Free Fire Max Booyah Awards connects gamers, creators and esports stars
The first-ever Booyah Awards by Garena celebrated India’s Free Fire Max community with 13 major categories and special mentions. Held in Kolkata, the event honored creators like Ajju Bhai, Pahadi, and Munna Bhai Gaming, connecting fans with esports icons
Four years since its launch in September 2021, Free Fire Max has firmly established itself as one of India’s most popular free-to-play games and a go-to title for young gamers entering the battle royale genre. In a country with over 600 million gamers, it’s no surprise that an event like the Booyah Awards, organized by the game’s publisher Garena, resonates strongly with the massive player community.
Held for the first time on June 7 at Kolkata’s Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, the Booyah Awards attracted nearly 900 players—along with a few parents—and offered fans the chance to meet their favorite streamers and esports athletes in person.
The awards show marked the culmination of a community-wide voting process that began in April 2025. Finalists were selected across 13 core categories, including Sniper of the Year, Best In-Game Leader (IGL), Best Rusher, Best Female Creator, Best Shorts Creator, Best Male Creator, Best Esports Caster, Most Entertaining Creator, Best Tutorial Channel, Best Channel Edits, Best Community Engagement, Best Regional Creator, and the highly anticipated Creator of the Year. In addition, the event featured special mentions in three categories: Community Champions, Community Educator, and Bug Hunter.
As awards were handed out amid fanfare and celebration, Total Gaming (Ajju Bhai) won the prestigious Creator of the Year award. I had the chance to interview two winners from the ceremony—Pahadi (Lokesh Karakoti), who bagged the Sniper of the Year award, and Munna Bhai Gaming (Sankula Atchuth), who won Best Regional Creator.
Munna Bhai Gaming, known for his Telugu-language streams, was grateful to his supporters and said, “It was amazing, I felt goosebumps, and it was great to meet others like me who had given their lives to gaming. Meeting my role models and receiving national recognition in front of them is an incomparable feeling.”
Pahadi, who was nominated in four of the 13 categories, thanked the Kolkata community for its support and reflected on his journey through various esports bootcamps. He said, “Esports fans in India are a pan-Indian community, but it’s only at such events that you realize how many notice your skills. It’s great to win, and recognition like this offers a lot of benefits for players with esports aspirations.”
Munna Bhai Gaming viewed his win as a validation of his choices and commitment to game streaming. “This should happen annually. The award recognizes the challenges and difficulties I’ve faced and motivates future creators. My parents and grandfather, who were at the event, were very proud to see me win.”
With the conclusion of the first Booyah Awards, it’s clear how vital offline events like these are for online games. They offer meaning, belonging, and moments of aspiration and shared celebration. The Indian gaming story is just getting started—and hopefully, there’s a lot more to come.