iWorld
ALTBalaji direct subscriptions up 35% QoQ; 1.8m subs sold in Q1 FY22
Mumbai: Balaji Telefilms has announced its financial results for the quarter ended 30 June 2021. The company’s direct-to-consumer business, ALTBalaji sold a total of 1.8m subscriptions in Q1 FY22 as against 0.9m in Q1FY21, up 35 per cent. Direct subscription revenues stood at Rs 17 cr vs Rs 13 cr.
The OTT platform has a current active subscriber base of 2.4m, excluding subscribers on partner apps. Quarterly revenue stood at Rs 21cr.
Having added six shows last quarter, ALTBalaji has taken the overall library to 86 shows. The Company said it continues its strategy to drive deeper audience engagement by creating content that is targeted at mass India seeking differentiated stories, while remaining focussed on the younger audiences.
Balaji Telefilms’ TV business has continued at normal levels as daily show production was ensured with pandemic restrictions. During the quarter the Company produced 174.5 hours of content across six shows for four broadcasters.
Balaji Telefilms, managing director, Shobha Kapoor said, “ALTBalaji continues to drive subscription growth and we added 1.8m subscriptions during the quarter. Our strategic content sharing deals will ensure we maintain control on the cash spend while driving overall profitability. TV business has shown good recovery in terms of production hours and we hope to improve this momentum as five new shows commence. In the movie business, production for some of the exciting projects are at various stages of completion and we are closely monitoring the availability for theatrical releases as well as direct-to-digital launches. Overall, the year has started well and we will build on this momentum through the year.”
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
