iWorld
Ormax report: Prime Video’s Bawaal is the most-watched direct-to-OTT Hindi film of 2023
Mumbai: Ormax media has released the annual version of their report ‘Streaming Originals in India: The 2023 Story’.
Since 2018-19, Ormax Media has compiled extensive industry data for India’s growing streaming category. Their report, focusing solely on original content, analyses the top shows and films of 2023 in Hindi and International languages. It evaluates them based on viewership, marketing buzz, and content strength. Please note that this report excludes ‘non-original’ streaming content like theatrical films, catch-up television, sports, etc.
Farzi is the only show to cross the 30 mn viewership mark in 2023 and is now the most-watched SVOD series in India of all time. Both Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar have six shows in the top 15 list. Two AVOD shows from JioCinema, i.e., Asur 2 & Taali, feature in the top five most-watched shows of the year.
The top 10 list has a healthy mix of sub-genres (TV show extensions, documentaries, task-based reality competitions, etc.), indicating that the non-fiction category now has significantly more width on OTT than a year or two ago.
Prime Video’s Bawaal is the most-watched direct-to-OTT Hindi film of 2023, followed by JioCinema’s Bloody Daddy. Netflix features strongly on this list, with six films on the platform crossing the nine million viewership mark.
Citadel, aided by Priyanka Chopra’s presence, is the most-watched International show of 2023, ahead of the rest of the pack by more than 50 per cent. Every other entry in this list, except Citadel, is a franchise show or brand extension.
Extraction 2 and Heart Of Stone, both on Netflix, are the only two International films to cross the eight million viewership mark. Two documentary films feature in the top 10 most-watched International films of 2023, both based on the Korean band BTS.
Farzi (Prime Video) generated the maximum Buzz, followed by S2 of Asur (JioCinema). Only three out of the top 15 ‘buzzing’ shows are franchise shows in 2023 (unlike nine shows in 2022).
Films featuring theatrical stars dominate the list. Seven out the top 10 films of 2023 on Buzz are from Netflix.
Only four International properties managed to touch the 15 per cent mark on Buzz in 2023. Seven properties on this list are from Netflix, indicating the strength of their international slate compared to other platforms.
Asur 2 (JioCinema) is the most-liked Hindi series of 2023. Farzi (Prime Video) and The Railway Men (Netflix) are the only other shows to cross the 70-mark on OPR in 2023.
Mission Majnu (Netflix), followed closely by Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (ZEE5), is the most-liked direct-to-OTT film of 2023.
Except for Money Heist (S4 & S5), Loki S2 is the second most-liked International show till date (since the start of tracking in 2020). The top 10 list features shows from a variety of genres and languages.
Extraction 2 emerged as a break-out success in terms of its audience likeability, being the only International direct-to-OTT film to cross the 75 mark, 10 points higher than the second position on the list.
For more information, read the report here:
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
