Movies
Telugu Indian Idol makes a grand return with a new season on aha
Mumbai: Over the last three years, aha, the local OTT, has always aimed at providing its viewers with clutter-breaking shows and entertaining content. With its latest launch, ‘Telugu Indian Idol 2,’ aha is set to unleash a wave of musical magic that will resonate globally. The biggest singing stage opened with a befitting, star-studded launch event in Nellore with 15,000 people attending it on-ground with lacs watching it from their homes on YouTube Live across Telugu speaking states and the global Telugu speaking diaspora.
The highlights of the evening were the breathtaking performances by this year’s judges SS Thaman & Geetha Madhuri and host Hemachandra. The event also had given a preview of season’s audition glimpse and promo anthem which was sung by Karthik, Geetha Madhuri, Hemachandra and music by SS Thaman. The season is set to premiere exclusively on aha on 3 March 2023. There was a surprise wild card entry announced for the season on this stage which got everyone’s interest piqued.
The event also showcased the larger content promise from aha for the quarter and launched two of its biggest assets – Newsense, a webseries headlined by Navdeep & Bindu Madhavi and directed by Praveen Kumar Reddy. Navdeep, Bindu Madhavi and Praveen Kumar attended the event and engaged with audiences. The show is a gripping narrative of how journalism works and is set in Madanapally in the 90’s. Aha also launched Mandakini, the second daily series centered on mythology and the supernatural.
The event unveiled the statue of Late singer SP Balasubramanyam, the maestro who ruled south music industry for five decades whose hometown also happens to be Nellore.
Aha verse was the special attraction to the crowd at Nellore where the content universe of aha is merged seamlessly in the world of metaverse. Aha marketing head Kartheek said that, “The event is a mega success and has set the tone for this season. While Nellore is the hometown for music talents like SPB garu and Thama, this city also gave a lot of love for Telugu Indian Idol Season one by being the city that has watched the highest number of minutes”.
The team from Fremantle was present at the event and Ujjwal Anand said ‘The power of Telugu Music lovers had made Season one a massive hit and Season two is going to be bigger and better’.
Movies
Tamil film Made in Korea tops Netflix global chart, storms 24 countries
Cross-cultural drama races to No.1, marking a global breakthrough for South Indian cinema
MUMBAI: A Tamil tale has gone global at speed. Netflix’s Made in Korea has shot to No.1 on its Global Top 10 Non-English Films list, trending across 24 countries within days of release.
Premiering on March 12, the film, directed by Ra.Karthik and starring Priyanka Mohan, is the only South Indian title to claim the top spot across both licensed and Netflix original films, underlining the growing global pull of regional Indian cinema.
The story, which follows Shenba’s journey from Tamil Nadu to Seoul, has struck a chord for its emotional warmth, scenic visuals and cross-cultural appeal. Early word-of-mouth has powered its rapid climb, turning a modest release into a global talking point.
Monika Shergill, vice-president, content, Netflix India, said, “We are proud that a story like Made in Korea has become the first ever film from our south slate to land at the No.1 spot on our Global Top 10 Non-English Films list. It reaffirms our belief that there is so much more from India for the world to discover and embrace. This film stands out for blending two distinct cultures into one powerful story that explores universal emotions of love, friendship, belonging and family. At Netflix, we remain committed to championing authentic, locally rooted stories and it’s incredibly exciting to see a film like this travel so widely and connect with audiences around the world.”
Priyanka Mohan called the moment deeply personal. “Moments like these are what every artist truly hopes for. We always strive to give our best, but some films become very special in our journey as performers, and Made in Korea is one of them for me. Shenba is a character that touched my heart from the moment I read the script, and bringing her story to life has been incredibly meaningful. Working with Ra.Karthik sir was a wonderful experience. He has such clarity and sincerity in the way he tells stories. I’m also grateful to our producer Sreenidhi Sagar sir and the entire team for their constant support. And of course, my heartfelt thanks to Netflix for giving this story such a wonderful platform and helping it reach audiences everywhere.”
Ra.Karthik struck a similar note. “There are certain films you make with complete faith in the audience, believing they will connect with the emotions you are trying to convey. It is truly heartening to see Made in Korea trending on Netflix and receiving such encouraging responses from viewers, not just in India but across the world. Priyanka Mohan brought incredible dedication and sincerity to Shenba’s character, and that commitment reflects beautifully on screen. I’m grateful to producer Sreenidhi Sagar for trusting this story and to Netflix for providing such a wonderful platform for the film to reach audiences across countries.”
As the film continues to travel across borders, its success signals more than just a hit. It marks a shift, where local stories, told with authenticity, are no longer confined by language or geography. In the streaming wars, the South is not just rising. It is rewriting the script.
