iWorld
ZEE5 forays into Punjabi content with all-new lineup
Mumbai: ZEE5 has launched an all-new Punjabi content slate under the ‘Rajj Ke Vekho’ initiative, in order to strengthen its footprint in Punjab and neighbouring areas in Northern India. The video streaming platform’s new content slate will address the demand of over three crore Punjabi native speakers in India, it said.
The new offering consists of Punjabi films, web series, originals and shows including straight-from-the-theatre titles from Zee Studios including “Puaada”, “Qismat 2”, “Jinne Jamme Saare Nikamme”, and “Fufad Ji”, starring popular Pollywood actors Ammy Virk, Sonam Bajwa, Sargun Mehta, Binnu Dhillon, and Gurnam Bhullar.
ZEE5 India, chief business officer, Manish Kalra said the ‘Rajj Ke Vekho’ initiative is an attempt to bridge the gap between the TV watching audience and OTT users, bringing everybody onto a common platform. “Punjab, today, boasts of over 70 per cent internet penetration, a telecom infrastructure density that ranks third in the country, with one of the highest GDPs and per capita incomes in India. Despite this, the content offerings in the local Punjabi language are not as diverse as a crucial market like Punjab deserves. While intent among the audience is high, the availability of options is low, which is precisely what ZEE5 is here to address with the initiative,” he added.
iWorld
Hari Om OTT bets on AI-first filmmaking after Bharat Next Gen takeover
Platform plans six devotional series yearly, with Dronacharya set for June 2026 release.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… algorithm. In a move that blends mythology with machine learning, devotional streaming platform Hari Om OTT is placing artificial intelligence at the heart of its filmmaking playbook. Founded by media entrepreneur Vibhu Agarwal and recently acquired by Bharat Next Gen Digital Pvt Ltd, the platform has announced a full scale AI first content strategy that positions artificial intelligence as the backbone of its film production model. The company plans to launch six original devotional series annually, beginning in the upcoming financial year.
Rather than treating AI as a post production shortcut, Hari Om OTT says it has spent the past 14 months building a full 360 degree in house AI ecosystem designed to power the entire creative pipeline. The platform has assembled a specialised internal team that includes AI Creative Directors, devotional content researchers and dedicated scriptwriters, bringing everything from concept development to execution under one roof.
The studio already has multiple films in production and is targeting at least three theatrical releases in the coming financial year. Leading the slate is Dronacharya, scheduled for release in June 2026, followed by Khatushyam Ji, Salasar Balaji and Rani Dadi Sati. Additional projects in development include stories centred on Agrasen Maharaj Ji and Chatthi Maiya.
Beyond feature films and series, Hari Om OTT is also expanding into a documentary vertical that explores the cultural heritage and temples of different Indian states. Designed as a state wise tourism promotional series, the project will use AI driven visual tools to offer immersive glimpses into India’s spiritual and architectural legacy, aiming to connect devotional storytelling with heritage tourism for global audiences.
Bharat Next Gen director Kanhiya Mittal described the upcoming slate as the start of what he calls a new cinematic movement powered by artificial intelligence.
“With Dronacharya, we are initiating a new cinematic movement powered by AI. This technology allows us to present India’s sacred history and cultural legacy with greater scale and authenticity. Our vision aligns with the prime minister’s emphasis on AI first innovation for India’s growth. We believe storytelling rooted in tradition, enhanced by technology, can position India as a global leader in human centric AI creativity,” he said.
Backed by Bharat Next Gen, Hari Om OTT is now positioning itself as a technology forward devotional content studio operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and culturally rooted storytelling, where epics from the past may soon be shaped as much by code as by creativity.
