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WITH 18 NEW ORIGINAL LAUNCHES AND NEW ASSOCIATIONS ALTBALAJI ENDS 2018 ON A HIGH NOTE
MUMBAI: ALTBalaji, one of the leading OTT platforms under the brand Balaji Telefilms Limited, has witnessed remarkable growth in 2018. With mass engaging content to the most riveting shows, the platform has emerged as the fastest growing and most talked about OTT platform in India. This year saw, the digital platform launch 18 new shows entertaining millions across the country. Awarded as the ITA Premier Web Channel award this year, ALTBalaji established its lead in the pack with the most-binged original series over the year in addition to winning other accolades.
While 2018 was the year of experimentation with highly-acclaimed shows like The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family (TGIDF), The Test Case and Home, ALTBalaji’s subscriber base grew pan-India with viewers enjoying a wide range of shows. Distinctive content in the series like ‘Broken but Beautiful’ and ‘Apharan’ have not only struck the right chords for their coming of age concepts but have also recorded higher viewership and top ratings of 8.8/10 and 9.2/10 on IMDb respectively. Other shows like ‘XXX: Uncensored’ and ‘KehneKoHumsafar Hain’ scored the highest completion rates. On an average, ALTBalaji’s subscribers have spent 77 minutes daily watching these shows. Shows like Home, The Test Case and TGIDF have not only won hearts of the audiences but also garnered rave reviews from the likes of Rajeev Masand, Mayank Shekhar, Rahul Desai and many more.
Here’s are 2018’s top binge watch shows ofALTBalaji:
Apharan: As the show title suggests, it is all about an ‘Apharan’ (kidnapping) that goes wrong. What makes this show a standout is the fact that top cop Rudra Srivastava is forced into kidnapping a girl at her own behest, and nothing goes to plan. He finds himself in a web of lies with a lot at stake. Set in the heartland of the country, the thriller truly enthralled the audience with its 70’s style masala entertainment and its upbeat retro music.
IMDB Rating: 9.2/10
Broken But Beautiful: When two broken hearts, Veer and Sameera are brought together by chance, sparks fly. The two get involved in a journey that requires them to accept how broken they are and how two broken pieces can probably belong together.
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family: General VikramjeetRanuat looks forward to a quiet life with his family post his accident while serving at the border. However, the re-entry of his separated brother and sister-in-law into his life changes the trajectory of his plans.
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
The Test Case: Captain Shikha Sharma gears up to serve as the first female test case in combat. The series beautifully captures her struggles and challenges and encapsulates women-power in the true sense of the term.
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Home: The series is all about a beautiful family, the Sethis, who believe in loving one another dearly. However, they are faced with a mammoth challenge with they are served with an eviction notice. The heart-warming show features a man’s fight to save his own home.
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
GandiiBaat: The power-packed show has it all – the crime, the twisted relationships and erotic content. The trifecta makes this show a great tale of how crossing the fine line of going to any lengths to fulfill desire comes with its own consequences.
IMDB Rating: 5.0 /10
Haq Se: A modern-day story that chronicles the lives of four sisters against the backdrop of theunrest in Kashmir. It is a tale of the sisters seeking happiness and fulfillment in their lives and wanting to trulyfollow their dreams and passion. This also marked the digital debute of Rajeev Khandelwal.
IMDB Rating: 8.3 /10
Hum: I am because of Us: Nothing compares to you sisters always having your back and that is the bond that the three sisters share. However, their relationship is put to test when the three arrive in the burgeoning metro of Mumbai to live their passion and follow their ambitions.
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
With an end to a magnificent year, ALTBalaji has a highly anticipated line-up for 2019 across diverse genres with originals like GandiiBaat 2, KehneKoHumsafar Hain 2, Cold Lassi Aur Chicken Masala, Puncchbeat, The Verdict State Vs Nanavati and Cartel. Audiences are surely going to be entertained by a content library that is not only varied but new and captivating as well.
ALTBalaji’s original content is available in four Indian languages which includes Hindi, Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam. Additionally it is also available in Malaysia Bahasa, Indonesia Bahasa and Arabic languages. With several strategic associations, ALTBalaji’s shows can be viewed on Amazon Fire TV stick, OLA Play, LG Smart TVs using WebOS , the MI TV Patchwall in addition to the OTT services’ mobile apps and desktop platform. Viewers can also avail the app on 5 different devices in order to make it enjoyable for the entire family.
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Prime Video drops trailer for Lukkhe, a rap crime drama starring KING in his acting debut
Eight episodes of revenge, redemption and hard-hitting rap arrive on the streaming platform on 8th May
MUMBAI: Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for Lukkhe, an eight-episode musical action drama built around the world of rap, crime and bruised relationships — and it has done so in suitably loud fashion, launching it at a live concert in Mumbai featuring electrifying performances by KING, Amira Gill, Akshath, Raashii Khanna, Ruaa Kayy and RUTVXK. As if that were not enough, the show’s music album was also dropped at the event, in collaboration with exclusive music streaming partner Amazon Music and music label Warner Music India.
The series is directed by Himank Gaur and produced by Vipul D. Shah and Rajesh Bahl under the banners of Optimystix Entertainment and White Guerrilla LLP. It is created and executive produced by Agrim Joshi and Debojit Das Purkayastha.
The cast is the talking point. KING, the acclaimed Indian rapper and songwriter, makes his acting debut as MC Badnaam, a performer consumed by rivalry and hunger for recognition. Raashii Khanna, returning to Prime Video after Farzi, plays Gurbani. Palak Tiwari, making her streaming debut, plays Sanober. Lakshvir Singh Saran plays Lucky. The ensemble also includes Nakul Roshan Sahdev, Kritika Bharadwaj, Shivankit Parihar, Yograj Singh and Ayesha Raza Mishra in pivotal roles.
The trailer plants its flag squarely in the tension between MC Badnaam and his rival MC OG, played by Parihar, while threading in the love story between Lucky and Sanober. The soundtrack, which spans hard-hitting rap anthems to emotionally charged melodies, is as much a character in the show as any of its leads.
Gaur was candid about what drew him to the project. “Lukkhe gave me a chance to dive into a world that’s loud, emotional, and constantly on edge,” he said. “What stayed with me was how every character is chasing something personal, and music becomes their way of expressing it. Working with this cast, especially KING in his debut, along with Raashii, Lakshvir, and Palak, was incredibly rewarding because they brought honesty that elevated every moment.”
Khanna reflected on her character with evident relish. “Playing Gurbani in Lukkhe was a really intense and fulfilling experience,” she said. “What I found most interesting was how her strength comes from something deeply personal, which shapes every decision she makes. It was about finding that balance between vulnerability and grit.”
KING, stepping in front of the camera for the first time, was characteristically direct. “Stepping into Lukkhe as MC Badnaam has been a defining moment for me,” he said. “What drew me in was how real his hunger and need to be heard felt. It’s something I connect with as an artist. Bringing music into his journey made the experience even more personal.”
Tiwari described the role as a first on multiple fronts. “It was my first time working with Prime Video, and the whole experience felt new and creatively satisfying,” she said. “Being part of a story that has both intense and heartfelt moments, along with a team that brought so much honesty to it, made this journey truly memorable.”
Saran, for his part, zeroed in on what made Lucky tick. “Lucky is someone who’s trying to move forward while still carrying the weight of his past, and that push-pull made him really interesting to explore,” he said. “There’s a sincerity to his journey that I hope people connect with.”
Lukkhe premieres on Prime Video in Hindi on 8th May, across India and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. In a streaming landscape drowning in crime dramas, this one is betting that putting a rapper at its centre – and meaning it – is enough to cut through the noise. On the evidence of the trailer, it might just be right.
