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Hotstar VIP to stream tamil blockbuster Kaithi on Nov 25
MUMBAI: Hotstar VIP has added yet another blockbuster title to its expansive movie library – this time Tamil action thriller ‘Kaithi’. The blockbuster title that is still running in select cinemas, is finally making its digital premiere on Hotstar VIP much before its TV premiere. Directed byLokesh Kanagaraj, the film starsKarthi, Narain, S.R Prabhu, Hareesh Peradi, Vatsan Chakravarthy in pivotal roles and revolves around a prisoner on parole who is enlisted by a cop to protect him and his fellow officers from a gangster’s henchmen.
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj said, “Kaithi will always be a very special film for me. From the storyline, action sequence to the background score, it makes for a complete entertainer. I’ve pushed to limits by experimenting around the plot line and the final look and feel of the movie. I’m extremely happy that it has received so much acclaim and now that it will be streaming on Hotstar VIP it reaching a much larger audience”Actor Karthi added, “It’s been a great experience working on this new-age action movie – there’s an engaging screenplay along with the perfect blend of action and emotion. Being a father myself, I could relate to the emotions that my character goes through! It’s a must watch for everyone looking for die hard action scenes and now all of it can be experienced on Hotstar VIP”
A group of cops seize a record amount of drugs but soon find themselves in danger of the mafia. An injured inspector then takes the help of a life term prisoner, who is out on parole to meet his daughter.
iWorld
YRF, Red Chillies explore micro dramas as format gains ground
Short-format boom grows, 71 per cent users rely on UPI autopay.
MUMBAI: Big stories are getting shorter and Bollywood’s biggest studios are starting to think small to stay big. Yash Raj Films and Red Chillies Entertainment are independently evaluating entry into the micro drama space in 2026, signalling a strategic pivot as legacy players chase the fast-growing demand for bite-sized storytelling.
At YRF, the recent appointment of Saugata Mukherjee is being read as more than just a leadership shuffle. Industry insiders view the move as a deliberate step towards building a sharper, digital-first content pipeline. Mukherjee, who previously played a key role in shaping premium originals at SonyLiv, is known for backing narrative-led shows that helped the platform stand out in an increasingly crowded OTT market. His experience in scaling differentiated content is now expected to anchor YRF’s next phase of expansion.
While YRF’s plans appear relatively advanced, conversations around micro dramas are also picking up at Red Chillies, albeit at an earlier stage. Insiders suggest the studio is exploring the format as part of a broader rethink of content strategy in a market where attention spans and distribution formats are rapidly evolving.
The timing is hardly accidental. India’s micro drama ecosystem is already taking shape, with platforms such as JioHotstar (“Tadka”), Zee5 (“Bullet”), Amazon MX Player (“Fatafat”) and Tata Play (“Shots”) experimenting with mobile-first, episodic formats designed for binge consumption. Alongside these, niche players like Kuku TV, QuickTV and StoryTV are also building early traction.
What is driving this surge is not just format novelty but consumption behaviour. Data from Redseer indicates that content velocity and freshness are emerging as key engagement drivers, with users responding strongly to frequent releases and evolving story arcs. Interestingly, pricing is not a major friction point audiences are willing to pay, provided the content offers novelty and quality.
User feedback also points to a shift in taste. There is growing appetite for genre diversity beyond familiar tropes, opening up space for experimentation in storytelling formats. This creates an opportunity for both incumbents and new entrants to differentiate in what is quickly becoming a crowded segment.
Monetisation, however, remains tightly linked to ease of access. Around 71 per cent of users rely on UPI autopay for subscriptions, underlining the importance of seamless payment systems even as platforms explore diversified revenue models.
The rise of micro dramas is part of a larger shift in India’s digital entertainment landscape, where interactive media including audio streaming, social discovery and niche formats such as devotional and astrology-led content is gaining momentum. This broader segment is projected to grow into a $3.1–3.4 billion market by FY30, with micro dramas expected to be among the fastest-growing categories, outpacing traditional short-form video.
For studios like YRF and Red Chillies, the message is becoming clear: in a market where attention is fragmented, storytelling may need to shrink in size but not in ambition.
