iWorld
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment acquires Locomotive Global
Mumbai: Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment which operates streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks has acquired a majority stake in Locomotive Global Inc.
The homegrown production company is currently producing and developing some original productions including an original series in development with Amazon Prime Video, as well as Indian local language remakes of well-known series including “Ray Donovan” for Netflix India.
“Expanding into India has been a top priority for us in our international expansion strategy and we are excited to be entering the market with an ambitious company like Locomotive Global,” said Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment chairman and CEO William J Rouhana Jr. “This acquisition allows us to utilise Locomotive’s revenue, cash flow and presence in India as a base for further expansion in the region.”
Locomotive Global is led by industry former programming and acquisition strategy head for the Hallmark Channel Scott Anderson, who also was with Starz/Encore and Liberty Media Corporation, and QYOU Media India co-founder and former EVP for Sony Pictures Television Networks India Sunder Aaron.
“India is arguably the largest and most accessible media market in the world right now. While we will continue to manage the business in India, as part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment family, we now have the resources to capitalise on our ambitions and expand more quickly in this market,” said Anderson.
Elaborating on the move, Sunder Aaron said, “There continues to be a major opportunity to produce high-quality content for platforms and services in India. Production costs are also lower than in most Western markets, and we can use our development and production capabilities here to meet this growing demand for quality content. The AVOD business is primed for growth in India as broadband connectivity, FAST channels, and usage of connected televisions are expanding rapidly.”
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.
