iWorld
Prime Video announces K-drama slate; brings 10 new titles on the service
Mumbai: Following the success of “Parasite” and “Minari,” Amazon Prime Video has launched a Korean content slate to capture the booming interest in Korean dramas (K-dramas) in genres like romance, mystery, thriller, and horror. Starting from 21 October, a repertoire of K-dramas will be available on the streaming platform.
“Video streaming has brought a host of varied cultures into our living rooms. Users are now enjoying watching content from different regions of India and from around the world, finding resonance in stories, characters, and cultures,” said Amazon Prime Video India head of content licensing Manish Menghani.
The shows launching on the service include “True Beauty,” which 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. While the saga of the supernatural will continue with 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.
Prime Video will continue to release Korean titles until the end of November. “The Penthouse: War in Life” season one to three will begin streaming on 28 October, followed by “Mr Queen” and “Secret Garden” on 4 November, “Voice” seasons one to four on 11 November, and “Doctors” whose release date is yet to be announced.
“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 films saw viewership from across the length and breadth of the country,” Menghani further said.
“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,” he added.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
