iWorld
Eros Now Partners with Sony India
KOLKATA: Eros Now today announced its collaboration with one of the leading and most trusted television brands, Sony India, to provide unlimited online entertainment to consumers in India. This alliance between the two renowned household brands enables a large base of existing (BRAVIA E series and newer TV models) as well as prospective Sony BRAVIA customers to access Eros Now's pre-installed app seamlessly on their smart TVs and enjoy its massive content catalogue on high definition, superior quality screens.
Indian families have been watching television together more frequently since the coronavirus lockdown began in March. At a time when consumers are increasingly enjoying content along with their families on smart screens, this partnership caters to the demand of audiences across demographics.
India's smart TV market has witnessed exponential growth in recent times, and it demonstrates the growing trend of co-viewing in the country. According to Counterpoint research, in 2019 India has seen a substantial 25 per cent growth in demand for smart televisions fuelled by overall industry growth of 15 per cent, to a record 15 million units per annum.
Under lockdown, with homes transformed into theatres, the audience can now binge-watch Eros Now's original shows, over 12,000 movie titles, music videos, short-format content Quickies and more on the Eros Now app on their Sony BRAVIA TVs most evenings, with their entire family.
Commenting on the announcement, Eros Now CEO Ali Hussein said, "The recent surge of online video streaming on smart TVs offers a massive opportunity for leading OTT players and Smart TV manufacturers to join hands and picture a new growth story. There is a vast audience base across demographics who have now started enjoying online video content, and smart TV is boosting this habit. Thus, the partnership with Sony TV helps in further increasing the co-viewing experience in India with family-friendly video content offered on Eros Now platform becoming a growing trend and resonating across all age groups."
Sony India BRAVIA Business head Ranvijay Singh added, "Our consumer-centric approach led us to partner with one of India's leading OTT player, Eros Now. Eros Now's massive movie library, originals and music will certainly add to the entertainment services on Sony BRAVIA smart TVs and offer wholesome entertainment to our audience seamlessly."
iWorld
Prime Video to stream Tamil thriller Exam from May 15
Seven-episode series from National Award-winner A. Sarkunam streams in India and 240-plus countries
MUMBAI: Prime Video announced on April 27th that Exam, a taut seven-episode suspense drama set against the crucible of high-stakes competitive testing, will premiere on May 15th in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
Written and directed by A. Sarkunam, a National Award-winner, the series is produced under the Wallwatcher Films banner by the creative duo Pushkar and Gayatri, who have previously delivered Suzhal: The Vortex (both seasons) and Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie for the platform. Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan lead the cast, with Abbas in a pivotal role.
The show will stream in Tamil with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada, and subtitles in 15 languages, including English, a distribution sweep that underscores Prime Video’s push to globalise Indian regional content.
Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India, framed the series as both timely and commercially astute. “Exam is a very timely and relevant story that captures the emotional intensity of competitive exams and masterfully transforms it into a thrilling high-stakes drama,” he said. “We believe it is a story that will resonate deeply with millions.” Madhok noted that it was a privilege to once again collaborate with Pushkar and Gayatri following the success of Suzhal and Vadhandhi.
For Pushkar and Gayatri, the series is as much a moral reckoning as a thriller. “With Exam, we wanted to dig into ambition, injustice, and those moral crossroads that people face when pushed to the edge,” the creative producers said. “At the heart of this story is a young woman who refuses to remain powerless. Her journey is not about glamorising defiance, but about exploring the emotional and ethical cost of standing up to a system stacked against her.” They described Prime Video as “an incredible collaborator” and “the perfect home” to bring the series to global audiences.
Wallwatcher Films, which Pushkar and Gayatri founded and run, has been on a productive streak with the platform. Beyond Exam, the company is also readying Vadhandhi Season 2 for Prime Video, making the duo one of the platform’s most active regional creative partners.
The real exam, it seems, is for Prime Video itself: can a Tamil drama about systemic injustice and a young woman’s defiance crack audiences from Chennai to Chicago? If Pushkar and Gayatri’s track record is anything to go by, the answer is likely yes, and the results will be out on May 15th.
