iWorld
Viu set to launch musical drama spotlight 2 on 26th January
MUMBAI: Viu, the premium video-on-demand platform by Vuclip, a PCCW media company announced the launch of Spotlight 2 making this a franchise of the successful Viu Originals series Spotlight. Presented in association with known writer and director Vikram Bhatt, the theme of the franchise is a running series that captures the rise, fall and resurrection of a music superstar.
An intense and stormy romance between two headstrong people on the opposite ends of the spectrum – Spotlight 2 explores the exasperating reality of being a music celebrity. The series is being directed by Siddhant Sachdeva and will feature popular television actor Karan V Grover along with two dazzling former Miss India’s , Aditi Arya and Ruhi Singh. Focusing on compelling content offered in a contemporary setting, the series will feature more than 7 originally composed tracks brought to life by soulful musicians Harish Sanganay, Ankit Shah and other popular artists. The show goes live on Viu (Both App and The Web) from 26th January 2018.
Based on the buzzing music industry in Mumbai, Spotlight 2 is a story of a talented but flamboyant musician, Vicky, who is on the verge of career-suicide. His hard work and melodious voice helped him climb the ladder of success in the music industry in a very short span of time. But his arrogance, drug addiction and utter disregard for the industry and his fans brings him crashing down. The story is the journey of this lost character with a heart of gold trying to connect back with his music with the help of his ex-girlfriend and how he rises back from the fall.
Speaking on the launch of Spotlight franchise, Viu India, Head of Programming, Manasi Sapre said, “At Viu, we focus on creating compelling content and a viewing experience that captivates our audience and is relatable at the same time. We are able to provide this content because we associate with extremely capable and talented people from all walks of life. With Spotlight 2, we celebrate the great journey we have taken on with Vikram Bhatt. We are excited to launch the Spotlight franchise and in the upcoming months, you will see a lot more original shows from Viu that will surely going to excite the audience.”
Speaking on the release of Spotlight 2, Vikram Bhatt says, “When Spotlight 1 was a success, I was confident I will make another one. Spotlight 2 chronicles a musician’s journey as he falls to fame, and then, strives to make a comeback. A story that encapsulates the loneliness that stardom brings along with the glitz and glamour in the life of a superstar. And the story is very apt for the digital platform. Today, the first screen of preference is the cell phone so it was only natural that I present this franchise to the audience on the web.”
The 13 episode series which can be binged watched on 26th January 2018, will mark the launch of the twelfth original series by Viu. With shows like Gehraiyaan, PillA, Pelli Gola and Social, Viu is ceaselessly introducing refreshing concepts combined with gripping scripts and revered talent to ensure an exhilarating viewing experience for their viewers. Since its successful launch in India last year, Viu has witnessed exponential growth in terms of the audience base and engagement.
iWorld
Banijay Asia’s The 50 tops OTT charts with 8.1 million JioHotstar views
Reality competition becomes most watched show on JioHotstar in debut week.
MUMBAI: Fifty contestants walked into a palace, but millions of viewers showed up for the drama. Reality competition The 50, produced by Banijay Asia, has emerged as the most watched show on JioHotstar, clocking 8.1 million views in its debut week. The figure, reported by Ormax Media, places the show at the top of the OTT viewership charts and marks a strong opening for the digital reality format.
Adapted from a popular French format, The 50 brings together 50 personalities from television, digital platforms, music and reality shows inside a grand palace setting. Over the course of a 50 day competition, participants form alliances, compete in unpredictable tasks and navigate eliminations as the field steadily narrows.
Guiding the game is a mysterious figure known as The Lion, an unseen game master whose voice introduces twists, challenges and strategic turns throughout the show, adding an extra layer of suspense to the contest.
What distinguishes The 50 from typical reality competitions is its audience driven prize structure. Instead of the winner taking home the final reward, the prize is awarded to one of the winner’s registered followers through the show’s dedicated app. The mechanism effectively turns viewers into participants, allowing fans to have a direct stake in the outcome.
The contestant lineup features a mix of television actors, reality stars and digital creators, including Karan Patel, Urvashi Dholakia, Divya Agarwal, Mr Faisu and Dushyant Kukreja, each bringing their own fan following to the show.
With its blend of celebrity personalities, strategic gameplay and interactive viewer participation, The 50 has quickly carved out a strong foothold in India’s digital entertainment landscape. Its 8.1 million views in the opening week underline the growing appetite for large scale reality formats designed specifically for OTT audiences.
