iWorld
Disney+ Hotstar strengthens Telugu content offering with new titles
Mumbai: Disney+ Hotstar on Friday announced a strong lineup of Telugu entertainment as it welcomes viewers to Mana Vinoda Vishwam (Our Entertainment Universe). Telugu superstar Ram Charan, along with King Nagarjuna, Sharat Kumar, Naveen Chandra, Ishaan, Akanksha Singh, Krishna Vijay, Boyapati Srinu, Krish, Ajay, Anjali, Madhu Shalini, Hari Yelleti, Thiru (director of “Jhansi”) Prasad Devineni (Producer – Arka Media), Krishna Kulasekaran, Rajeev Reddy and many more talents united to unveil new and upcoming Telugu titles.
Disney+ Hotstar’s robust regional lineup includes the Jagapathi Babu, Sharat Kumar and Naveen Chandra-starrer first-ever original Telugu Hotstar Specials series “Parampara.” The series is backed by “Baahubali” producers Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni of Arka Mediaworks Production and has been written by Hari Yelleti and directed by filmmaker Krishna Vijay L.
The platform will also stream the Telugu digital-exclusive season of the nation’s favourite reality show “Bigg Boss Live,” hosted by popular celebrity star Nagarjuna. “9 hours,” a thrilling bank robbery presented by directed by Krish starring Tarak Ratna and Ajay among others, “Jhansi,” starring Anjali in the lead role, an action-packed web series about an amnesiac woman and a doting mother who unravels her true identity and confronts her dark past making her a reluctant vigilante and “Shaitan,” a thriller written and directed by Maahi Raghav.
“We have always been at the forefront of revolutionising the way content is created and consumed in India – and are delighted to continue this journey to create an unparalleled Telugu entertainment experience for our viewers,” stated Disney+ Hotstar president and head Sunil Rayan. “Joining forces with some of the prolific minds in the industry, we are excited to offer fresh content in Telugu with path-breaking narratives through Parampara, 9 Hours and Jhansi as well as exciting formats through BiggBoss Live. With this foray, we endeavour to take one more step towards elevating the entertainment experience for viewers across India.”
The new Telugu lineup on Disney+ Hotstar follows the successful releases of titles in the recent past such as “Unheard,” “Maestro,” “Adbhutam,” “MaaOoriPolimera,” and “Annabelle Sethupathi,” bringing diverse and unique stories especially curated for Telugu entertainment lovers, shining a spotlight on locally relevant narratives and featuring some of the biggest stars of Tollywood in blockbuster films.
“Our foray in Telugu entertainment highlights an interesting time in the industry, showcasing incredible talent such as Jagapathi Babu, Sarath Kumar and many more playing never seen before roles and characters,” said Disney+ Hotstar and HSM Entertainment Network, Star & Disney India president and head – content Gaurav Banerjee. “We are delighted to step into the world of Telugu entertainment and look forward to bringing stories and performances that will resonate and strike a chord across viewers.”
Talking about the campaign, the face of the Disney+ Hotstar’s Telugu launch actor Ram Charan said, “The entertainment landscape in India is transforming drastically with digital presence. Telugu entertainment entering this landscape with Disney+ Hotstar is a great boost for all associated with the industry. The audience can look forward to seeing their favourite stars don new and intriguing characters that will leave them spell bound. The global audience too now gets an opportunity to watch highly engaging Telugu stories that had otherwise been limited to theatres and regional channels. The stars are now shining on Telugu entertainment, and I am happy to be the face of it.”
“Digital streaming platforms in the country are growing their footprint and it is interesting how the platform is leveraging the Tollywood industry’s large fan following to bring in original productions and creative narratives. The addition of Telugu dedicated series and films on Disney+ Hotstar, is a definitive step towards democratising entertainment for the global audience,” commented Telugu superstar Nagarjuna.
“When the best talents come together, it makes for a fascinating production on screen. Disney+ Hotstar bringing on board so many of Tollywood’s stars and fresh talent with its original films and series will start a new phase of Tollywood creativity,” remarked actor Jagapathi Babu.
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.
