iWorld
Divine streaming: Mythological platform Hari Om appoints chief to scale sacred stories
MUMBAI: India’s quest to package ancient wisdom for modern screens just got a new prophet—sorry, profit—maker. Hari Om, the country’s first mythological OTT platform, has roped in Avinash Dugar as chief executive officer, signalling its ambition to turn Vedas and Puranas into binge-worthy entertainment.
Vibhu Agarwal, founder of the platform, announced the appointment with near-evangelical fervour, describing Hari Om not merely as a streaming service but as a “movement”. The mission? To preserve and propagate India’s spiritual heritage—from the Upanishads to Sanatan Dharma—whilst turning a tidy profit in the crowded digital bazaar.
Dugar arrives with credentials that blend commerce and compassion. Currently group chief executive officer at Atrangii Network, he’s been driving growth across television, digital and OTT verticals since November 2025. He had a previous stint with the company in September 2023 when he was appointed as CEO of Atrangi Network’s now banned app Ullu.
However, his CV reads less like a corporate climber’s and more like a social entrepreneur’s manifesto. In 2016, he founded La Gravitea, Jamshedpur’s first deaf-run tea café, championing inclusion through campaigns like #KhamoSheWithLife and #SignLanguageInSchools. He’s also curating India’s first teapot museum—because why not?
Before his humanitarian pivot, Dugar spent seven years as vice-president at Kohinoor Steel, where he led nationwide sales operations and earned a gold medal for corporate social responsibility. Now he’s trading steel for stories, bringing strategic heft to a platform that promises to make mythology cool again.
Hari Om’s founders reckon there’s global appetite for India’s timeless tales, served up with slick production values and digital savvy. Whether the world is ready to swap Netflix for the Narayana remains to be seen. But with Dugar at the wheel, the platform is certainly betting that salvation—and subscription revenue—can coexist.
Divine content, mortal ambitions: that’s the Hari Om pitch. And if it works, expect more than just good karma on the balance sheet.
iWorld
Prime Video unveils biggest India originals slate yet
Nearly 55 titles across languages signal deeper push into films, series
MUMBAI: Prime Video is turning up the volume on Indian storytelling, unveiling its largest-ever Originals slate at the ‘Prime Video Presents’ showcase, with close to 55 series and films spanning languages, genres and formats.
The new lineup, which stretches across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, signals a clear intent: go bigger, go wider, and meet audiences wherever they are watching, whether on streaming screens or in cinemas. Alongside Originals, the platform also announced a fresh theatrical slate under Amazon MGM Studios, marking a deeper step into the big-screen business.
Among the headline acts is The Revolutionaries, a large-scale drama from Nikkhil Advani starring Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Saraf. The slate also features Matka King with Vijay Varma, Raakh starring Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre, and Lukkhe, which marks rapper King’s acting debut. Adding a genre twist is Vansh – The Kalyug Warriors, positioned as India’s first homegrown Hindi superhero series for streaming.
Familiar favourites are also making a return, with new seasons of Farzi, Panchayat, Call Me Bae, Dupahiya, Dahaad and The Traitors in the pipeline, reinforcing the platform’s bet on established franchises.
Regional storytelling gets a notable push. Highlights include a Telugu adaptation of The Traitors hosted by Teja Sajja, the drama Guvvala Cheruvu Ghat, and Tamil titles such as Exam and returning seasons of Vadhandhi and Inspector Rishi.
The slate also opens new creative partnerships. Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films steps into streaming with Storm and Mess, while Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions backs Don’t Be Shy. Production houses including Excel Entertainment, Tiger Baby Films and The Viral Fever further deepen the creative bench.
On the theatrical front, the platform is lining up five films, including Raftaar starring Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, VIBE directed by Kunal Kemmu, Dilkashi with music by A. R. Rahman, Nayyi Navelli featuring Yami Gautam, and Kuku Ki Kundli starring Wamiqa Gabbi.
According to Prime Video India director and head of Svod business Shilangi Mukherji, India remains central to the platform’s global growth, ranking among its top markets for new subscribers. She noted that nearly two-thirds of users watch content in more than four languages, underlining a growing appetite for diverse storytelling.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the new slate reflects a continued push towards bold, culturally rooted narratives with global appeal.
In short, Prime Video is not just adding titles, it is widening the lens. From small-town dramas to superhero sagas and cinema-ready spectacles, the message is simple: more stories, more voices, and far more ways to watch them.
