Inception on Netflix/Prime Video
Inception released in 2010 is a science fiction action-oriented movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead. The movie directed and written by Christopher Nolan is about a professional thief who has the knack for hacking information from a person by infiltrating his subconscious. The twist in the movie comes when the hero is given a chance to get his criminal history deleted against implanting an idea of another person into the subconscious of a target.
Shutter on Netflix/Prime Video
This American supernatural horror movie released in 2008 was a remake of a Thai film and is about a newly married couple Ben and Jane who shift to Japan after they get a lucrative job offer. Things turn ugly after a girl dies in a car accident, Ben starts spotting blurs in his fashion shoot photographs, and Jane starts believing that it is the spirit of the dead girl.
A Beautiful Mind on Netflix/Prime Video
Released in 2001, this movie has Russell Crowe in the lead as a young man called Nash who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and often gets delusional episodes. The burden that it brings on his family and friends especially his wife Alicia and how the couple finds a solution to this problem is the focus of this movie.
Enemy on Prime Video
Inspired by the novel The Double Enemy stars Jake Gyllenhaal in a double role of two men physically identical but having completely different personalities. The movie was internationally produced by companies from France, Canada, and Spain.
Donnie Darko on Prime Video
This sci-fi psychological thriller from the US has a big star cast including Drew Barrymore and Jake Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze, and Seth Rogen. The movie is about a troubled teenager with visions of a mysterious figure Frank wearing a rabbit costume. Frank tells the teenager that the world is coming to an end in 28 days and expertly manipulates the young boy who has a habit of sleepwalking to commit crimes.
Here are some choicest of such shows currently streaming on the OTT platforms that you should not watch with the family but can be enjoyed in the privacy of your room.
You on Netflix
The story of this Penn Badgley-led stalker thriller is exciting as well as insane but it can make your parents fearful and they may start getting more curious and careful about your social media engagements and profiles. The show ends with the super-obsessed boyfriend imprisoning his girlfriend in a cage of glass.
Four More Shots, Please! on Amazon Prime Video
The show is led by four unapologetic and unabashed women who take charge of their personal, professional, and sexual lives. Four More Shots, Please! gives you a highly unreal perception of sex and dating and hence, you simply cannot watch it with your family.
Game of Thrones on Disney Plus Hotstar
While all the earlier seasons of Game of Thrones were very good the eighth season was messed up with a lot of gore and incest which can be shocking to your family. So, it is better to avoid watching it with your family.
The Witcher on Netflix
Based on a novel and a game, The Witcher is a story about a mutated monster hunter struggling to find an identity in a world full of wicked. While the storyline is all based on fantasy, it also includes a lot of steamy scenes that come up every now and then and hence, it is a good option only for private binge-watching.
Sex and the City on Disney + Hotstar
It is a show that focuses on the lives of women in their late 30s who are discussing constantly their sex lives. In most families discussing sex is a taboo and hence should be best avoided watching with family members.
There is an array of web shows and movies ranging from family drama, mythological fantasy drama, and rom-com to medical drama that are streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos, and other platforms.
Here is a list of interesting titles to choose from different OTT platforms for your weekly dose of entertainment:
Maja Ma depicts a Gujarati housewife played by Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit who runs into unforeseen hurdles when her only son decides to marry a Punjabi girl from NYC. Helmed by Anand Tiwari, the movie also stars Gajraj Rao, Ritwik Bhowmik, Barkha Singh, Srishti Shrivastava, Rajit Kapur and Simone Singh in key roles.
Nikhil Siddhartha-starrer mythological fantasy drama Karthikeya 2 which has a terrific run at the box office will stream on Zee5 this week. The film is a sequel to Karthikeya, which was released in 2014. The movie stars Nikhil Siddhartha, Anupama Parameswaran, and Anupam Kher in lead roles.
The plot revolves around the inquisitive Dr Karthikeya, who embarks on a journey to discover a mystical relic.
Akshay Kumar's last release ‘Raksha Bandhan’ didn't have a good run at the box office and it received mixed reviews from critics and fans. Raksha Bandhan is a family entertainer which tells the story of a beautiful bond between Lala Kedarnath (Akshay Kumar) and his four younger sisters. While he struggles to find a groom for his sisters, he also deals with personal issues with his childhood sweetheart Sapna (Bhumi Pednekar) who’s tired of waiting for him.
Apart from Akshay and Bhumi Pednekar, Sadia Khateeb, Sahejmeen Kaur, Smrithi Srikanth, and Deepika Khanna can be seen in the lead roles.
This season delves into more serious topics, as the boys learn not only how to set up a house but also how to sustain the house. The show continues to show the vulnerabilities as they navigate the complexities of relationships, and friendships that reveals a unique side to each four of them.
The American medical drama series is based on the 2013 South Korean series of the same name and features Freddie Highmore in the lead role who plays a young autistic surgeon with savant syndrome. The sixth season of The Good Doctor will start off with the finale episode of season 5, in which Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore ) and his longtime partner Lea Dilallo got married. The sixth season has 22 episodes which will premiere every week.
The popular American medical drama series, Grey’s Anatomy is coming back for its 19th season. After the 18th season finale last year, fans have been eagerly waiting for the new season. Original stars of the series Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr will join Ellen Pompeo this season.
Here are some of the movies released in August and September this year on OTT that have received an excellent rating on IMDb. Check below:
Aparajito on ZEE5 (IMDb rating 9.1)
Satyajit Ray was one of the most prominent filmmakers of India. Aparajito is dedicated to the world-famous director to mark his 100th birthday and revolves around how the classic movie Pather Panchali from the legendary filmmaker came into existence.
Sita Ramam on Amazon Prime Video (IMDb rating -8.5)
This Telugu period movie is a romantic drama that stars Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandanna, Dulquer Salmaan, and Sumanth in the lead. It is about an orphan Lieutenant who is an army officer stationed at the Kashmir border and starts receiving anonymous love letters from a certain Sita Mahalakshmi. The movie is about his quest to find out who this girl is.
Khuda Haafiz 2 on ZEE5 (IMDb rating -7.9)
With Vidyut Jammwwal in the lead, the movie is about a couple - Sameer and Nargis who finally find happiness with Nandini after a lot of struggle. But things go haywire when Nandini goes missing.
Thor: Love and Thunder on Disney Plus Hotstar (IMDb rating- 6.5)
Led by Christian Bale and Chris Hemsworth, this movie from Marvel Studios’ hit the OTT platform on September 8 after having a good run in the theaters since its release on July 7th in India.
Darlings on Netflix (IMDb rating-6.6)
Directed by Jasmeet Reen, this is the first movie from the production house of Alia Bhatt which also stars Shefali Shah and Vijay Varma apart from the producer herself in the lead role.
Loving Adults on Netflix (IMDb rating-6.5)
The movie revolves around the hatred and twists in a marital relationship when the wife finds out about the secret affair of her husband. The story is about how both start taking extreme measures to fulfill their desires.
Wedding Season on Netflix (IMDb rating-6.3)
Asha and Ravi are two young people who are not interested in getting married. But when their parents force them to find a partner, they start pretending to be having an affair during the summer wedding season. But later on, they fell in love with each other.
Cuttputtli on Disney Plus Hotstar (IMDb rating -5.9)
This psychological drama starring Akshay Kumar, Rakul Preet Singh, and Sargun Mehta is a remake of the Tamil movie Ratsasan and was received well by the OTT audience.
No Limit on Netflix (IMDb rating -5.7)
A remarkably talented young girl falls deeply in love with her freediving instructor who is a record holder. Their love is destructive but equally passionate.
Me Time on Netflix (IMDb rating 5)
The comedy movie on buddies is about a stay-at-home dad Sonny and how he gets time for himself in long years after his kids and wife go away for some time.
Thor: Love and Thunder on Disney Plus Hotstar
Led by Chris Hemsworth and Christian Bale, this Marvel Studios movie will hit the OTT platform on September 8. The story is about how Thor takes the help of Valkyrie, his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, and Korg for fighting with Gorr the God Butcher.
Flight/Risk on Amazon Prime Video
The movie revolves around the few incidences of crashing of a few Boeing 737 Max planes and unfolds the lives of the families of those who were killed in these crashes and the devastation that the terrible accident caused in their lives. It hits the platform on September 9.
Goodnight Mommy on Amazon Prime Video
A remake of an Austrian movie released in 2014, it stars Naomi Watts in the lead and is directed by Matt Sobel. The story is about twin brothers who suddenly find their mother engaged in something fishy on their return from school. Goodnight Mommy will start streaming on OTT from 16th September onwards.
Jogi on Netflix
Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the story of this Diljit Dosanjh movie revolves around the riots that took place in 1984. With a big director and lead, the movie has already created a lot of hype and will release on 16th September on OTT.
Ek Villain Returns on Netflix
Starring Arjun Kapoor, John Abraham, Disha Patani, and Tara Sutaria, Ek Villain Returns is the sequel to 2014’s blockbuster movie Ek Villain starring Shraddha Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra. The movie has some good songs and was appreciated for its good climax. Ek Villain Returns will hit the OTT on September 21.
Babli Bouncer on Disney Plus Hotstar
Tamannaah Bhatia returns to Bollywood after a long gap with this Madhur Bhandarkar-helmed flick. As the title suggests, the movie is about a female bouncer called Babli and her struggles. It will start streaming from 23rd September onwards.
Plan A Plan B on Netflix
This romantic comedy thriller is about a matchmaker who thinks that marriage is good for everyone except her. It gets interesting when she crosses paths with a successful divorce lawyer who has a secret. Plan A Plan B starring Riteish Deshmukh and Tamannaah Bhatia will start streaming from 30th September onwards.
Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney Plus Hotstar
It is about three young women who are responsible for accidentally bringing back the Sanderson Sisters in today’s Salem. Now, these women must find out a way to send these child-hungry witches back and stop them from creating havoc. Hocus Focus is slated to hit the OTT on September 30.
Ali Fazal has further escalated the anticipation by showing glimpses of his preparation for the role of Guddu time and again on his social media account. Reportedly, the actor will be undergoing a transformation for the third season so that he looks tough and powerful enough to eradicate the dominance of Kaleen bhaiya. Fans were expecting the third season of Mirzapur to roll out in July 2022. But it seems the actors are yet to complete the shooting and hence there is a strong possibility that Mirzapur 3 may release either by the end of this year or at the start of next year.
Asur is yet another OTT series that received a lot of appreciation. This Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti-led series first started streaming in 2020. However, the shooting for the next season was kept on hold due to the Corona Pandemic. Reportedly, most of the actors have already completed the shooting for Asur 2 in Varanasi, Delhi, and Manali. And hence the series may get a release date soon and will most possibly release in the upcoming few months.
Exclusive News #Asur2
— BarunSobti King Bollywood (@SheroSobti) July 16, 2022
Team Asur ig pic.twitter.com/SQrOeXYiyM
The first season Meth from the Asur series was a big hit and starred Arshad Warsi, Barun Sobti, Amey Wagh, Ridhi Dogra, and Anupriya Goenka. Asur 2 is expected to be a psychological thriller and hence anticipation for this season is also very high.
Raat Akeli Hai on Netflix
With a well-known actor like Nawazuddin Siddiqui heading the thriller as a cop, Raat Akeli Hai is full of intense moments, ups and downs, and suspense. As Nawaz starts investigating a person missing since his second wedding night, all his family members come under the scanner. Radhika Apte, Raghuvanshi, Shweta Tripathi, and Shivani play a crucial role in this thriller.
A Thursday on Disney + Hotstar
Yami Gautam Dhar plays the role of a school teacher who abducts 16 students. The abduction leads to some shocking incidents which rock the Mumbai police as well as the nation. Prominent actors like Dimple Kapadia, Atul Kulkarni, Kalyanee Mulay, and Karanvir Sharma make this crime thriller a must-watch.
Drishyam 2 on Amazon Prime Video
Led by Mohanlal this crime thriller brings the Georgekutty and family back into action with a leap of 6 years. While on the surface it seems that the family has moved on after escaping the charges from the police for the accidental killing of Varun Prabhakar, they continue to fear the police. And their fear comes true as the case is opened again.
She -2 on Netflix
The first season of She was based on highly terrifying incidents. Once again in season 2, the same suspense is back as the lead police officer begins investigating drug lord Nayak as an undercover agent.
Jalsa on Amazon Prime Video
Vidya Balan plays the lead role in this movie, which is about a hit-and-run case of a young teenage girl. The story shows a mother, a police officer, and even a journalist trying their best to uncover the truth whereas there are a few in the system who are trying to hide something important. The thriller also stars Shefali Shah in a pivotal role.
These shows are super hot and some even will give you lingering dreamy thoughts the next day. Check below:
The Affair
The series first started on television in 2014 and was a big hit and ran for 5 seasons. It is all about beautiful people and their secret hookups and it also includes a murder which further spices up the things. The story mainly explores how extramarital affairs strongly make an impact on the emotions of a person. You can watch all the seasons on Amazon Prime and Hulu.
Bridgerton
This is the first show produced by Netflix set in the Regency period during 1800. In those days the structure of English society was quite orthodox and marriage was the only priority in the life of women after they reached a particular age. But that did not stop the women from having scandalous affairs who were all into sexual explorations with the aristocrats, albeit behind the doors. Watch all the seasons of Bridgerton on Netflix.
Conversations with Friends
Based on the novel of Irish author Sally Rooney, Conversations with Friends is a story of two couples and their affairs. It is an introspective story and usually does not go down well with the general audience. But this particular story did hit the right chord. You can watch this 2022 OTT release on Hulu.
Easy
Set in the backdrop of Chicago Easy is all about experiments in love life, exes, affairs, and hooking on Tinder. The show is a realistic approach to looking at intimacy, relationships, and vulnerability in affairs. Watch it on Netflix to explore new aspects of love affairs.
Elite
It is a teen drama revolving around the life of teenagers in Spain’s wealthy high school. Naturally, it includes everything from lots of affairs, intimate scenes, and also a murder mystery which makes the show binge-worthy. It is streaming on Netflix.
According to Variety, the upgrade will begin rolling out this week, and is the streaming service's most significant change in nearly a decade. The new design will allow the users to easily find and watch content on the platform. It also aims to address what Prime Video members have been frustrated with for years: being able to quickly and easily tell which programming is included as part of a subscription service - and which are available for purchase.
Helena Cerna, global director of product management for Prime Video, said in a statement accessed by Variety, "We certainly wanted customers to understand the breadth of content available to them, with a clear ingress and being able to know which titles cost extra."
What triggered the change of interface is the need to highlight the broad selection of content on the service and to make it easier for customers to find the content they love. Cerna said that the OTT platform wanted to make the experience more cinematic.
The overall goal, according to Amazon, was to enhance the Prime Video UI so the interface is less cluttered than the previous Prime Video UI. It features a simplified main navigation menu that, on connected-TV devices, has been relocated to the left-hand side of the screen.
The app will launch with six primary pages: Home, Store, Find, Live TV, Free With Ads (pointing to content on Amazon's Freevee) and My Stuff. Customers will also have sub-navigation options to more easily browse by content or offer type; for example, "Movies" or "TV shows" or "Sports" on Home and "Channels" or "Rent or Buy" on Store.
The new Prime Video app comes with new carousels that play video previews when you navigate to that part of the screen. The UI features a "Super Carousel" with larger, poster-style artwork, to let featured titles pop out.
The new UI, which has been in development for 18 months, will first roll out on connected TV devices and Android app followed by Apple's iOS devices and its website.
The audience is ardently waiting for the makers and the actors to come out with some updates related to the release date or shooting of Mirzapur 3. And whenever there is even a small leak or update on the third season, they lap it up like die-hard fans.
The last season ended on a cliffhanger and now the audience wants to know whether Kalin Bhaiyaa will once again become the king of Mirzapur or whether Guddu Bhaiyaa will take him over. Now a new update has been shared by Golu Gupta of Mirzapur aka Shweta Tripathi.
In her post, the actress has shared a few photographs from Mirzapur Season 1 which shows Vikrant Massey, Ali Fazal, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Devyandu Sharma. Both Bablu Bhaiyaa aka Vikrant Massey and Sweety aka Shriya Pilgaonkar died in the first season of Mirzapur.
But it is not these photographs but the caption from the Mirzapur actress that triggered everyone’s attention and made them rejoice. In her caption Shweta penned, “July शुरू होगाया है और soon शुरू होजायेगा season 3 ka सफ़र :))) Tou hojaye quick recap season 1 ki!?”
It indicates that Mirzapur Season 3 will soon start streaming on Amazon Prime. Earlier, actors like Pankaj Tripathi and Rasika Duggal had shared that they have already started shooting for the third season. The post also indicates that Golu Gupta will be taking her revenge in the third season. Pankaj Tripathi had already shared that this time there will be some big surprises in the story of Mirzapur 3.
All these indications have further fuelled the hype for the third season and now the fans are waiting for the makers to announce its release date.
Here are some best cop movies and series currently streaming on the leading platforms:
The Stoneman Murders on Amazon Prime Video
The movie revolves around Mumbai and a traumatized incident that occurs in 1980 when a cruel serial killer is killing random persons at night when they are asleep. The Stoneman Murders is inspired by a true incident and features a big star cast including Vikram Gokhale, Arbaaz Khan, Kay Kay Menon, and Virendra Saxena.
Raat Akeli Hain on Netflix
The movie has a stellar star cast including Radhika Apte, Shweta Tripathi, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the leading role of a cop. Surprises and secrets start unraveling as the cop from the small town begin investigating a murder of a newly married and a very powerful politician.
Monsoon Shootout on Amazon Prime, Disney Hotstar, ZEE5
A police force rookie gets transferred to the Mumbai police department and is asked to work under his senior who is the head of the anti-extortion unit. During an ambush, while he is in pursuit of a suspect things go wrong which leads to unusual circumstances.
Thar on Netflix
As the title indicates the story is set in the Thar Desert and revolves around circumstances during the 1980s. Anil Kapoor and Harshvardhan Kapoor share the screen for the first time in this movie in which an official who is about to retire gets a chance of his lifetime to prove his mettle when in a remote town several people are brutally killed. When a mysterious young man arrives on the scene the plot gets more tricky and interesting.
She on Netflix
Directed by Imtiaz Ali, this series is about a woman constable who is assigned a task as an undercover agent and during the process gets to explore her potential. The series is led by Vijay Varma, Aditi Pohankar, and Vishwas Kini.
Check some of the top OTT releases to watch this weekend:
Avrodh Season 2 on Sony Liv
This series is based on the book India’s Most Fearless written by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh. Directed by Raj Acharya, the series celebrates the heroism of heroes from the Indian Army. Some of the star cast who will be seen in season 2 include Anant Mahadevan, Aahana Kumra, Abir Chatterjee, Sanjay Suri, Mohan Agashe, and Vijay Krishnan.
Forensic on ZEE5
It is a remake of a Malayalam movie that was released in 2020 with Mamta Mohandas and Tovino Thomas in the lead. Radhika Apte and Vikrant Massey play the lead in this Hindi suspense thriller in which the two stars play the role of forensic officer and police officer respectively. With a psychotic killer hunting down people for killing, it is up to these officers to catch the culprit and save the lives of innocent people.
Runway 34 on Amazon Prime Video
This Ajay Devgn-directed movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Rakul Preet Singh, and Ajay himself in the lead. It is an aviation thriller based on a true story that occurred during the Jet Airways Doha-Kochi flight when the flight was stuck between unclear visibility and bad weather and was able to land after a lot of difficulties.
Money Heist: Korea-Joint Economic Area on Netflix
Money Heist: Korea-Joint Economic Area is a Korean spin-off of Money Heist and follows the same storyline in which robbers take charge of the mint in a unified Korea. Police are working around a deadline to get trapped hostages released.
Chloe-Amazon Prime Video
This is the story about Becky who is obsessed with Chloe and the picture-perfect life that she showcases on Instagram. But Becky gets shocked when Chloe dies suddenly. That is when Becky starts investigating the reason behind her death and stumbles upon certain secrets that even close friends of Chloe never knew about. This British psychological thriller has six parts and all of them are equally thrilling.
The OTT platform triggered a lot of speculation when a few weeks ago it shared a scene from The Family Man Season 2 hinting that the preparation for the third season is going on.
This particular scene that was shared by Amazon Prime is about China’s attack on India and our country’s struggle amid the Corona pandemic which is expected to be the next theme for The Family Man Season 3.
it’s been a year of The Family Man - Season 2 and we are still thinking about this scene 👀 pic.twitter.com/SCJscorO8h
— amazon prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) June 4, 2022
And when a day ago Raj & DK made a suggestive tweet embedding an Amul advertisement in the message, Manoj Bajpayee reacted immediately giving a hint that the preparation for the next season from the hit franchise is underway. Raj & Dk even commented that it is just perfect for the first rains which means that the third season may soon hit the OTT platform.
Now Let’s order for chilli butter sandwiches @rajndk 😃 https://t.co/3QQypsGcnv
— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) June 9, 2022
Earlier, Amazon Prime had released a list of new web series and upcoming installments from hit franchises to hit its platform this year. It included around 42 shows and The Family Man 3 was a part of this list. The last season of The Family Man franchise was a big hit with Tollywood superstar Samantha Ruth Prabhu debuting in the Hindi entertainment arena with her fierce performance as Raji. This particular character not only gave her recognition among the Indian audience, especially from the Northern belt but also won her several awards.
While Manoj Bajpayee will continue to reprise his role as spy agent Srikant and Priyamani will return as his wife Suchitra, new characters will be introduced who will play important roles in the third installment.
While KGF 2 entered the arena with RRR running successfully, it had a monstrous opening. Even as it completes it 32 days after its release, the movie still is minting cash in crores with a reduced number of theatres. The new releases also couldn't affect its total collection across the globe.
While many of the KGF lovers and fans of the Rocking Star have watched the sequel multiple times in theatres, some are still awaiting the mega-blockbuster on OTT platforms. The recent announcement has brought an end to the long wait.
Now, movie lovers can watch KGF Chapter 2 on Amazon Prime Video. You can watch the movie by paying Rs 199 if you are a subscriber of the OTT platform. Rs 199 will be charged for this rental. You will have 30 days to start watching this video and 48 hours to finish once started. Downloads are unavailable for rentals.
Mega Blockbuster #KGFChapter2 is now available for early access rentals at ₹ 199 on @PrimeVideoIN... Easy way for Prime & non-Prime customers to get early access to #KGF2 before digital subscription! pic.twitter.com/PKtu3CkVX7
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 16, 2022
While KGF Chapter 1 is streaming on the OTT platform, the sequel will also stream on the same platform.
The 5th weekend collection of KGF 2 stands at Rs 6.35 cr. While most of the movies start witnessing down trend following the first week, KGF2 still continues to roar in theatres. While the collection on Friday in the fifth week was Rs 1.23 cr, the collection rose to 2.14 cr on Saturday. Meanwhile, the collection on Sunday was Rs 2.98 cr. By now, the total collection of Hindi dubbed version stands at Rs 427.05 cr.
The movie's global collection has already crossed Rs 1200 crore mark and is inching towards the mammoth mark of Rs 1500 crore. It is expected, soon the movie will exceed the lifetime collection of Baahubali: The Conclusion to become the highest-grossing Indian movie ever.
Earlier, media was abuzz that KGF Chapter 2 OTT rights have been acquired by a OTT platform at a record amount of Rs 320 crore. As per the buzz, the movie will begin streaming on the OTT platform on May 27 in all five languages, i.e. Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.
#KGF2 is unaffected by new releases week after week... Collects ₹ 6.35 cr in Weekend 5... While *most* films run out of fuel in Week 1 itself, #KGFChapter2 is simply unstoppable... [Week 5] Fri 1.23 cr, Sat 2.14 cr, Sun 2.98 cr. Total: ₹ 427.05 cr. #India biz. #Hindi version. pic.twitter.com/wQdvb8K93i
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 16, 2022
Here are the new releases that will hit the OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on 12th and 13th May 2022 and can be included in your binge-watch list for this week:
Savage Beauty on 12th May (Netflix)
It is a South African thriller series with jaw-dropping and scary sequences. The story revolves around a glamorous model and her revengeful act against the rich and powerful Bhengu House.
From drama to treachery, Savage Beauty offers all sorts of twists and turns that you can expect from a thriller.
Aadha Ishq on 12th May (Voot Select)
It is a romantic drama full of bold scenes and passion. In Aadha Ishq things turn into an unpredictable story when mother and daughter both fall in love with the same man.
Now, it is up to the man to choose with whom he would like to be.
Modern Love Mumbai on 13th May (Amazon Prime Video)
It is one of the most awaited series on OTT platforms as it will include six different stories directed by different directors including big-time Bollywood directors like Vishal Bharadwaj and Hansal Mehta.
The series is a Mumbai franchise inspired by the column in New York Times. Some of the A-listed actors from Bollywood including Arshad Warsi, Naseeruddin Shah, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Chitrangda Singh, Prateik Babbar, and more will feature in this series.
Senior Year on 13th May (Netflix)
It is an American movie about high-school cheerleader Stephanie Conway. During one of the matches, she gets a head injury and goes into a coma to wake up 20 years later just before senior prom.
When she wakes up, she is a 37-year-old woman and is pretty upset that she could not complete her high school days. That is when she decides to re-enroll in the school to enjoy those lost years.
Sneakerella on 13th May (Disney Plus Hotstar)
It is yet another American movie full of romance and thrills which reveals the journey of Queens sneaker designer of becoming one of the most famous sneaker designers in the US.
OTT platforms have a wider mix of different genres right from crime drama to thrillers, romantic comedy to action in different languages giving the audience an array of titles to choose from.
While OTTs have many successful original web series like Mirzapur, The Family Man, and Special Ops in the past, many of the popular shows are set to return with their sequels this year.
Here is a list of some of the most-awaited Indian series:
One of the most successful Indian web series franchises, The Family Man is set to return with a new season. Fan are eagerly waiting to see once again Srikant Tiwari aka Manoj Bajpayee in action as he sets off on another mission while trying to balance life as a common man and a top-secret agent battling terrorists, rebels and moral dilemmas. The third season of this series will release at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.
After the success of Paatal Lok, the makers of this crime thriller are back with another season. One of the most-viewed series on Amazon Prime Video, the series is about Delhi Police Inspector Hathiram Chaudhary who tries to solve a mystery against all odds.
The new season will see Hathiram facing grave mortal dangers in a new pursuit that takes him back to the netherworld. This popular web series sequel is expected to be released by mid-2022.
Jitendra Kumar’s Panchayat is expected to release soon. The new season is expected to feature Manju Devi’s journey as Sarpanch and take matters into her hand. The show will also explore Abhishek’s preparation for the exam and his love story with Rinky, the daughter of Pradhan, played by Pooja Singh.
Mirzapur Season 3 is one of the most awaited series. The rivalry between Kaleen Bhaiyaa and Guddu only grows more intense from here with the death of Munna Tripathy. Kaleen Bhaiyaa wants to avenge his son's death and taking over the throne of Mirzapur. The third season of Mirzapur will release at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.
The Sayani Gupta, Bani J, Kirti Kulhari, Maanvi Gagroo will come back once again to live, love, blunder and discover what really makes them tick through friendship and tequila in millennial Mumbai. The third season of this series will release by 2022 end.
The offerings include 'The Family Man' duo Raj and DK's con thriller series 'Farzi', starring Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupati, and Rohit Shetty's 'Indian Police Force', with Sidharth Malhotra and Shilpa Shetty in the lead roles, as well as new seasons of 'Mirzapur', 'Paatal Lok', 'Mumbai Diaries', 'Four More Shots Please' and of course, 'The Family Man'.
For the star-struck, there's Juhi Chawla, who essayed a sweet return in 'Sharmaji Namkeen', leading the cast of 'Hush Hush', Telugu star Naga Chaitanya in the supernatural horror series 'Dhootha', and Sonakshi Sinha playing a police inspector in the serial killer drama 'Dahaad' created by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar.
The streamer, which has completed half a decade in India, also has a lineup of original films, notably the comedy 'Maja Maa' with Madhuri Dixit Nene, collaborations, such as the Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer 'Tiku Weds Sheru', and co-productions, including the Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Ram Setu' and the crime thriller 'Neeyat' with Vidya Balan and Ram Kapoor.
A flurry of major announcements were made at the marquee event, which included a commitment from the streamer to more than double its investment in Prime Video India over the next five years, a foray into original films, and licensing deals with leading Indian production houses: Ajay Devgn FFilms, Dharma Productions, Excel Entertainment and Yash Raj Films.
Among its other hooks for viewers, Amazon has launched Prime Video Store, its transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) movie rental service in India, available to both Prime members and non-members. The service will enable customers to get early rental access to the latest Indian and international films.
The event was attended by Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios; Kelly Day, VP, international, Amazon Prime Video; James Farrell, head of local originals, Amazon Studios; Gaurav Gandhi, country head, Amazon Prime Video India; and Aparna Purohit, head, India originals.
"We have played a key role in helping expand the linguistic palette of Indian customers, thereby increasing the audience base for creators and talent," said Gandhi. Purohit added: "We are confident that our upcoming slate of shows and films will transcend all barriers of language, nationality or formats."
The story is about the Tripathi family who is carrying out illegal drug and gun operations under the cover-up of Carpet Company in Mirzapur. Two brothers join Kaleen Bhaiyaa (Pankaj Tripathi), who is the mafia don of Mirzapur, to escape from the clutches of Munna Bhaiyaa, the son of Kaleen Bhaiyya.
The first season ended with Munna killing Bablu and Guddu’s pregnant wife Sweety. In the second season, Guddu and Sweety’s sister Golu who was married to Bablu take a stand against Kaleen Bhaiyaa and emerge as the number one enemy of Kaleen Bhaiya.
So, the second season was left on a cliffhanger and now fans want to know who finally got hold of the mafia world in Mirzapur. The second season also showed Munna marrying a widowed politician Madhuri Yadav who becomes the CM of Uttar Pradesh thereby making the position of Munna Bhai stronger. The last season ended with Munna dying during a massive gunfight and the wife of Kaleen Bhaiya succeeding in taking revenge on her father-in-law.
According to reports, along with Pankaj Tripathi, the star cast for Mirzapur will also include Ali Fazal, Rasika Duggal, Shweta Tripathi, Harshita Gaur, and Isha Talwar who is playing the role of Munna’s wife.
The third season is expected to revolve around the fight between Guddu, Golu, and Kaleen Bhaiya and will also throw light on the biological father of the newborn baby of Kaleen’s wife. There is also a possibility that Beena may be killed when Kaleen Bhaiya comes to know about the biological father of his wife’s newborn baby. Although it is confirmed that Mirzapur 3 will hit Amazon Prime Video in 2022, no exact date has been declared as of yet.
However, one thing is sure the upcoming season will be full of violence, bloodshed, and drama.
Homecoming (Sony Liv)
This particular film is a bit different from the run-of-the-mill drama that you get to see in theaters or on the OTT simply because its core is music. Homecoming is a musical drama produced and directed by Soumyajit Majumdar.
Sayani Gupta, Tushar Pandey, Soham Majumdar, Plabita Borthakur, and Hussain Dalal will be entertaining the viewers in this film.
Bestseller (Amazon Prime Video)
It is a web series with a stellar star cast like Shruti Haasan, and Mithun Chakraborty heading the story. Other actors who are also playing an important role in the series include Satyajeet Dubey, Sonalee Kulkarni, Gauahar Khan, and Arjan Bajwa.
Produced by Alchemy production LLP of Siddharth Malhotra and helmed by Mukul Abhyankar, the series trailer looks quite interesting and seems to involve a lot of suspense and mystery.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Netflix)
This movie is about a serial killer and reportedly is the second part of the movie Texas Chain Saw Massacre released in 1974. Directed by David Blue Garcia, the sequel stars Elsie Fisher, Sarah Yarkin, Jacob Latimore, and Mark Burnham.
One of Us is Lying (Netflix)
This murder mystery is based on the New York Times’ best-selling by Karen M. McManus. The first season of this web series will revolve around a murder led by Marinaly Tejada, Annalisa Cochrane, and Mark McKenna.
Mithya (ZEE5)
Maharani fame Huma Qureshi will be playing the lead role in Mithya which is based on the British Series Cheat released in 2019. In this series, she will be seen as a professor of Hindi literature at a university. Mithya is a psychological thriller drama and its trailer looks quite intriguing.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel S4 (Amazon Prime Video)
The comedy series is led by senior actors like Tony Shalhoub, Rachel Brosnahan, Marin Hinkle, ALEX Borstein, and Michael Zegen. The first two episodes will hit the OTT platform on Friday, 18th February followed by two more episodes on 25th February and more episodes will release on March 4 and 11 this year.
So here’s a list that you need to check out:
Nail Polish (Zee5)
Some of the most sensational OTT releases that you must watch if you missed it earlier are Nail Polish, Kaagaz, Bhoomi, and Tandav. Led by Arjun Rampal Nail Polish is inspired by true incidents and is all about the killing of 36 migrant children near Lucknow and investigations surrounding it.
Kaagaz (ZEE5)
Kaagaz stars Pankaj Tripathi in the lead and is based on the life of a farmer and his struggle after losing his identity. It is a story based on the real-life of a farmer named Lal Bihari from Azamgarh, Bihar.
Bhoomi (Disney + Hotstar)
Bhoomi is based on a NASA scientist and astronaut who return to his native village in India and on learning about injustice to farmers he starts a revolution. It reminds you of the way Shah Rukh Khan returned to his village and fought for the welfare of his folks in Swades.
Tandav (Amazon Prime Video)
With a stellar star cast of Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Sunil Grover and directed by Abbas Ali Zafar, the series was all about dirty politics. It created a lot of uproar due to the alleged wrong depiction of certain characters.
Tribhanga (Netflix)
This social drama flick is all about three women led by Mithila Parker, Kajol, and Tanvi Azmi and takes inspiration from odyssey dance poses.
The White Tiger (Netflix)
The story is about a village boy who moves up the social ladder to become successful. It starred Priyanka Chopra and Rajkummar Rao in the lead and is about the setbacks that economically backward people have to face when they aim to reach higher.
Drishyam 2 (Amazon Prime Video)
The first movie from the Drishyam franchise was a big hit and even its remake with the same title and led by Ajay Devgn was a super-duper hit. The second installment from this originally Malayalam franchise hit the OTT platform this year and once again managed to win hearts. The buried secrets and more mystery that was not even mentioned in the first part unraveled in this sequel.
Bombay Begums (Netflix)
Pooja Bhatt’s second OTT release after Sadak 2, this series is about five women who belong to different generations but somehow find a common ground during their struggle.
Silence (ZEE5)
This whodunit movie led by Manoj Bajpayee is about a woman who mysteriously vanishes after leaving her home for doing some small errand. The investigation starts when her body is found by a team of hikers.
The Big Bull (Disney + Hotstar)
Abhishek Bachchan and Ileana D’Cruz led The Big Bull are about the Harshad Mehta Scam that hit the country in 1992. Although Prateik Gandhi’s Scam 1992 based on the same story was a big hit, Junior B did manage to wow the audience with his personal charm.
Bhuj: The Pride of India (Disney + Hotstar)
The stellar star cast of Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, and Parineeti Chopra created a lot of hype during the release of this film. The story revolves around how an IAF officer reconstructs an airstrip with the help of 300 local women during the 1971’s Indo-Pakistan War.
The Family Man Season 2 (Amazon Prime Video)
One of the most talked-about OTT releases of this year, The Family Man 2 also marked the debut of Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the world of Hindi entertainment. She also won an award for her marvelous portrayal of Raji. As usual, Manoj Bajapayee was superb in this action thriller.
Shershaah (Amazon Prime Video)
Starring Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, the movie is based on the real-life of Captain Vikram Batra who laid down his life for the country. The songs and romance of Sid and Kiara were the highlights of Shershaah.
But with no-phone policies to secret codes for VIP guests to several other restrictions, the couple has gone to great lengths to maintain privacy on their big day.
However, if reports are to be believed, the couple has sold the rights to telecast their wedding footage exclusively to an OTT platform and you certainly will be surprised to know the whopping amount involved in this transaction. Yes, you heard that right.
A report by a leading national portal (Mid-Day) suggests that Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal’s wedding footage has apparently been sold to Amazon Prime Video for a whopping Rs 80 crore!
A source revealed, “The OTT platform has been looking at starting a grand wedding series focusing on big Bollywood nuptials. Vicky and Katrina’s wedding will be designed as an expansive feature, tracing their love story with bytes from the two stars, their friends and family, and a glimpse of the roka that happened last month. It will give an all-access view to the four-day celebration — from the sangeet to the reception.”
However, neither Amazon Prime nor any source close to the couple has given any official confirmation in this regard, as fans continue to wait with excitement to catch a glimpse of the ceremony.
Video Editor: Partha Narayan Das
Producer: Sanchita Mondal
Things start changing when she experiences paranormal activities that get the worst out of her. The film paints a dark and harrowing tale of a pregnant woman, who spirals into an unsettling world.
With one already getting a taste of the horror in store, 'Chhorii' promises to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller that viewers.
'Chhorii' stars Nushratt Bharuccha as the protagonist with Mita Vashisht, Rajesh Jais, Saurabh Goyal, and Yaanea Bharadwaj in key roles.
The film is a remake of the Marathi film 'Lapachhapi'. Directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishnan Kumar, Vikram Malhotra, Jack Davis, and Shikhaa Sharma, 'Chhorii' is set to stream on Prime Video from November 26 in India and across 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Starting Thursday, a repertoire of Korean dramas will go live for the Indian consumers adding further value to Prime Video's content library.
The popular shows launching on the service on Thursday include 'True Beauty' that dwells on the classic makeover of a young high school girl, bullied for her appearance.
'Strangers from Hell' that will transport the viewers to a dingy apartment building with shady neighbours and a series of mysterious events, and the new season of a high-octane action-packed series 'Taxi Driver' featuring Lee Je-Hoon and Esom.
Then there is Lee Dong-Wook and Cho Bo-Ah-starrer 'Tale of the Nine Tailed', 'Hotel Del Luna' will introduce a mix of eeriness and a gripping plotline.
In the subsequent weeks, the release that will follow is 'The Penthouse: War in Life', a show that delves deeper into the struggles of some unabashedly ambitious women, who desire to enter the cream of high society.
At the same time, 'Mr. Queen', featuring Shin Hae-Sun and Kim Jung-Hyun, will make the audience experience a soul swap and a time travel within the same breath.
There's more to this.
'Secret Garden', a fantasy romantic comedy will explore love that transcends social class differences, while all four seasons of 'Voice' will drop together in November.
Manish Menghani, Head, Content Licensing, Amazon Prime Video, India, said: "Korean content, in particular, has made significant inroads into India's mainstream popular culture. Our users were highly appreciative of Korean films like 'Parasite' and 'Minari' on Prime Video - the movies saw viewership from across the length and breadth of the country. We are excited to announce our exclusive slate of Korean content with 10 popular series.
"The slate brings together a mix of genres from comedy, romance, horror to action, exclusively for Prime members in India. The announcement marks our efforts to program for evolving consumer choices for immersive content. We will continue to curate a compelling library of content that is diverse, resonates with our audience and gives them the choice to explore stories from around the world."
Yes, you heard that right! During a question and answer session with fans on Twitter, a fan asked Shahid of his opinion on Samantha's acting in web series 'The Family Man 2'.
In response, Shahid said that he totally loved her on the show and would love to work with her some time.
Shahid has recently wrapped up the shoot with directors Raj and DK, who were also the brains behind the popular crime thriller series 'The Family Man 2'.
The 'Kabir Singh' actor also announced the release date of his film 'Jersey' on Sunday. The movie is slated to release on December 31, 2021.
On the work front, Samantha, who played a negative role in ‘The Family Man 2', is gearing up for the release of her next film 'Shaakuntalam'.
Of late, Samantha has been in news almost every day because of the rumours surrounding her divorce with Naga Chaitanya. Though nothing of that sort has been confirmed by either of them, recent reports hint at a troubled marriage.
Video Editor: Partha Narayan Das
Producer: Sanchita Mondal
The October month on Amazon Prime will kick off with a Malayalam remake of Bhramam with Prithviraj Sukumaran as the lead actor. It will be followed by the release of one of the most awaited patriotic movies and biopic titled Sardar Udham in which Uri fame actor Vicky Kaushal will be playing the titular role of Sardar Udham Singh. The movie will be all about patriotism and the contribution of the Indian revolutionary.
we’re here to make your day and, this festive season better: here’s unveiling all the latest and greatest to come 🤩 🥳 pic.twitter.com/hiffSuZm8B
— amazon prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) September 24, 2021
The next movie that is expected to be highly entertaining is the supernatural horror flick Dybbuk headed by Emraan Hashmi. It is yet another remake of the hit Malayalam horror movie Ezra. Amazon Prime Video will also roll out the second edition of its hit comedy series One Mic Stand. The innovative stand-up series will include some stellar acts headlined by amusing comics.
The Tamil audience will be treated to a family drama titled Udanpirape which will be a story revolving around a family reunion led by Jyothika and Sasikumar. Another Tamil project to release in October on Amazon Prime Video is a Suriya-led murder mystery titled Jai Bhim.
And that is not all. The platform is all set to bring the most awaited global documentary release Justin Bieber: Our World to its platform. The documentary will give an insight into the life of the international music icon.
Maradona: Blessed Dream is yet another special series that will be based on the life of the revolutionary footballer and will stream on Amazon Prime Video this October.
More projects include Dev Patel-led The Green Knight, and a horror story I Know What You Did Last Summer.
AJAY DEVGN'S DIGITAL DEBUT... #AjayDevgn makes his digital debut with #Rudra: The Edge Of Darkness... A crime-drama series... Produced by #Applause Entertainment in association with #BBC Studios India... Coming soon on #DisneyPlusHotstarVIP. #RudraTheEdgeOfDarkness pic.twitter.com/vP4R7neieT
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) April 20, 2021
Big names like Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, and Juhi Chawla now have started showing interest in OTT releases and web series. While the Singham star will feature in a crime thriller titled Rudra-The Edge of Darkness (Disney + Hotstar) with Ileana D’Cruz, the Dhak Dhak girl will be seen in Finding Anamika alongside Sanjay Kapoor on Netflix.
The team of veteran Bollywood actresses like Juhi Chawla, Ayesha Zhulka will appear in Hush Hush on Amazon Prime Video which will also feature famous names like Soha Ali Khan, Kritika Kamra, and Karishma Tanna.
Here’s a list of the most awaited web series that is expected to release this year.
Asur Season 2, Voot
Helmed by Gaurav Shukla, the star cast in the first season featured Arshad Warsi, Barun Sobti, Amey Wadh, and Riddhi Dogra and this same team will return for the second season very soon. The first season was highly enthralling and the second season is expected to be equally thrilling.
Am extremely grateful to everyone who voted for me, I promise , I will do an even better job, in Season 2..#Asur pic.twitter.com/Zj2KJTmjHd
— Arshad Warsi (@ArshadWarsi) March 27, 2021
Kota Factory Season 2, Netflix
Produced by The Viral Fever the conclusion of its first season has made the fans eagerly wait for the next season which stars Jitendra Kumar, Mayur More, Ahsaas Channa, and Revathi Pillai.
Delhi Crime Season 2, Netflix
The series based on true events of gang rape in Delhi impressed the audience with its honest presentation. Now the producers Rajesh Mapuskar, and Tanuj Chopra have announced that they will return for the second season with Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang, and Adil Hussain tackling a new crime story.
Little Things Season 4, Netflix
This Dhruv Sehgal produced cute love story led by Mithila Palkar, Abhishek Bhalerao, and Dhruv Sehgal will return with a different angle giving new relationship goals to the audience.
Kota Factory Season 2 headed to Netflix. Little Things also renewed for Season 4. Fingers crossed for Pitchers 2 to round up 2021.
— Palash Volvoikar (@whipalash) March 3, 2021
Masaba Masaba Season 2, Netflix
Famous fashion designer Masaba Gupta and her mom Neena Gupta will return for the second season of the web series Masaba Masaba and will show how they manage and balance love, friendship, and their career.
Mismatched Season 2, Netflix
The stellar star cast of Rohit Saraf, Prajakta Koli, Rannvijay Singh, and Vidya Malvade will return with this young drama on Netflix in which Dimple and Rishi’s story will move forward.
Biswa’s latest act is peppered with puns, sarcasm and satires from moments of his childhood and teenage and generic Indian life. The trailer of his ‘Mast Aadmi’ that was released on YouTube on May 18 has reached almost 2.5 lakh views and celebrities from all walks of life, like Sonakshi Sinha and author Durjoy Dutta, as well as members of the stand up comedy fraternity have highly recommended the show.
Restoring my faith in stand up comedy one joke at at time! Chk out @kalyanrath's super special special on https://t.co/PkMMZC7cWa ?
— Sonakshi (@sonakshisinha) May 20, 2017
Biswa has a large following ever since he was seen in funny acts in ‘Pretentious Movie Reviews’ and has moved on to become one of the favourite stand-up comics of the country. He often brings in Odia lines to add to his jokes on the craze for English in India.
In their statement, the team of The Family Man Season 2 has said that all the assumptions are based on the few shots in the trailer and that people must watch the entire show and then come out with their opinions. The statement further says that they have taken utmost pains to ensure that they come up with a sensitive, balanced, and riveting story.
Manoj Bajpayee who plays the lead role in this web series has also shared this open letter which says, “Some assumptions and impressions have been made based on just a couple of shots in the trailer. Many of our lead cast members, as well as key members of the creative & writing team, are Tamilians. We are very cognizant of the sentiments of the Tamil people and Tamil culture and have nothing but the utmost love and respect towards our Tamil people.”
The makers as well as the team has requested people to watch the show saying, “We have put in years of hard work into this show, and we have taken great pains to bring to our audiences a sensitive, balanced, and riveting story – much like we did in Season 1 of the show. We request everyone to wait and watch the show when it releases. We know you’ll appreciate it once you watch it.”
The first part of the series received a good response and fans simply loved Manoj in it and were eagerly waiting for the second part of the Amazon Prime Video series. But they were disappointed after the Tamil Nadu government a couple of days ago requested the Information & Broadcasting Ministry to stop or ban the release of The Family Man Season 2. The government alleged that the series has negatively shown the Eelam Tamils.
Hotstar has reshaped not just the Indian Premiere League (IPL) viewing experience in the country but of entertainment consumption too, offering over 100,000 hours of drama and movies in 9 languages and coverage of every major global sporting event.
When Uday Shankar, President of The Walt Disney Co Asia-Pacific and Chairman of Star and Disney India, introduced Hotstar to Disney's investors at the Investor Day conference in Burbank, he exuded pride in sharing how the platform had reached peak engagement of 300 million monthly active users, as per latest data.
The game is only going to get bigger with The Walt Disney Co's $71 billion deal with 21st Century Fox, as part of which it now owns Indian TV giant Star.
"First and foremost, we were ahead of the curve. When everybody was dismissing India as a data dark market, we anticipated the impending shift (in data cost, smartphone penetration, and online video consumption) and built Hotstar. We also kept mobile, and in particular, Android at the centre of our strategy, and created an app that was high quality and feature rich but which was also extremely light and nimble," Shankar said.
India, he said, has become a magnet for global media and content companies, and Hotstar, launched in early 2015, was currently in the "pole position".
Despite the market clutter, Hotstar continues to break records by raising the bar in reinventing the sporting experience for millions of Indians, said Varun Narang, Chief Product Officer, Hotstar.
According to the the Ficci-EY Media and Entertainment sector report, digital will overtake film in 2019 and print by 2021 to reach Rs 354 billion in 2021.
There are already over 30 OTT platforms vying for viewers' attention in India, where big players from the film world have stepped into the game via individual apps or content production. Over 1,200 hours of fresh original content was created for OTTs in 2018.
They are competing with world-class content from international biggies Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Netflix CEO recently said that he finds India a "competitive" and "exciting" market, and efforts have been directed towards amping up the platform's India original slate.
On Monday, they announced a slate of 10 new original films from the country by filmmakers like Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Sudhir Mishra and Sooni Taraporevala, taking the total to 15 new offerings till the end of 2020.
The subscription game is also getting tougher.
Hotstar offers an annual pack for Rs 999 for all sports and American shows and movies. The same plan is available monthly for Rs 299. And then there is Hotstar VIP -- for access to Hotstar Sports, Hotstar Specials and serials before TV -- at Rs 365 annually.
This is much cheaper than the three-tier rates of Netflix, between Rs 500 and Rs 800 monthly.
Amazon's Prime Video is available for Rs 129 per month and Rs 999 for one year.
The Sunil Mittal company launched a set top box (STB) along with this service which has an in-built Chromecast and is being seen as a direct competitor to Reliance Jio's hybrid set top box which is expected to offer over the counter (OTT) content like Netflix, Hotstar and more along with Internet services.
Jio is also likely to provide access to its OTT services like Jio TV, Jio Cinema and Jio Saavan including services like gaming, video calling and virtual reality via the set top box.
With all the content on one platform, Airtel Xstream will bring entertainment catalogues - hundreds of satellite TV channels, thousands of movies and shows in English, Hindi and multiple Indian languages, millions of songs, plus access to all the popular OTT entertainment apps on one platform, the company said at a conference here.
It enables customers to access all this content across the screen of their choice - TV, PC, and smartphone - with a unified User Interface. Airtel's Xstream set top box would be capable of streaming DTH, OTT and IPTV content.
Priced at Rs 3,999, the Airtel Xstream Box will offer a complimentary one year subscription (worth Rs 999) to all Airtel Xstream app content in addition to one month subscription to a HD DTH pack. All existing Airtel Digital TV customers can upgrade to Airtel Xstream Box at a special price of Rs 2,249.
Along with the option to choose from over 500 TV channels, the Airtel Xstream Box comes pre-installed with Airtel Xstream app (over 10,000 movies and shows), Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Airtel Store (for advanced gaming with high-end graphics).
The Xstream platform will integrate various OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hungama, Eros and Wynk. As part of this service Airtel also launched its Xstream stick which is priced at Rs 3,999.
The Airtel Xstream Box has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and built-in Chromecast. It comes with a universal remote that features Google Assistant-based voice search and hot keys for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
JioFiber customers can now access the Amazon Prime Video app on their TV and enjoy Amazon's latest and exclusive Hollywood, Bollywood and Indian regional movies, top TV shows, stand-up comedies, kids programmes, including critically acclaimed Indian and global Amazon Originals, the company said in a statement.
"With this launch, we will further extend the reach and access of Amazon Prime Video in India, giving more customers the experience of watching our broad selection of popular Amazon Originals, blockbuster movies, Indian as well as international shows, on their TV sets," said Gaurav Gandhi, Director and Country General Manager, Amazon Prime Video India.
In addition, Jio will offer one year of Prime membership worth Rs 999 a year to JioFiber customers on Gold and above broadband plans, at no extra cost.
Existing Amazon Prime members can directly sign-in to the Amazon Prime Video app on their Jio set-top box.
(IANS)
More Related Stories:
JioFiber Enters 1,600 Indian Cities, Plans Start From Rs 699
Jio GigaFiber’s commercial services start Sep 5
With this announcement, Amazon Prime Video becomes the first Indian streaming service to secure exclusive live cricket rights from a major cricketing board.
The multi-year deal between Amazon and the New Zealand Cricket Board will give Prime Video the right to stream all international cricket matches to be played in New Zealand for both men's and women's cricket, across ODI, T20 and Tests formats starting late 2021.
The deal also includes Team India's tour of New Zealand in early 2022, and a second tour, the dates for which will be announced later. The rights for 2020-2021 season starting later this month is intended to be syndicated by Amazon.
Gaurav Gandhi, Director & Country General Manager, Amazon Prime Video said the team is looking forward to bringing India's favourite game to the streamer.
Over the last few years Amazon Prime Video has become the go-to destination for world class entertainment in India be it our Amazon Original Series or the biggest blockbuster movies across languages, Gandhi said in a statement.
... We are thrilled to work with New Zealand Cricket on this endeavor as they have a strong, passionate and much-loved cricket team, and the cricketing rivalry between the two countries has been fantastic. We are happy to make this collaboration with New Zealand Cricket our first live sport offering in India, and are confident that our Prime members will be delighted with this initiative, he added.
David White, Chief Executive New Zealand Cricket, said, One of NZC's key goals is to extend our teams' global reach and to build closer relationships around the world and, in terms of that particular objective, we don't think we could be in better hands. India has always been important for viewership of NZC; no other country follows cricket like India, so it's exciting to be announcing this agreement with India's leading streamer.
The Indian territory New Zealand Cricket rights package is the latest in Prime Video's growing line-up of live sports around the world including Thursday Night Football, the Premier League, ATP Tour Events, WTA, the US Open (tennis), UEFA Champions League, Autumn Nations Cup (rugby), and the Seattle Sounders FC.
Fans can also subscribe to streaming services such as Eurosport, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, and PGA TOUR LIVE through Prime Video Channels.
This in addition to a selection of popular docuseries for sports fans, including The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team , which follows the Australian men's cricket team during during the 2018/2019 season, and Emmy-winning Amazon Original All or Nothing among others.
(PTI)
The development came after BJP MP Manoj Kotak on Sunday said he has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a ban on Amazon Prime Video's series 'Tandav' for ridiculing Hindu deities.
'Tandav', starring actors Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Gauhar Khan and Kritika Kamra, premiered on the streaming platform on Friday.
Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar has created, directed and produced the political drama with Himanshu Kishan Mehra and it is written by Gaurav Solanki, best known for 'Article 15'.
"The ministry has taken cognizance of the matter (complaints) and asked Amazon Prime Video to explain," a source in the ministry said.
Kotak, the MP from Mumbai North-East, alleged that attempts are often made on such platforms to not show Hindu deities in good light.
He said different organisations and individuals have complained that Hindu gods and goddesses have been ridiculed in 'Tandav' web series.
"Hence, we have made a demand to Javadekar ji and have written to him to ban the web series immediately. The actors, producers and directors should apologise for hurting sentiments," he added.
Sharing the picture of his letter to Javadekar on Twitter, Kotak said as there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content and films on such platforms are full of sex, violence, drugs, abuse, hate and vulgarity.
"Sometimes, they also hurt religious sentiments," he added.
It seems that makers of 'Tandav' have deliberately mocked Hindu gods and disrespected Hindu religious sentiments, he said in the letter dated January 16.
Another politician, Ram Kadam, a BJP MLA from Ghatkopar West, also asked the director to remove the portion of the web series in which Lord Shiva is allegedly ridiculed.
The legislator said he has filed a complaint in this connection at the suburban Ghatkopar police station.
When contacted about the complaints, Amazon Prime Video PR said the platform "won't be responding" on the matter.
The government recently brought OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, besides other online news and current affairs content, under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, giving it powers to regulate policies and rules for the digital space.
(PTI)
"Tandav", a nine-episode political thriller starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, started streaming last week but the show landed in a huge controversy over its depiction of Hindu deities.
Set in Delhi, the series revolve around the theme of power, ambition and greed through a very political story.
The series came under fire with several people claiming that it provokes communal disharmony and hurts sentiments of the Hindus. According to the complaints, a scene featuring Mohd.
At the centre of the row is a scene with Zeeshan Ayyub, in the role of college student Shiva, playing the Hindu god Mahadev in a theatre production.
In an official statement, the team reiterated that they had no intention to hurt anyone's sentiments.
"We have utmost respect for the sentiments of the people of our country. We did not intend to hurt or offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead.
"The cast & crew of 'Tandav' have made the decision to implement changes to the web series to address the concerns raised towards the same," the statement read.
The team also thanked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the guidance and support in the matter.
"We once again apologize if the series has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments," the statement said.
Earlier, a criminal complaint was filed before a Delhi court seeking action against OTT platform Amazon Prime and the makers of Saif Ali Khan starrer webseries ‘Tandav’.
The complaint filed under Section 200 of the CrPC seeks summoning, commencing trial and punishing the accused persons alleging that the web series is provoking communal disharmony and is hurting the sentiments of Hindus.
On Monday, show creator Abbas Zafar apologised on behalf of the entire cast and crew, saying they did not intend to offend anyone or insult any religion and political party.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had earlier issued notice to Amazon Prime, the OTT platform airing the show, seeking its response to the complaints.
The series features Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Kritika Kamra, Sarah Jane Dias, Gauahar Khan, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Shonali Nagrani, Anup Sonii, Neha Hinge, Sandhya Mridul, and Amyra Dastur.
(With PTI Inputs)
According to the FIR, Kiran Aradhya, social worker lodged complaint against web series "Tandav" starring Saif Ali Khan.
Aradhya in his complaint demanded legal action against "Tandav" makers and telecasters who according to him have tried to hurt Hindu religious sentiments by making an actor portraying Lord Ishwar using abusive language in a college function.
Aradhya has named web series director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer Farahan Akhtar, actors Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Saif Ali Khan and Amazon Prime's India head of original content Aparna Purohit in his complaint but he has neither furnished their occupation nor address of Bengaluru or Mumbai.
Though "Tandava" makers have rendered public apology last week itself when the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry had intervened and called Amazon Prime to respond to complaints against the web series, makers of the show issued a public apology if it "unintentionally hurts anybody's sentiments".
Despite issuing public apology, social activists are still registering FIRs in various police stations across the country and the complaint registered in Bengaluru is the latest one.
One of the scenes in "Tandav", in which a student leader talks about 'azadi' (freedom) from 'Manuvad, jaatiwad and atyachar', is being cited as offensive. A student leader called Bholenath takes on 'Ram bhakts' whose social media reach is threatening his popularity. This is seen as a metaphorical conflict between Shiva, known for his free, non-conformist ways, and Rama, who treads a more traditional path.
Hindutva groups see the scenes as a veiled attack on their brand of politics. "Tandav" is a political drama, and tells the story of how politicians go to any extent to cling to power. Student protests in the series actually bring to mind the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi era, some critics say.
(IANS)
In a career of 40 to 50 films, Sethupathi has done negative roles in very few movies, including superstar Rajinikanth's "Petta" and "Master", which features him opposite industry senior, Thalapathy Vijay.
In "Master", Sethupathi's revenge-driven gangster uses children of a juvenile school for criminal activities. His business comes under attack when an alcoholic professor (Vijay) is sent to the school.
Sethupathi said he trusted director Lokesh Kanagaraj's vision for the character that allowed him to explore dark emotions.
The Tamil language action-thriller was also a wonderful opportunity for him to learn from a "mass hero" like Vijay, the 43-year-old actor added.
"Whenever I work with senior actors, I go there like a student because I want to learn. I am never like 'I have done so many films and I have so much experience'.
"He (Vijay) has been in the industry for more than 25 years. His fan base is massive and I want to learn from him, from his energy. That's why I also worked with Rajini sir and Chiranjeevi sir," Sethupathi told PTI in a Zoom interview.
"Master" became a massive hit upon its release on January 13 once the theatres opened in after a gap of nine months due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a reported earning of Rs 220 crore.
The film is now set to be released on Amazon Prime Video on January 29, the first major movie to shorten the gap between a theatrical and streaming release.
With the release of "Master" on OTT, a new set of audiences will discover Sethupathi, who is looking forward to the viewers' reaction while disclosing the anxiety that the cast experienced before the film's theatrical release during the pandemic.
"I kept asking the director and the producer 'Is it confirmed? Are we releasing the film?' I was worried whether the government would allow theatres to open. We were worried right till January 12. But I'm happy that people liked the movie."
A film is best experienced in a theatre, surrounded by other people, he said.
But given these uncertain times, an digital premiere soon after the theatrical release was the next best option.
"There is no language barrier for an art form or artistes. We love to connect with people because we are representing their life on the screen.
"People have also become more sensitive towards good content, so we need to work hard, be more responsible and make sensible movies."
Stories of ego tussle between two big stars are just stories, Sethupathi said, adding that an actor cannot operate from that space.
"As actors, we perform so many characters and that gives us maturity. If I have ego, that means I don't have the maturity.
"For me, art form is not a business... it depends on the business but it is not a business. It is a feeling. It is the trust between you and your work. Your work will speak for you if you spend time with it and listen to it. If I do my work with responsibility, I'll be here."
This confidence in his craft stems from the kind of life he has led, Sethupathi explained, narrating the story about taking the "biggest risk" in his life.
"I'm a middle class man. I tried for movies after I got married and my wife did not know that I was trying for movies. It took six years for me to become a hero, until then I was playing the hero's friend or doing small roles.
"I did not earn much either. My wife was worried about our kids' future and our life. I believe that was the biggest risk in my life, not this (taking on complex characters)," he said.
Sethupathi said had he failed as an actor, his family's life would have been "miserable" but the risk paid off.
"Now, I'm in a comfortable place. I'm getting paid well. I can take care of people around me and also take care of my art."
A conversation with the actor is incomplete without a discussion around his most loved performance of Shilpa in the 2019 Tamil anthology "Super Deluxe", about a trans woman who returns to her wife and son after her transition.
He credits director Thiagarajan Kumararaja for giving him the role and recalled how he fell in love with the character during the narration of the film.
"He told me, 'I don't know how you will take this and you don't need to say yes'. I said, 'Sir, please give this character to me'. He said, 'You are a well-known actor. You think twice and then let me know. Take some time'. I was like: 'here's no need to think twice. I don't think I will get another character like Shilpa'."
"After I saw the movie, I told Kumararaja, 'I feel I'm blessed by Shilpa. It is not me'. There are two characters in my life that I don't think are me though they are played by me - one is Shilpa and another is the role of the old man in 'Seethakaathi'."
With around six-seven releases lined up and several projects to be announced, Sethupathi is happy living the life he always wanted - to be in front of the camera.
"You can say I'm busy with my happiness. I'm like a kid whenever I stand in front of the camera. It is full of excitement. I think I have completed, including my guest roles, about 40-50 movies but still whenever I'm in front of the camera, I feel happy."
Sethupathi will soon make his Hindi debut with "Mumbaikaar". He is also doing a film with Sriram Raghavan.
(With Inputs From PTI)
In a statement, the streamer said it "deeply regrets" the fact that viewers considered certain scenes to be objectionable and added that those have already been removed.
It said it would continue to develop entertaining content with partners while "complying with the laws of India and respecting the diversity of culture and beliefs of our audiences".
"Amazon Prime Video again deeply regrets that viewers considered certain scenes to be objectionable in the recently launched fictional series 'Tandav'. This was never our intention, and the scenes that were objected to were removed or edited when they were brought to our attention," the company said in its statement.
"We respect our viewers' diverse beliefs and apologise unconditionally to anyone who felt hurt by these scenes. Our teams follow company content evaluation processes, which we acknowledge need to be constantly updated to better serve our audiences," it added.
The Saif Ali Khan, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Dimple Kapadia starrer landed in major political controversy for a scene depicting a college play. It led to multiple FIRs and furious allegations that it hurt religious sentiments.
Faced with multiple FIRs, arrests and calls for boycott, the cast and crew of the Ali Abbas Zafar-directed series apologised twice. Eventually, the team decided to cut the objectionable portions.
The government last week brought new guidelines for social media and OTT platforms to ensure compliance with local laws.
The apology from the streamer also comes four days after the Allahabad High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by Amazon Prime Video's head of India Originals Aparna Purohit, stating that the title of the show "can be offensive to the majority of the people of this country".
While rejecting the application, a single-judge bench of Justice Sidharth said the applicant was earlier granted interim protection from arrest by another bench in a similar case but she was not cooperating with the investigation.
The court observed, "Western filmmakers have refrained from ridiculing Lord Jesus or the Prophet but Hindi filmmakers have done this repeatedly and are still doing this most unabashedly with Hindu gods and goddesses."
In January, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry sought an explanation from the makers as the chorus for a boycott grew against the show.
The show, about intrigue in Delhi's corridors of power, touches on current issues such as student unrest and farmer protests. Tandav , which literally translates to dance of destruction', dominated headlines for days as the controversy refused to die down despite the makers' apology and the decision to remove the scene in question.
The nine-episode Tandav', which premiered on the service on January 15, is only the latest in a long line of showbiz offerings to attract controversy for one reason or another.
Netflix show A Suitable Boy , based on Vikram Seth's bestselling novel, faced the ire of the rightwing for a scene showing a Muslim man and a Hindu girl kissing in the backdrop of a temple. Amazon's Pataal Lok got into trouble for its depiction of communal issues, and Netflix's Leila was called "anti-Hindu" for showing the dystopian future of Aryavarta.
The movie, which features Akhtar in the role of a boxer, will premiere on the streamer's platform on May 21, Amazon said in a press release.
Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, "Toofan" also features Paresh Rawal, Mrunal Thakur, Supriya Pathak Kapur and Hussain Dalal.
The project marks second collaboration for Akhtar and Mehra post "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", the 2013 biopic on legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh.
Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head of Content at Amazon Prime Video, said the streamer is excited to take its association with the film's producer Excel Entertainment forward after shows such as "Mirzapur", "Inside Edge" and "Made in Heaven".
"'Toofaan' marks another exciting chapter for us together. 'Toofaan' is one more step in our continuous commitment to bringing quality entertainment to our customers and another excellent addition our direct-to-service film selection," he said.
Subramaniam hailed the movie as an engaging and inspiring tale of the power of perseverance and following ones' passions against all odds.
"With Rakeysh's flair for narrating stories with a unique appeal and Farhan's ability to make every character he plays appear relatable and endearing we're sure 'Toofaan' has all the makings of the perfect summer blockbuster and will be loved by our consumers across the globe.
"A story that that's as intriguing as ever, we're looking forward to bringing this sports drama to Prime members this May," he added.
The film has been co-produced by ROMP Pictures.
Ritesh Sidhwani, who has produced the movie for Excel, said with "Toofaan", the banner continues to tell stories that touch the heart and soul of the audience.
"We consistently strive to develop new concepts which can entertain and enlighten the viewers. With 'Toofaan', we are presenting an inspirational sports drama that presents the story of a goon from the streets of Dongri set against the backdrop of boxing, his fall and triumphant comeback against all odds in life," he added.
Mehra is reuniting with Akhtar after seven years and he said the actor-director was the perfect fit for the lead role in "Toofaan".
"After working with Farhan in 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', I was certain he would be the perfect protagonist for 'Toofaan'. The best thing about him is that he does not act the part, but lives it completely.
"'Toofaan' is a story that will motivate and inspire all of us to get out of comfort zones and fight towards achieving our dreams. We cannot wait to present our film to viewers across the globe," the filmmaker added.