iWorld
Realistic web series launched to engross the internet-savvy
NEW DELHI: With the average Indian spending more than eight hours on the internet and with TV content being aimed at women over 35 years, the first ever tech thriller web series has been launched in India.
Hankaar on the theme of drugs, real-estate dirty deals and prostitution in Mumbai entails ‘realistic fiction’ content that explores the stories of five ordinary people who go through extraordinary life changing experiences. Unfortunately, in the real world of television, ‘realistic fiction’ is not the most ideal space for producers to put their money in.
Writer Yogi Chopra said, “As producers, we realize that Indian television is not ready for this kind of content. But we are keen to create not just one, but at least three seasons of this series. It is certain that there is an audience for this type of content, but because it is deemed non-commercial, it is difficult to find required funding.”
Hankaar is looking to raise Rs 8 lakh in 50 days and is live on Wishberry.in.
People who back the project will get an opportunity to be co-producers and give their inputs in the making of the series. Crowd funding has become a new favourite way for filmmakers to find genuine backing – monetary and non-monetary.
iWorld
Banijay Asia’s The 50 tops OTT charts with 8.1 million JioHotstar views
Reality competition becomes most watched show on JioHotstar in debut week.
MUMBAI: Fifty contestants walked into a palace, but millions of viewers showed up for the drama. Reality competition The 50, produced by Banijay Asia, has emerged as the most watched show on JioHotstar, clocking 8.1 million views in its debut week. The figure, reported by Ormax Media, places the show at the top of the OTT viewership charts and marks a strong opening for the digital reality format.
Adapted from a popular French format, The 50 brings together 50 personalities from television, digital platforms, music and reality shows inside a grand palace setting. Over the course of a 50 day competition, participants form alliances, compete in unpredictable tasks and navigate eliminations as the field steadily narrows.
Guiding the game is a mysterious figure known as The Lion, an unseen game master whose voice introduces twists, challenges and strategic turns throughout the show, adding an extra layer of suspense to the contest.
What distinguishes The 50 from typical reality competitions is its audience driven prize structure. Instead of the winner taking home the final reward, the prize is awarded to one of the winner’s registered followers through the show’s dedicated app. The mechanism effectively turns viewers into participants, allowing fans to have a direct stake in the outcome.
The contestant lineup features a mix of television actors, reality stars and digital creators, including Karan Patel, Urvashi Dholakia, Divya Agarwal, Mr Faisu and Dushyant Kukreja, each bringing their own fan following to the show.
With its blend of celebrity personalities, strategic gameplay and interactive viewer participation, The 50 has quickly carved out a strong foothold in India’s digital entertainment landscape. Its 8.1 million views in the opening week underline the growing appetite for large scale reality formats designed specifically for OTT audiences.
