iWorld
Eros Now’s bittersweet drama ‘A Monsoon Date’ by Tanuja Chandra to premiere at MAMI
MUMBAI: JIO MAMI Mumbai Film Festival is known for bringing the best of world cinema to the city. After presenting a remarkable line-up of movies at the festival this year, the Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival with Star will be premiering 'A Monsoon Date' presented by Eros Now, a premium over-the-top
(OTT) South Asian entertainment platform by Eros International PLC and directed by critically acclaimed Tanuja Chandra under the category 'Anthology Of Shorts'.
'A Monsoon Date' written by Gazal Dhaliwal and produced by Rakesh Singh is about an eventful, rainy evening when a young woman is on her way to see a young man she is dating. Along the way, she experiences bittersweet moments with a series of strangers, even as a storm brews inside her. Today, she has decided to reveal to the young man a heart-breaking truth about her past.
This truth, she knows, is not possible for anybody to understand. And yet, she hopes that he would. With her heart pounding like the torrential rain around her, she holds on to this unreasonable hope.
The short film will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by Ritam Bhatnagar, Head of Indian Film Project with panelists Tanuja Chandra, Konkona Sen Sharma, Gazal Dhaliwal and Ridhima Lulla, Chief Content Officer, Eros Group.
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
