ITV

Category: Over The Top Services

  • Winzo reinvents, rolls out short drama championship

    Winzo reinvents, rolls out short drama championship

    NEW DELHI: Homegrown interactive entertainment platform, Winzo, is scripting a new chapter. Best known for its real-money gaming empire of 250m users, 100+ competitive titles and a 15-language spread, the company has announced the launch of the Winzo Short Drama Championship — billed as the world’s first global contest for microdrama creators.

    Winners will bag full production sponsorship, long-term content deals, and guaranteed slots on Winzo TV, the firm’s freshly unveiled short-form storytelling platform. Entries will be judged on originality and narrative power, with final selections based on audience engagement. Winning dramas will also be showcased at marquee events, plugging India’s storytellers into a worldwide stage.

    “We’ve always believed India’s cultural capital is its greatest export,” said Winzo co-founder Paavan Nanda. “We built Winzo to democratise opportunity for creators — first in gaming, and now in storytelling. India has the talent and scale to lead the global microdrama revolution.”

    The move comes days after the government passed the Online Gaming Bill, forcing real-money game operators to rewire their business models. Winzo’s pivot positions it not only as a gaming major but also as a potential exporter of Indian narratives, from Bharat to the world.

    Applications are open at winzotv.com, with Winzo calling on production houses and content creators to partner and reach its 250m-strong global audience.

  • Order in the court Kajol returns with fiercer fight in The Trial Season 2

    Order in the court Kajol returns with fiercer fight in The Trial Season 2

    MUMBAI: Justice may be blind, but this courtroom is about to see fireworks. The much-awaited trailer of The Trial: Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha Season 2 has dropped, and Kajol’s return as Noyonika Sengupta promises a performance that is more fiery, vulnerable, and emotionally charged than ever before.

    Directed by Umesh Bist and produced by Banijay Asia, the new chapter premieres 19 September 2025 on JioHotstar. It picks up after Season 1, where Noyonika, once a timid housewife, re-entered law following her husband’s corruption scandal. Now she stands transformed into a razor-sharp lawyer and resolute mother yet Season 2 unravels her world piece by piece.

    Her husband Rajiv’s political ambitions (played by Jisshu Sengupta) threaten to tear the family apart, the law firm she depends on is riddled with rivalries, and a tangled love triangle clouds her judgement. In the dock is Noyonika herself torn between duty and desire, trust and truth.

    The series boasts a formidable cast, including Sonali Kulkarni, Sheeba Chaddha, Alyy Khan, Kubbra Sait, Gaurav Pandey, and Karanvir Sharma. Kajol teased, “This season is darker, deeper, and more personal. Noyonika isn’t just fighting in court, she’s fighting to keep her world from collapsing.”

    Bist revealed that Season 2 deliberately raises the stakes, balancing the intensity of legal duels with Noyonika’s internal unraveling. “It’s a layered story about power, identity, and the personal cost of standing up for oneself especially as a woman,” he said.

    Backing the show’s cinematic ambition, Alok Jain of JioStar positioned it as part of a bold content universe that challenges ideas of choice and identity, while Sushant Sreeram highlighted how international adaptations like The Trial (based on CBS Studios’ The Good Wife) are reimagined for Indian audiences. Banijay Asia CEO Deepak Dhar promised “a gripping ride with higher stakes, more intense emotions, and powerful performances.”

    Jisshu Sengupta added that Rajiv’s arc would shake viewers: “His ambitions have grown, but so has the cost. It’s love, regret, resentment and redemption colliding at once.”

    The original U.S. series The Good Wife, created by Robert and Michelle King, set the global bar for courtroom drama. Now, its Indian counterpart seems poised to go beyond the gavel blending betrayal, ambition, and raw humanity into a season that could very well be Kajol’s fiercest role yet.

    Order in the court: judgment day arrives 19 September.

  • Planet Marathi founder faces FIR after Bombay HC order on forgery

    Planet Marathi founder faces FIR after Bombay HC order on forgery

    MUMBAI: The drama has moved off-screen and into the courtroom Planet Marathi’s founder Akshay Bardapurkar now faces a real-life script of forgery, fraud, and financial conspiracy after the Bombay High Court ordered the registration of an FIR against him and three others.

    A Bench of Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ashwin Ankhad, ruling on Criminal Writ Petition No. 4170 of 2025 filed by former partner Soumya Vilekar, directed Mulund Police to book Bardapurkar, casting director Manali Dixit, notary Dodha Doulat Ahire, and Dhaval Shah.

    At the heart of the case is a forged partnership deed dated 3 October 2023, allegedly bearing Vilekar’s signature, photograph, and a fake notarisation. She claims she never signed the document, which was used to approach Axis Bank, Deutsche Bank, and others to secure loans and dispose of intellectual property, all without her knowledge.

    Vilekar maintains that her only valid exit was through a Deed of Admission-cum-Retirement dated 15 January 2024, and accuses Bardapurkar of fabricating the earlier deed to siphon funds. She says she was left battling multiple litigations originally aimed at the company, exposing her to reputational and financial harm.

    “This is not merely forged paperwork, it’s a premeditated act of fraud and conspiracy,” Vilekar said, adding that Bardapurkar had diverted company funds for personal expenses and unauthorised purposes.

    The fallout for Planet Marathi has been severe. Its offices have remained shut for months, the app has ceased operations, and employees have resigned en masse. The company is also facing NCLT liquidation proceedings, while Bardapurkar himself is entangled in multiple legal battles:

    . Rs 87 lakh cheque bounce case filed by Aayush Shah

    . Rs 20 lakh dishonour case filed by Mausam Shah

    . Personal insolvency proceedings by Verse

    . Several Section 138 NI Act cases across Mumbai, Pune, and beyond

    The High Court’s intervention comes after Vilekar alleged that Mulund Police failed to act despite her submitting documentary evidence. The ruling marks another twist in a saga that has seen Planet Marathi, once touted as a Marathi OTT disruptor, now teetering between financial collapse and criminal scrutiny.

    As the courtroom script unfolds, Bardapurkar, once celebrated as a cultural entrepreneur now finds himself at the centre of a story where the plot revolves around liabilities, litigation, and law enforcement.

  • Young Indian western classical vocalist strikes gold in Tokyo classical competition

    Young Indian western classical vocalist strikes gold in Tokyo classical competition

    MUMBAI: The daughter of a streaming aggregator boss has just delivered a performance to remember. Vanshi Mudaliar, the 12-year-old daughter of Avinash Mudaliar, co-founder and chief executive of OTTPlay, claimed the gold prize at the Golden Classical Music Awards in Tokyo on 20 August, performing live at the world-renowned Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.

    The victory follows her silver medal at Vienna’s International Arts Festival in 2024, making her one of the youngest Indian musicians to secure consecutive top honours across Europe and Asia in Western classical music competitions—a field historically dominated by European, American and Russian performers.

    “Her victory at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall marks a breakthrough moment for Indian talent on the international classical music circuit,” says her father, clearly basking in paternal pride.

    The competition attracted global participants, with winners selected through online auditions before the most exceptional performers were invited to Tokyo for three days of live performances. Vanshi took the stage on the final day, 20 August.

    Her success stems from five years of intensive training under Rahel Shekatkar at Rahel Music Academy in Pune—a 150-kilometre journey from the family’s Mumbai base that has proved worthwhile. Despite the distance, this student-teacher partnership has now produced two major international victories.

    Shekatkar’s academy has established itself as a premier destination for western classical vocal training in India. Vanshi’s achievements demonstrate the quality of musical education available domestically, bridging Eastern and Western musical traditions.

    At just 12, Vanshi has carved out a unique position in India’s musical landscape through her dedication to Western classical music—a genre demanding exceptional technical precision, vocal control and interpretive skills. Her journey from Mumbai to Vienna to Tokyo illustrates the global recognition Indian artists can achieve in traditional western art forms.

    With two major international victories already secured, Vanshi represents a new generation of Indian classical musicians making their mark globally, opening doors for other young artists and highlighting the importance of nurturing musical talent early.

  • Drama draws the crowd as Zee5 hits 105 billion streaming minutes in FY25

    Drama draws the crowd as Zee5 hits 105 billion streaming minutes in FY25

    MUMBAI: If content is king, then drama is the undisputed emperor of India’s OTT court. Zee5 has revealed its FY25 viewership numbers, clocking a colossal 105 billion minutes of watch time, with audiences binging on high-stakes drama and high-definition screens.

    Drama ruled the charts, pulling in over 40 billion minutes alone, proving that when it comes to streaming, heightened emotions and tangled plots still reign supreme. And where are viewers watching? A solid 64 per cent of premium content watch time came from smart TVs, making the living room the new theatre of choice for Indian families.

    Leading the charge in high-res viewing, South India accounted for 46 per cent of all 4K consumption. Tamil, Telugu and Kannada titles like Aindham Vedham, Paruvu, Thalaimai Seyalagam, and Vikkatakavi featured in the most-watched lists, while films such as Sankranthiki Vasthunam, Hanu-Man, and Identity dominated screens. Meanwhile, Bengali viewership surged, breaking into the top three languages across Hindi-speaking markets.

    Zee5 Originals also had their blockbuster moment. Mrs., starring Sanya Malhotra, shattered records with the platform’s biggest opening weekend ever over 150 million streaming minutes. The socially charged narrative around gender roles and individual agency resonated across metros and smaller towns alike.

    Hindi thriller Gyaarah Gyaarah led as the most-watched web series pan-India except in the South, where homegrown dramas continued to take the spotlight. Bingeing peaked between 5 pm and 11 pm, with half of total prime-time viewing happening post 7 pm.

    The report also flagged a doubling of 4K pack adoption in FY26, a clear marker of India’s pivot towards quality-led viewing. With regional storytelling, multi-language packs and big-ticket dramas leading engagement, Zee5’s language-first strategy is paying off delivering not just what India wants to watch, but exactly how and why they want to watch it.

  • Prime Video reels in Maddock Films with blockbuster eight-film deal

    Prime Video reels in Maddock Films with blockbuster eight-film deal

    MUMBAI: When it comes to streaming, Prime Video clearly isn’t afraid of commitment. The platform has just inked a multi-year global licensing deal with Maddock Films, securing exclusive streaming rights to eight upcoming films that will drop on Prime shortly after their theatrical run. The pact makes Prime Video the one-stop home for Maddock’s celebrated horror-comedy universe, including the upcoming Thama and two yet-to-be-titled instalments slated to roll out between 2025 and 2027. The deal follows the monster success of Stree 2, which didn’t just scare up big numbers at the box office but also streamed to blockbuster status on Prime, amassing a global fandom well beyond India.

    The eight-film slate packs serious star power. Topping the line-up is Param Sundari, headlined by Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, premiering in cinemas on 29 August 2025 before making its digital debut on Prime. Franchise fever continues with Shiddat 2 and Badlapur 2, both extending Maddock’s well-loved cinematic worlds. Also in the mix is Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan and starring Agastya Nanda, along with other unannounced titles.

    The partnership is not new Maddock and Prime Video have a track record of shared hits, from theatrical-to-digital blockbusters like Stree, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, and Stree 2, to the co-produced Bhool Chuk Maaf, and the Prime Original Jee Karda.

    “From our horror-comedy universe to our most beloved franchises, our endeavour has always been to create worlds that audiences love to revisit,” said Maddock Films CEO & founder Dinesh Vijan adding that the deal marks a natural extension of their shared goal to take Indian stories global.

    Prime Video India director and head of content licensing Manish Menghani echoed the sentiment: “This multi-film slate not only builds on Maddock’s popular franchises but also delivers fresh storytelling that travels across geographies.”

    With streaming rights locked across 240 plus countries and territories, Prime Video is betting big on Maddock’s mix of chills, thrills, and sequels ensuring its members can binge the blockbusters long after the popcorn’s gone cold.

  • Malayalam medical drama Pharma to premiere on JioHotstar

    Malayalam medical drama Pharma to premiere on JioHotstar

    MUMBAI: Malayalam star Nivin Pauly is set to headline Pharma, his first streaming series, which will soon premiere on JioHotstar. Inspired by true events, the medical drama charts the turbulent life of K. P. Vinod, a pharmaceutical sales rep.

    The show also marks the comeback of Hindi cinema  veteran Rajit Kapur to Malayalam cinema after 10 years. Directed by P. R. Arun and produced by Krishnan Sethukumar under the Moviee Mill banner, Pharma boasts a strong ensemble with Binu Pappu, Narain, Muthumani, Shruti Ramachandran, Veena Nandakumar and Aalekh Kapoor.

    Cinematographer Abinandhan Ramanujam and editor Sreejith Sarang bring a polished visual style to the series, promising viewers a taut, immersive ride.

     

  • Disney hires Netflix executive to turbocharge Asia streaming push

    Disney hires Netflix executive to turbocharge Asia streaming push

    MUMBAI: His is a familiar face to Indian music and streaming industry professionals. We are talking about Tony Zameczkowski who used to jet his way to India often first as the executive in charge of YouTube’s music vertical and then as Netflix vice-president and co-head Asia Pacific. 

    Now Zameczkowski  has hopped aboard Disney to spearhead its streaming ambitions across Asia-Pacific, as the entertainment giant seeks to capitalise on the region’s enormous growth potential. His designation: senior vice-president and general manager for direct-to-consumer operations across the region. The appointment signals Disney’s determination to accelerate Disney+ growth in markets where streaming adoption continues to surge.

    Reporting to APAC president Luke Kang and Disney Entertainment’s direct-to-consumer president Joe Earley, Zameczkowski will oversee the expansion of Disney+ across a region that company executives describe as brimming with “immense growth opportunities.”

    His arrival comes as Disney+ builds momentum following ESPN’s successful launch in Australia and New Zealand, alongside a growing slate of local originals from Korea, Japan and Australia. The second series of Japanese live-action thriller Gannibal became the platform’s most-viewed premiere in the second quarter and its fastest title to reach one million streaming hours.

    The streaming wars in Asia-Pacific show no signs of cooling, with local players and global giants alike vying for market share in countries where mobile-first consumption and rising disposable incomes are reshaping entertainment habits.

    Zameczkowski, who previously held roles at Victorious and Warner Bros International Television before his Netflix and YouTube stint, says he has “always admired Disney’s unmatched leadership in the entertainment space and its ability to remain modern and relevant to consumers.”

    New APAC originals including Tempest, Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation” and Cat’s Eye are set to debut on Disney+ in coming months as the company doubles down on local content production—a strategy that has proven crucial for streaming success across diverse Asian markets.

  • OTTplay strikes gold with Amazon Prime tie-up

    OTTplay strikes gold with Amazon Prime tie-up

    MUMBAI—OTTplay Premium joined hands with Amazon Prime to offer Prime Lite benefits to its customers, delivering unparalleled value. Amazon Prime Lite subscriptions will be available through OTTplay in two ways – through bundled offerings with OTTplay’s partner Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as NetPlus, KCCL, NXT, Railtel, and more, making it even easier for users across 1000+ cities and towns in India to seamlessly access Prime Video’s high-quality content, and also enjoy other Prime Lite benefits through varied subscription plans with OTTplay, as well as a top-up at ₹799 per year for OTTplay Premium subscribers who can enhance their existing subscription with Prime Lite benefits.

    With this collaboration, OTTplay will provide its customers unlimited access to Prime Video’s premium entertainment that includes an extensive library of award-winning and blockbuster Indian and international Originals, TV shows, movies, and more, on a single device of their choice, in HD quality with ads. Prime members also enjoy benefits like free unlimited Same-Day/Next-Day delivery, special access to everyday Prime offers, exclusive access to shopping events like Prime Day, and early access to Amazon Great Indian Festival.

    “At Prime Video, we remain committed to making it even more convenient for customers across India to access our diverse library of Indian and international Originals, movies, series, and more,” said Prime Video India director & head of SVOD Business Shilangi Mukherji. “This collaboration with OTTplay not only further simplifies access to Prime Video’s high-quality content selection but also delivers additional shopping and shipping benefits through Prime Lite—from unlimited free One-day/Two-day delivery across millions of products to early access to exclusive deals, and much more.”

    OTTplay Co-founder & CEO Avinash Mudaliar said, “This is a significant moment for us. Prime Video is a global leader in entertainment and bringing it to our platform reflects our commitment to delivering the most comprehensive and accessible video streaming experience in India. We are certain that our customers will appreciate the exciting combination of entertainment and other Prime benefits offered through this collaboration.”

  • Applause Entertainment marks eight years with bigger bets

    Applause Entertainment marks eight years with bigger bets

    MUMBAI: Eight years may seem young, but Kumarmangalam Birla-owned, Sameer Nair-led Applause Entertainment has already muscled into the top tier of India’s content business. Since its 2017 launch, the studio has churned out more than 50 original series, films and documentaries across every major streamer — from Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5 and Sony Liv.

    Operating on what it calls a “hub and spoke” model, Applause invests upfront in content, collaborates with producers such as Banijay Asia, BBC Studios, Rose Audiovisuals and Emmay Entertainment, and then syndicates the finished work to platforms worldwide. Its catalogue includes both original dramas and Indian adaptations of acclaimed books and international formats.

    After shaking up the digital series  market, Applause has shifted gears into films with titles like Iftikaar, The Rapist and Aruvi. It has also launched Applause Productions, whose debut project is the Indian remake of Fauda. In animation, it has struck an exclusive deal with Amar Chitra Katha to reimagine 400-plus comics for global audiences and under the Appla Toon brand on YouTube.

    It recently partnered with author Jeffrey Archer to adapt his books into series or movies. 

    Nair has built a seasoned team backing him up, with Deepak Segal as chief creative officer, Prasoon Garg as chief business officer, Sunil Chainani heading films, Maansi Darrbar heading Applause Productions,  Siddharth Khaitan heading special projects like Gandhi and Scam, and Devnidhi Bajoria overseeing marketing.

    With scores of projects in the pipeline, the studio is plotting a push beyond India into documentaries, infotainment and even gaming.

    Eight years in, Applause is just clearing its throat. And loving the viewing audience’s critics’  applause.