iWorld
International dubbed content finds a sizable audience on MX Player
With an increased adoption of OTT services across demographic segments amidst a global pandemic, content consumption today has become an individual activity. International content is reaching audiences across the globe at the click of a fingertip and understanding the growing need/ preferences of the discerning viewer – MX Player, a home-grown OTT platform has curated one of India’s largest catalogues of foreign dubbed content for its wide user base.
Dubbed in local Indian languages, this is a category that MX Player is sharply focusing on and offers viewers a varied palette of entertainment choices that includes – American, Spanish & Latin American, Turkish, Korean, Russian and Ukrainian libraries, all available to binge watch for free. Internal research indicates an equal interest between male and female users towards long-format international content, with audiences of the age 18–24 years showing a higher preference for this content category, followed by the 25-34 years age segment.
International content on MX Player caters not just towards top metros but also across a large footprint within the Tier 1 & 2 towns of the country as well. Viewers from more than 130 towns across India not only watch international content but also actively respond to us via surveys and feedback forms. These users are big on binge behaviour with high stickiness. Our consumption data shows that users watch up to 100 episodes of each show, indicating high commitment levels for the content – effectively proving that even niche content is now able to find a sizable audience on MX Player. There also exists a clear virality element within the user base that watches high engagement content such as this. Our core user base is actively involved in searching for international content outside the app as well. Almost 50% of our international viewers discover international content on social media or because it was recommended by a friend.
Elaborating on the same, Mansi Shrivastav, SVP & Head – Content Acquisition at MX Player said, “The strategy is to identify universal content that has an appeal amongst Indian audiences when offered to them in a language that is relevant to them. Long running family dramas, love stories and romantic comedies are genres that perform extremely well on the platform; it has brought alive our vision to penetrate through newer audiences by breaking down cultural/ language barriers and offering them fresh content from around the world.”
Spanish and Latin American shows are well travelled around the world but have not seen an acute focus in India till date. Changing this narrative, MX Player has inked a deal with Televisa to bring viewers Spanish titles like ‘My Husband’s Family’, ‘Italian Bride’, ‘Along Came Love’ amongst others as well as Caracol TV for shows like ‘River of Passion’ and ‘Marianna and Scarlett’. In an effort to be relevant to the Indian viewer, MX Player also localizes the name of the show as well. These will go live on the platform soon.
Hollywood dubbed content like ‘The Shannara Chronicles’ and ‘Baghdad Central’, Turkish TV shows like ‘Our Story’ and ‘Day Dreamer and Korean dramas have been a major driver in the international category that garners loyal eyeballs. The brand has signed a deal with SBS Content Hub, a leading national South Korean television and radio network for 10+ new shows and are in active conversation with other prominent players in this category. This slate includes shows like VIP, Doctor John, Where Stars Land and amongst others.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
