iWorld
Filmfare OTT Awards 2020: Paatal Lok, The Family Man take top honours
KOLKATA: The Indian OTT industry has grown by leaps and bounds this year, and has been a force to be reckoned with in fostering innovation and creativity in the country. Celebrating the indelible mark of the streaming industry and lauding stellar performances, Filmfare hosted the inaugural edition of the Flyx Filmfare OTT Awards on 19 December at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai.
It was a starry night filled with glamour and brilliance as the Black Lady was bestowed on the finest OTT content creators, actors, and their creations.
The gala event witnessed the most-recognisable names from the Indian entertainment industry, including Pratik Gandhi, Nora Fatehi, Alaya F, Rajkummar Rao, Manoj Bajpayee, Priyamani and many more who raised the glam quotient on the red carpet. The event was hosted by comedians Varun Thakur and Danish Sait, who kept the audiences entertained with rib-tickling humour and zestful jibes.
Making a clean sweep, Paatal Lok won the most awards across categories in addition to bagging the Filmfare for Best Series. Raat Akeli Hai won the Best Movie (web original) award. The winners of the night – Jaideep Ahlawat (Best Actor in a Drama Series Male), Rahul Bose (Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Web Original Film Male), and Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Best Actor in a Web Original Film Male) culminated the ceremony on an emotional note with their heart-warming acceptance speeches that reminisced their journey leading up to the grand night. Popular actors Sushmita Sen (Best Actor in a Drama Series Female) and Neena Gupta (Best Actor in A Supporting Role in a Comedy Series Female) lit up the extravaganza virtually by delivering endearing messages of love and acceptance.
The first edition of the ceremony also saw internet personalities such as Mithila Palkar, Dhruv Sehgal, and Sumukhi Suresh make their Filmfare debut by winning Best Actor in a Comedy Series (Female) for Little Things Season 3, Best Actor in a Comedy Series (Critics) for Little Things Season 3 and Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Critics) for Pushpavali Season 2 respectively.
The award ceremony also lauded and celebrated talented artists in the critics category with The Family Man bagging the Best Series (Critics); Krishna DK and Raj Nidimoru (The Family Man) won Best Director (Critics), Manoj Bajpayee bagged the trophy for Best Actor in a Drama Series (Critics) and Best Actress in a Drama Series (Critics) went to by Priyamani (The Family Man).
The sponsors for this year included title partner Flyx, co-powered by Tata Pravesh and Bosch Home Appliances, driven by Skoda, associate partner LIC and more partners including Sugarbox.
iWorld
Netflix launches Playground app to bring games and interactive play for kids
Interactive games, fresh series and returning favourites aim to blend play and learning
MUMBAI: Netflix is doubling down on kids entertainment with a major expansion of its family-friendly slate, anchored by the launch of Netflix Playground, a new interactive app designed to blend play with storytelling.
Aimed at children aged eight and under, the app allows young viewers to engage with familiar characters from shows like Peppa Pig and Sesame Street through games and activities, all within a safe, ad-free environment. The app is already live in select markets and is set for a wider global rollout later this month.
The move signals Netflix’s push to turn passive viewing into a more immersive experience. Alongside the app, the platform has unveiled a mix of new titles and returning favourites, including fresh episodes of Trash Truck and The Creature Cases, as well as a new preschool series, Young MacDonald. Popular titles such as CoComelon Lane and Ms. Rachel are also set to expand with new seasons and episodes.
Speaking about the strategy, Netflix vice president of animation series and kids and family tv John Derderian said, “We’re building a world where kids can not only watch their favourite stories, they can step inside them and interact with their favourite characters. We’re creating a seamless destination for discovery, learning, and play.”
The expanded offering also leans heavily on convenience for parents, with offline access, curated content, and robust parental controls designed to ensure a safe and tailored viewing experience. Features such as profile locks, content filters, and activity tracking aim to give families greater control while allowing children to explore independently.
The timing is strategic. Kids and preschool content has emerged as one of Netflix’s most-watched categories in recent years, making it a key battleground in the streaming wars. By combining games, education, and entertainment, the platform is looking to deepen engagement and build long-term loyalty among younger audiences.
With interactive play now joining its content arsenal, Netflix is not just streaming stories but inviting kids to step inside them, turning screen time into something a little more hands-on.
