iWorld
Viu forays into micro originals with ‘Viru Ke Funde’
MUMBAI: Vuclip, a PCCW Media Company and the leading premium video on demand (VOD) service for emerging markets, has today announced the launch of ‘Viru ke Funde’, a fifteen episode web series that will be streamed on Vuclip’s OTT Video on Demand Service – Viu.
Virender Sehwag will play the central character in the show and will be seen doling out advice to his group of friends on issues such as weight loss, managing stress, dodging telemarketers and the taxman as well as ways to win an argument with your better half and learning to cope with your mother-in-law’s taunts among others.
The show was conceptualized based on Vuclip’s research insight that 60% of India’s digital audiences show the propensity to consume cricket focused comedy genre content which ties well with Sehwag’s raw, earthy and ‘in your face’ humor which has made him a Twitter sensation with over 7.5 million followers.
The first five episodes of the show have been released today on Viu, with one new episode scheduled to be released every day for the next ten days until 2 December 2016.
With a run time of about two minutes per episode, the show marks the advent of ‘Micro Originals’ – short form snackable video content aimed at entertaining the mobile audience ‘on the go.’ This effort also underscores Viu’s differentiated short form content strategy.
Vuclip India country head Vishal Maheshwari said, “Viu is a celebration of fandom and a video destination that knows its viewers’ entertainment quotient. Much like our first original show ‘What the Duck,’ this series too will enable fans of Virender Sehwag to see him in his off-field personality which they have grown to like. ‘Viru Ke Funde’ is an exciting addition to our catalog of originals for our viewers.”
Sehwag said, “Life is all about keeping things simple. See the Ball, Hit the Ball! Viru ke Funde is about sharing what I have learned in life and cricket with my real friends, making the experience all the more ‘FUN.’ I am delighted to partner with Viu which has given me a platform to engage with my fans through the digital medium. I hope the show will give you as much thrill as my batting did.”
Links to the first five episodes of ‘Viru Ke Funde’
Promo – https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139615025?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #1: How to Win an Argument with your Wife
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341106?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #2: How to behave in a 5 Star Hotel
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341134?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #3: How To Increase Facebook Likes
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341139?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #4: How To Manage Stress
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341149?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #5: How To Lose Weight
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341137?containerId=playlist-24122189
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.
