iWorld
SonyLIV launches first Malayalam offering ‘Kaanekkaane’
Mumbai: SonyLIV’s first Malayalam offering “Kaanekkaane” is set to premiere on 17 September.
Directed by Manu Ashokan, the film features Aishwarya Lekshmi and Shruti Ramachandra in lead roles. “SonyLIV has opened a door of opportunities for the Malayalam film industry to showcase its content. Kaanekkaane is my second project as a director, and I am happy that I got to team up with writers Bobby and Sanjay once again,” said Ashokan, who is also known for the Malayalam film “Uyare”.
“After successfully exploring content in various languages, we are delighted to announce our first Malayalam offering. The film promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as we connect with the Malayalam speaking audiences in India and across the globe,” said Sony Pictures Networks India head of content for SonyLIV and Sony Entertainment Television Ashish Golwalkar.
Written by celebrated writers Bobby and Sanjayhe, the film is a mix of family drama and murder mystery. Produced by TR Shamsudheen, under the banner DreamKatcher, the film also features actors Dhanya Mary Varghese, Rony David Raj, Prem Prakash, Binu Pappu, Sruthy Jayan, and Alok Krishna in prominent roles.
“Each character in Kaanekkaane has been brilliantly written, and I had a great time working with Tovino and Aishwarya. My character has many facets to it and I enjoyed unravelling each layer in the film,” said actor Suraj Venjaramoodu.
“It feels great when you have such a brilliant team of cast and crew to work with. After a long time, I had the opportunity to work with Aishwarya Lekshmi and director Manu Ashokan and the experience was amazing,” said actor Tovino Thomas.
iWorld
JioHotstar to launch micro dramas during IPL
Streaming giant plans free, ad-supported bite-sized stories during IPL to engage mobile-first audiences
JioHotstar is gearing up to launch a wave of micro dramas, eyeing India’s fast-growing appetite for bite-sized storytelling and new revenue opportunities. According to sources close to the matter, the streaming platform is expected to go live with the content during the Indian Premier League, which runs from 28 March to 31 May.
The move comes as the micro-drama market in India surges, with Redseer Strategy Consultants projecting the overall interactive media segment could reach $3.1–3.4 billion by FY2030, with micro dramas leading the growth. The format has already proven commercially viable abroad — China’s micro-drama sector generated $360 million in 2023, up 267 per cent year-on-year.
Micro dramas are designed for rapid consumption on mobile devices. Episodes typically run 60–90 seconds, shot in vertical 9:16 format, and rely on fast-paced plots and cliffhangers to keep viewers glued. Stories tend to revolve around high-stakes drama, from romance and revenge to corporate intrigue, blending social-media immediacy with professional production values.
Sources said the IPL provides the perfect launchpad, with millions tuning in to the platform for live cricket, creating a ready audience for short-form narrative experiments. The content will initially be free and accessible to all.
JioHotstar, which already boasts over 300 million subscribers, plans to roll out more than 100 micro dramas across multiple genres and languages, including Hindi and South Indian languages. The move is expected to strengthen its regional content strategy and appeal to mobile-first viewers, particularly in metro and Tier-1 cities where the format is currently most popular.
“The timing is perfect,” said a source close to the project, requesting anonymity. “With micro dramas on the rise, this is a chance for JioHotstar to experiment with new formats and engage audiences in a way traditional series cannot.”
The platform is not the first in India to test the format. ALTBalaji, StoryTV and Zee Bullet have all dabbled in short episodic storytelling. But JioHotstar’s scale — and its ability to pair content with one of the country’s biggest sporting events — could make it a defining moment for micro dramas in India.
With mobile consumption and vernacular content on the rise, the gamble seems clear: capture attention fast, keep it longer, and turn bite-sized narratives into a robust revenue engine.
Note: The cover image used is AI-generated.
