iWorld
Rise and Fall rises to the top on Amazon MX Player
MUMBAI: Talk about a reality check! Rise and Fall, Amazon MX Player’s latest digital blockbuster, has done everything but fall. The show has stormed into the record books as the most-watched series ever on the platform, amassing over half a billion views and holding its ground in India’s top OTT reality charts for six straight weeks.
Produced by Banijay Asia, Rise and Fall threw 15 familiar faces including Pawan Singh, Dhanashree Verma, Kubbra Sait, and Kiku Sharda into a 42-day showdown of power, ambition, and strategy. Hosted by Ashneer Grover, the series saw audiences cast more than 11 million votes before crowning Arjun Bijlani as the ultimate winner.
But the show’s real victory played out online, sparking over 10 billion social media views and a flood of memes, reactions, and fan edits. Hindi cinema and cricket stars from John Abraham to Ishan Kishan jumped on the bandwagon, amplifying the frenzy and turning the series into a cultural talking point.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Rise and Fall aired daily on both Amazon MX Player and Sony Entertainment Television, bridging the gap between traditional TV and digital fandom. The result? Record-breaking engagement and a prime showcase for brands like Lux Cozi, Haier, and McDowell’s, which integrated into the narrative through clever placements and sponsorships.
“The success and cultural impact of Rise and Fall have been phenomenal,” said Amazon MX Player director and head Karan Bedi. “It’s proof that entertainment and brand storytelling can converge powerfully to capture the nation’s imagination.”
Banijay Asia founder and group CEO Deepak Dhar added, “This show redefined the scale and storytelling potential of Indian reality television. We wanted to blend ambition, strategy, and emotion in a format that feels fresh and globally resonant, and audiences have embraced it wholeheartedly.”
Licensed through All3Media International and originally created by Studio Lambert in the UK, Rise and Fall has cemented itself as more than just another reality show, it’s a pop-culture phenomenon and a symbol of India’s evolving entertainment landscape.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
