iWorld
Planet Marathi OTT unveils new content slate on achieving 500 per cent subscriber growth globally
Mumbai: Vistas Media Capital’s Planet Marathi OTT, home to record-breaking original content, is ready to step up its robust performance as it completes its one-year run.
The platform has seen a phenomenal spike of 500 per cent in its subscriber base, which spans globally across the UK, US, New Zealand, the continent of Africa and other countries. The first platform of its kind, it hosts web series, films, talk shows, music, reality shows, and other forms of entertainment in Marathi.
Since its inception in August 2021, the platform has seen a whopping 550K+ instals and 24+ million video plays. Various marquee and big league players, including Tata Play and Jio Ads, have collaborated with Planet Marathi OTT on various levels to capitalise on the robust, superlative library being the only exclusively Marathi OTT player. To increase its own reach and cater to a wider audience, the OTT platform has entered into partnerships and will be collaborating with telecom providers.
Emerging as a name to reckon with in the Marathi entertainment industry, Planet Marathi OTT has established itself as an innovative player given its fresh, experimental, and original approach to the web space. The upcoming impressive slate of titles includes Mrinal Kulkarni’s directorial venture “Sahela Re” starring her, Sumeet Raghavan, and Subodh Bhave; RaanBaazaar director Abhijit Panse’s next political outing Raaji-Naama; new age romantic drama, “Eka Hatacha Antar.” Other names in the content line-up include “Athang,” Soppa Nasta Kahi Season 2, Gemaadpanthi, Compass, Aamcha Aahe, Baby On Board, Chikatgunde Season 2 and Crypto Aajji.
Speaking about this record breaking milestone, Planet Marathi OTT founder Akshay Bardapurkar commented, “We have been fierce in our vertical and horizontal expansion and as we complete one year, the entire Planet Marathi OTT team is able to look back with pride and satisfaction on the kind of achievements we have had. However, we are far from done. We are excited to announce a large slate of OTT content which will further blur boundaries and catapult us to compete with big league content players. The goal gets bigger every year and we are just beginning to make a mark.”
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
