iWorld
ZEE5 unveils ‘calendar for January’ 2020 with new originals
MUMBAI: ZEE5, India’s largest over-the-top platform unveiled a power-packed calendar for January 2020 with new launches across genres and languages.
ZEE5 has already launched over 100+ Originals across top Indian (regional) languages and created a milestone in the Indian OTT space in 2019.
Gearing up for next year, ZEE5 India programming head Aparna Acharekar said: “We are the only OTT platform in the country to have consistently delivered originals across genres and languages for all audience groups.”
“We are all set to break our own records in 2020 and are constantly working towards ensuring an engaging experience for our viewers,” Acharekar added.
The launch event hosted by Acharekar, marked the presence of actors Vivek Dahiya, Nakuul Mehta, Rituraj Singh, Sid Makkar, Vivek Mushran, Vipul Deshpande, Vikram Gaikwad, Chitrangada Satarupa, Rajesh Sharma, Aadesh Bandekar, Jiten Lalwani and Sneha Wagh amongst others.
The indigenous OTT player has scheduled two shows adapted from books of popular Indian authors; ‘Never Kiss Your Best Friend’ a millennial rom-com based on the young author Sumrit Shahi’s best-selling novel of the same name.
And, State of Siege: 26/11 is a gripping tale of the terror attacks that rocked Mumbai on 26/11. The show is based on the book ‘Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11 written by top journalist and author Sandeep Unnithan.
Breaking the stereotype, the platform to also feature shows with women as protagonists; one such original called as Code M starring Jennifer Winget, Tanuj Virwani and Rajat Kapoor and Kark Rouge to be a bilingual series in Hindi and in Bengali starring Chitrangada Satrupa, Indraneil Sengupta and Rajesh Sharma.
iWorld
Prime Video unveils biggest India originals slate yet
Nearly 55 titles across languages signal deeper push into films, series
MUMBAI: Prime Video is turning up the volume on Indian storytelling, unveiling its largest-ever Originals slate at the ‘Prime Video Presents’ showcase, with close to 55 series and films spanning languages, genres and formats.
The new lineup, which stretches across Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, signals a clear intent: go bigger, go wider, and meet audiences wherever they are watching, whether on streaming screens or in cinemas. Alongside Originals, the platform also announced a fresh theatrical slate under Amazon MGM Studios, marking a deeper step into the big-screen business.
Among the headline acts is The Revolutionaries, a large-scale drama from Nikkhil Advani starring Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Saraf. The slate also features Matka King with Vijay Varma, Raakh starring Ali Fazal and Sonali Bendre, and Lukkhe, which marks rapper King’s acting debut. Adding a genre twist is Vansh – The Kalyug Warriors, positioned as India’s first homegrown Hindi superhero series for streaming.
Familiar favourites are also making a return, with new seasons of Farzi, Panchayat, Call Me Bae, Dupahiya, Dahaad and The Traitors in the pipeline, reinforcing the platform’s bet on established franchises.
Regional storytelling gets a notable push. Highlights include a Telugu adaptation of The Traitors hosted by Teja Sajja, the drama Guvvala Cheruvu Ghat, and Tamil titles such as Exam and returning seasons of Vadhandhi and Inspector Rishi.
The slate also opens new creative partnerships. Hrithik Roshan’s HRX Films steps into streaming with Storm and Mess, while Alia Bhatt’s Eternal Sunshine Productions backs Don’t Be Shy. Production houses including Excel Entertainment, Tiger Baby Films and The Viral Fever further deepen the creative bench.
On the theatrical front, the platform is lining up five films, including Raftaar starring Rajkummar Rao and Keerthy Suresh, VIBE directed by Kunal Kemmu, Dilkashi with music by A. R. Rahman, Nayyi Navelli featuring Yami Gautam, and Kuku Ki Kundli starring Wamiqa Gabbi.
According to Prime Video India director and head of Svod business Shilangi Mukherji, India remains central to the platform’s global growth, ranking among its top markets for new subscribers. She noted that nearly two-thirds of users watch content in more than four languages, underlining a growing appetite for diverse storytelling.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok, said the new slate reflects a continued push towards bold, culturally rooted narratives with global appeal.
In short, Prime Video is not just adding titles, it is widening the lens. From small-town dramas to superhero sagas and cinema-ready spectacles, the message is simple: more stories, more voices, and far more ways to watch them.
