iWorld
Balaji Digital breaks the stream ceiling with two chartbusters in Ormax Top 50
MUMBAI: Balaji Digital has pulled off a streaming stunner. In just over a year since its OTT rebirth, two of the studio’s three original shows have stormed into Ormax Media’s Top 50 Streaming Originals in India (Jan–June 2025), cementing its digital street cred.
Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs, a regal potboiler dripping in dynastic drama and betrayal, grabbed the #17 spot with 10.4 million viewers. Not far behind, Power of Paanch, a coming-of-age campus saga with a fantastical edge, clocked 9.4 million views to land at #23. Both shows are streaming on JioHotstar, a platform rapidly becoming Balaji’s preferred playground.
“At Balaji, storytelling has always been our lifeblood, and digital is just another canvas, albeit a thrilling one,” said Balaji Telefilms Head of Digital Originals, Aparna Ramachandran. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see both Kull and Power of Paanch in the Ormax Top 50. Each of these shows was built with a deep belief in the audience’s appetite for emotionally intelligent, narratively bold content. This kind of validation tells us we’re on the right path.”
It all began in 2024 with Dus June Ki Raat, a quirky comedy-thriller that laid the foundation for Balaji’s emotionally rich, character-forward narratives. But it’s in 2025 that the brand truly hit its stride. Power of Paanch brought spunk and sorcery to college corridors, while Kull unleashed a Game of Thrones-style royal rumble, desi edition.
Reflecting on the digital landscape, Ramachandran noted, “There’s no captive audience anymore. Today’s viewer curates content based on mood, taste, and emotional relevance. We are happy to have struck a chord with specific segments and look forward to building more powerful stories from here.”
Under Ekta Kapoor’s watchful eye and Ramachandran’s digital leadership, Balaji Digital is now eyeing bigger games, genre-benders, deeper platform partnerships, and stories that slice through the clutter.
“The pressure on creators today is real, but it’s also an opportunity,” added Ramachandran. “We’re building a space where fresh voices, morally complex characters, and unconventional genres can thrive. The aim is simple: break moulds and stir conversation.”
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eNews
Aaj Tak launches video-integrated VPaper with Dailyhunt
Free, early-morning ePaper combines print layout with click-to-watch video
NEW DELHI: Aaj Tak has launched vPaper, a video-integrated ePaper developed in collaboration with Dailyhunt, as it seeks to rework the morning news habit for digital-first audiences.
The product, unveiled on 19 February, 2026, is a 12-page ePaper available free of charge and delivered to readers ahead of traditional newspapers. It combines the structure and editorial depth of print with the immediacy of digital delivery.
What sets vPaper apart is its built-in video functionality. Readers can tap on stories within the ePaper to watch related video reports, integrating Aaj Tak’s television journalism into a newspaper-style format. The “click-to-watch” feature aims to turn passive reading into an interactive experience.
The ePaper spans news, business, sports, education, travel and national affairs, positioning itself as a comprehensive morning briefing for mobile users. Aaj Tak brings editorial credibility and broadcast-scale reporting to the venture, while Dailyhunt provides reach across tier 2, tier 3 and Bharat markets through its distribution network and personalisation technology.
“With vPaper, we are reimagining the morning news experience,” said India Today Group CEO, digital business Salil Kumar. He said the format blends authority, speed and video storytelling while remaining accessible by being free and available before print.
Verse Innovation senior vice-president Sunil Mohapatra, said the partnership strengthens Dailyhunt’s premium news offering and bridges print habits with interactive digital consumption.
The launch reflects a broader push by Indian news publishers to experiment with formats that combine credibility, scale and engagement as audiences increasingly shift to mobile-led news consumption.
(Note: The cover image is AI-generated and meant for representational purposes only)
