Movies
Binge-worthy movies, web series, & podcasts for Independence Day
Mumbai: With the echoes of patriotism and the fervor of freedom setting in, it’s the perfect time to indulge in some inspiring tales that celebrate the spirit of independence. Whether through films, audio, or web series, there’s a treasure trove of entertainment on your phones and TVs waiting to be explored. This Independence Day, we have put together a special selection of titles that will take you on a captivating journey that will not only entertain but also evoke a profound sense of national pride. Let’s spend a day in remembrance of the fighters who sacrificed their lives for the nation and their unyielding spirit that defines the essence of freedom.
1947: Road to Indian Independence
Platform: Audible
1947: Road to Indian Independence on Audible narrated by journalist Prashant Jha traces back to how India became one of the first countries in Asia to get freedom from colonial rule to attain freedom. The 13-episode podcast documents the important events that shaped the freedom struggle, the becoming of a nation named ‘India’, and imminent personalities who have left their immortal footprint on the nation.
Platform: Audible
It is indeed said we are not makers of history instead, we are made by history. Chronicles of India is informative, deep dives into the depths of ancient Indian history, and celebrates the golden pages of our country’s lost history, which has helped India become what it is today. It beautifully depicts how this nation has proven its significance to the rest of the world. It also narrates how we freed ourselves from the shackles of slavery and violent winds after withstanding the test of time.
Platform: Audible
Both the seasons of this show created and performed by Neelesh Mishra – celebrate the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces in the most uncertain and terrifying circumstances. Documenting the valiant real-life experiences of war heroes, troopers, and army veterans who served in the Indo-Pakistan war, the 26/11 terror attacks, the Sino-Indian war of 1962, and ambush operations in Jammu Kashmir. The stories also give insights into their personal lives the sacrifices they made and the courage of their family members.
Platform: Netflix
Regiment Diaries on Netflix series offers a peek into the various regiments of the Indian Army, their training, their traditions, history, contributions, and their journey from civilian to joining the Indian Army. For those enthusiastic about gaining insights into the regiments of the Indian Army and important military events, what’s better than a docu-series chronicling the lives of these army men who are following the illustrious example of their predecessors to protect the nation and their countrymen.
Platform: Netflix
This Netflix biopic ‘Major’ is based on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, documenting his life right from his childhood to his valiant endeavor during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was the team commander of 51 Special Action Groups (51 SAG) deployed in the hotel to rescue the hostages and died during his mission. This biopic capturing the inspiring story of the Ashoka Chakra awardee story deserves to be watched this Independence Day.
The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye
Platform: Prime Video
The militant uprising in colonial India is not honored enough though it has a pivotal role in attaining Independence. The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye on Prime Video does exactly the needful by capturing the efforts made by the Azad Hind Fauj who marched 3,884 kilometers from Singapore to Delhi to free their country from the British. The Fauj was led by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose who fought against their size and scale but were labelled by the then ruling establishment as traitors. Relive this momentous period in Indian history with this action-packed true war series on Amazon Prime.
Platform: Prime Video
The story of Sardar Udham is directed by Shoojit Sircar and was shot in the beautiful locales of India, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Sardar was a man gravely impacted by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and sought revenge on the perpetrator of the incident Micheal O’Dwyer, Punjab’s former lieutenant governor. After the massacre, Sardar Udham fled the mountains of Afghanistan and traveled through the USSR reaching London in 1933-34. He spent the most decisive 6 years of his life, re-igniting the revolution, and in 1940, after 21 years of carrying the unhealed wound, Udham Singh assassinated Michael O’Dwyer.
Hindi
GUEST COLUMN: Why film libraries & IPs are the new engines of growth
Unlocking value through catalogue strength and IP synergy
MUMBAI:In a media landscape defined by fragmentation, platform proliferation, and ever-evolving audience behavior, the economics of filmmaking are undergoing a fundamental shift. No longer confined to box office performance, a film’s true value is now measured across an extended lifecycle that spans digital platforms, syndication networks, and global markets. As content consumption becomes increasingly non-linear and algorithm-driven, film libraries and intellectual properties (IPs) are emerging as strategic assets, capable of delivering sustained, long-term returns. For Mohan Gopinath, head – bollywood business at Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd., this transformation signals a decisive move from hit-driven models to portfolio-led value creation. In this piece, Gopinath explores how legacy content, when intelligently repurposed and distributed, can unlock recurring revenue streams, why the interplay between catalogue and original IP is critical, and how media companies can build resilient, future-ready entertainment businesses.
For all these years, we thought that a film is successful if it performs well in theatres. There are opening weekend numbers, box office milestones, and distribution footprints that gave a good picture of how the movie has done commercially and also tell us about its cultural impact. However, there are multiple platforms today, always-on content ecosystem, which has caused a shift. Today, the theatrical performance is not the culmination of a film’s journey but merely the beginning of a much longer and more dynamic lifecycle.
Film libraries today are emerging as high-value, constantly evolving assets that deliver sustained returns well beyond initial release cycles. This becomes a point of great advantage for legacy content owners with diverse catalogues, to shape long-term business outcomes.
According to FICCI-EY, the media and entertainment industry of India achieved a valuation of Rs 2.78 trillion in 2025 which is expected to reach Rs 3.3 trillion by 2028 through a compound annual growth rate of approximately 7 per cent and digital media will bring in more than Rs 1 trillion to become the biggest sector which generates about 36 per cent of overall market revenues.
This shift is the expansion of distribution endpoints. We know how satellite television was once the primary secondary window but today, it coexists with YouTube, OTT platforms, Connected TV, and FAST channels. Each of these platforms caters to distinct audience demographics and consumption behaviors, helping content owners to obtain more value from the same asset across multiple formats.
For instance, films that had great reruns, now find continuous engagement across digital platforms. On YouTube, classic Hindi cinema continues to attract significant viewership, reaching audiences across generations and geographies with remarkable consistency. At Shemaroo Entertainment, this is reflected in our film library shaped over decades as part of a long association with Indian entertainment. From classics such as Amar Akbar Anthony to much-loved entertainers like Jab We Met, Welcome, Dhamaal, Phir Hera Pheri, Dhol, Golmaal, and Bhagam Bhag, many of these titles continue finding new audiences while retaining their place in popular memory. Their enduring appeal reflects how culturally resonant stories can continue creating value over time. Similarly, FAST channels have created curated, always-on environments where catalogue content can continue to thrive through star-led and genre-based programming.
This multi-platform approach has very well transformed films into long-tail IP assets which are capable of generating recurring revenue across advertising, subscription, and syndication models.
The evolution of audience behavior is equally important. Nowadays, it’s more important to find what’s more relative than what’s recent as viewers are more influenced by mood, memories, and algorithmic suggestions than by release schedules. Even if a movie was released decades ago, it can trend alongside a newly released movie, if surfaced in the right context. Thoughtful packaging, whether through festival-based playlists, actor-driven collections, or genre clusters, allows catalogue content to remain dynamic and continuously discoverable. Shemaroo Entertainment has built extensive film libraries over decades and its focus has mostly been on recontextualizing content for the consumption of newer environments. This process doesn’t just include digitization and restoration, but also re-packaging of films as per platforms.
Syndication itself has evolved into a key growth driver. In perspective, when looking at the domestic market, curated content packages continue to find strong demand across broadcast and digital platforms. Meanwhile, in the international market, especially in markets like Middle East, North America and Southeast Asia, the appetite for Indian content is opening up new monetization avenues. Here, the ability to package and position catalogue content effectively becomes as important as the content itself.
Importantly, the need to re-package catalogue content does not diminish the role of new content. In fact, originals and fresh IP are essential to sustaining the long-term value of a film library because they act as discovery engines that bring audiences into the ecosystem, while catalogue content drives depth, retention, and repeat engagement.
This interplay between the “new” and the “known” is what defines a robust content strategy today. While new films generate spikes in consumption, catalogue titles offer familiarity and comfort. These are factors that are increasingly valuable in an era of content abundance and decision fatigue. This is also shaping our strategy, drawing value from both a deep catalogue assets and a growing focus on original IPs to strengthen long-term audience engagement and build more predictable revenue streams.
There is growing recognition that long-term value in entertainment will be shaped not only by how intelligently existing content continues to live, travel and find relevance, but also by how consistently new stories are created to renew that ecosystem. In that sense, film libraries and original IP are not parallel bets, but reinforcing engines of growth. For media companies, the opportunity lies in making these two forces work together, because that is increasingly where more resilient and predictable businesses are being shaped.
Note: The views expressed in this article are solely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect our own.
