videos on YouTube?”
This was a suggestion that changed my life.
My Journey as a Content Creator
I did not take things seriously. But, then wanted to give it a try. I had already experimented a bit with an older YouTube channel where I used to upload random videos I found interesting. But due to copyright issues, I had to shut it down. Hence, I had to create a new channel and decided to focus primarily on gaming content. I had control over my content and could create, voice, and edit myself.
My first video was short – just three minutes of me talking about tips and tricks in Free Fire. And excitedly, I shared it with my friends – the reaction was not what I had expected.
My friends laughed at my voice. They said it didn’t sound good, that no one would watch a video with that kind of narration. Some even told me directly, “Don’t post another video. Just delete this.”
I was a little flat, but then, I did not stop.
I don’t know where the courage came from, but something in me said, “Keep going.” I ignored the laughter, the taunts, and the doubts. I kept uploading. Slowly, I started getting views. Not thousands, not even hundreds at first – but enough to give me hope.
Reaction at home
At home, it was not too easy. My parents were still not very sure. To them, “playing games” didn’t seem like something a responsible student, more so for a student of medicine. My mother once made me promise that I would stop playing altogether. And for a while, I did. But my heart wasn’t in it.
Then came a turning point. After months of uploading videos, I finally received my first YouTube payment – around $200–300. It felt surreal. I never thought that something I made from my hostel room, with a basic phone and no fancy setup, could earn me money. I took that money and went straight to my mother.
I said, “I have a YouTube channel. I’m uploading videos. I’m getting paid for it.” She was surprised—confused, even. But then she smiled and said, “If it helps you, do it. Just make sure it doesn’t affect your studies.”
These were the words, the support that changed everything for me.
Bear in mind, I did not ignore my studies; I studied hard for my MBBS and created videos during my free time. But as any content creator will tell you, YouTube income is unpredictable. It helped, yes, but it wasn’t enough to cover all my expenses.
And then, WinZO shifted the tide
I received an email from WinZO – well, I was already familiar with. They said they liked my content and wanted to sponsor me. It was unbelievable for me. Until then, I had only seen influencers talking about brand deals. Now, I had one of my own.
That email marked the beginning of a six-year partnership with WinZO – and this one completely changed my financial situation. With their support, I was not only able to continue my content journey but also support myself through postgraduate medical studies.
Before this WinZO intervention, I was forced to calculate every rupee before hanging out with friends. After WinZO, I was the one calling everyone and planning outings. This was not just financial independence; it gave me so much confidence. I became independent in so many ways – it was liberation.
Today, I have over 65,000 referrals through with the WinZO Superstar Program. Those referrals have earned me about ₹21 lakhs – the amount I have used to pay for my post-graduation. I didn’t have to borrow a single rupee from my parents, and I am incredibly proud of.
There is this common notion that gamers spend all their money on gadgets or luxuries. But I’ve always made it a point to use my income wisely. I invest in my education, my future. I don’t spend on things I don’t need. This discipline has come to me the hard way.
Along the way, I found another source of strength – my wife. She doesn’t understand gaming at all, but she has never once questioned my choices. She stood by me when I was juggling PG classes and content creation, encouraging me to stay consistent. I genuinely believe that I wouldn’t have come this far without her.
My Dream – The One I will Achieve
I want to represent India in Esports. Specifically, I want to create a professional team from Tamil Nadu and compete at an international level. Bear in mind that no team from our state has made it to an official global tournament. This is something I want to change. I am determined to prove that talent can emerge from anywhere – even from a small village tucked in the South of India like Purushanur.
I know, it is a big dream. But I have also learned that you do not need perfect conditions to get started. I just had a phone – that too a budget one, but my belief pushed me ahead, and frankly, this is all you need.
To anyone out there who’s doubting themselves, wondering if they’re good enough, or worrying about what others might say – I have been there. I have faced trolling, jeers, and plenty of mockings, but I kept going. And the journey has not been bad – I can certainly not complain!
And as for me?
I’ll keep pushing. I’ll keep playing. I’ll keep uploading. Because I believe that one day, WinZO will win for India – and I will be proud to be a part of that victory.
— By PVS Gaming
