iWorld
Zee5 announces content slate of 20 Tamil originals for 2022
Mumbai: OTT streaming service Zee5 is all set to launch 20 Tamil original series in 2022, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) chief cluster officer – South (linear and OTT) Siju Prabhakaran told IndianTelevision.com. Zee5 Tamil and Telugu language content library is second only to Hindi language content.
The content lineup was announced at a star-studded gala in Chennai ahead of the Tamil New Year. The event was attended by director, screenwriter, and producer Vetrimaaran who is releasing his first original series “Nilamellam Ratham” featuring Ameer and music by Yuvan Shankar Raja on Zee5.
He was joined by Prakash Raj who will star in a drama series “Anantham,” veteran actor Radikaa Sarathkumar who will feature in the political drama “Thalamai Seyalagam” and Kalidas Jayaram who will appear in “Paper Rocket.”
Zee5’s Tamil content slate includes director Vijay’s teen dance drama “Five-Six-Seven-Eight,” “Kolaigara Kairegaial” directed by SR Prabhakaran and the mystical thriller “Aindham Vedham.”
The showcase included a sneak peek into upcoming titles such as “Alma Mater,” “Ayali,” “Fingertip season 2” and films such as “Yaanai” featuring Arun Vijay and Priya Bhavani Shankar, “Thamezharasan” starring Vijay Anthony, Suresh Gopi, Sonu Sood and Remya Nambeesan.
The cast and crew for Zee5’s most-watched Tamil original “Vilangu” were present at the event as well as the lead cast and crew of their shows “Malaysia to Amnesia” and “Vinodhaya Sitham.” Recently, Zee5 premiered the film “Valimai” starring Ajith which recorded 500 million streaming minutes of watch time on the platform, it said.
“It is encouraging to see the momentum Zee5 has gained in expanding entertainment exposure for the creators and consumers alike with real, engaging, and authentic multilingual storytelling,” said Zee5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra. “Tapping into the hotbed of entertainment resulted in exponential success for us in the state of Tamil Nadu. Today, Zee5 has disrupted the Tamil industry with phenomenal response to content, bringing the best of Tamil talent to showcase their artistry across the globe. 2022 will see us double down on our focus for our viewers here and we have ensured the content lineup has something for everyone.”
“We have been successful in creating a strong content repository for Zee5, offering a diverse range of content to viewers by leaning on our strong legacy and market expertise,” said Zeel’s Siju Prabhakaran. “The year is about to get more exciting as we bring to you over ten captivating original series and some of the most anticipated blockbuster movies, which will be available for our viewers in India and worldwide. The vibrant slate includes shows such as ‘Anantham’ featuring the prolific Prakash Raj, Vetrimaaran’s original series ‘Nilamellam Ratham’, new themes like Paper Rocket by ‘Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi,’ the return of a popular IP ‘Fingertip’ and many more to keep you captivated and at the edge of your seats. Besides, we are also keen to bring to fore stories which are the vision of promising budding makers and showcase fresh talent which may define the future of the Tamil OTT segment.”
“We are delighted with the exponential growth of Zee5 in establishing itself as a prominent player in India’s exploding OTT ecosystem, especially our success with viewers across Tamil Nadu,” said Zeel’s head of content strategy business unit across TV and digital and international business Punit Misra. “We believe our clear design thinking and strategic approach to building a compelling slate along with our partnerships with the best of talent in Tamil Nadu and other key markets, will help accelerate the platform’s popularity further. What sets us apart is our approach to content design, which we call #SoultoScreen, which rests on an intimate understanding of the culture and people, creating stories and characters that are inspired from their life and crafted to stoke their imagination.”
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.
