Category: Over The Top Services

  • Baraat of laughs Chaupal to stream Sarbala Ji this October

    Baraat of laughs Chaupal to stream Sarbala Ji this October

    MUMBAI: Who needs a wedding planner when you’ve got a sarbala ready to unleash chaos? Chaupal is all set to turn shaadi season into a laugh riot with Sarbala Ji, a comedy of errors premiering exclusively on 2 October 2025.

    The film stars Punjabi powerhouses Gippy Grewal as the prank-loving Sucha and Ammy Virk as the shy groom-to-be Gajjan, alongside Nimrat Khaira and Sargun Mehta, who bring glamour, wit, and perfect comic timing to the madness.

    In Punjabi tradition, the sarbala, the groom’s page boy adds charm to wedding rituals. But in Sarbala Ji, this simple role snowballs into a whirlwind of confusion. When Sucha convinces his cousin Gajjan to make him sarbala, the mandap becomes ground zero for misplaced rituals, runaway animals, and relatives who don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

    Big-fat-Punjabi-wedding tropes get a comic twist here, from dhol beats to dance-offs, as director and cast bring both heart and hilarity to the screen. With family feuds, pranks, and surprises tumbling one after another, the film promises a non-stop rollercoaster of giggles and gasps.

    Beyond the comedy, Sarbala Ji is a love letter to Punjabi culture. The music, the vibrant sets, and the depiction of wedding traditions make it a festive treat. The presence of Nimrat Khaira and Sargun Mehta ensures the fun is laced with sass, sparkle, and plenty of memorable one-liners.

    Chaupal, home to some of the biggest Punjabi originals, positions Sarbala Ji as the go-to family entertainer of the festive season. Whether you’re a veteran of dozens of big-fat Punjabi weddings or someone who’s never seen one, this film guarantees to bring the baraat straight to your living room minus the traffic jams.

    So, mark the date. On 2 October, when the groom ties the knot, be prepared for a joyride where rituals meet pranks, traditions meet chaos, and laughter steals the show.

  • Rise & Fall climbs to top as reality TV’s latest cultural power play

    Rise & Fall climbs to top as reality TV’s latest cultural power play

    MUMBAI: When it comes to reality television, what goes up must come down but for Amazon MX Player’s Rise & Fall, the only direction right now is up. Premiering on 6 September, the high-drama reality experiment has shot straight into the Top 2 original reality shows on Ormax ratings, winning fans across both metros and rural India. And the buzz isn’t limited to television screens, the show has already racked up a jaw-dropping 500 million social media views, turning reels, memes, and reactions into a second stage of drama.

    Hosted by Ashneer Grover, Rise & Fall drops 15 celebrity contestants spanning Bollywood, music, sports, entrepreneurship, and social media into a unique social experiment that examines the eternal tug-of-war between the powerful and the powerless. Over 42 days, alliances are built and broken, friendships tested, and betrayals executed with both tears and applause.

    The star-studded line-up features Arbaaz Patel, Aarush Bhola, Aahana Kumra, Aditya Narayan, Arjun Bijlani, Dhanashree Verma, Kubra Sait, Kiku Sharda, Anaya Banger, Nayandeep Rakshit, Bali, Akriti Negi with the first elimination seeing Noorin Sha bow out.

    “With Rise & Fall, Amazon MX Player is redefining reality television for India,” said Amazon MX Player director & head Karan Bedi. “We went back to the basics of what audiences want, not just spectacle and drama, but strategy, leadership, and emotion. By reimagining a global format through an Indian lens, we’re bringing viewers a bold, refreshing and powerful narrative that resonates deeply.”

    The opulent set, designed by National Award-winning art director Omung Kumar, provides the perfect stage for the drama. Behind it all, Banijay India’s powerhouse creative team has tailored the format to spark conversation across every medium and judging by the memes flooding Instagram and Twitter, it’s working.

    The show has also become a marketer’s playground. Amazon India head of advertising Girish Prabhu explained: “The response from brands has been phenomenal, they see real value in being part of Rise & Fall. Integrations feel natural and memorable, which is why sponsors like Lux Cozi, Orient Electric, Haier, Pintola, Avvatar Whey Protein, Envi, and HMD are seeing strong impact.”

    With streaming on Amazon MX Player, Prime Video, Fire TV, the Amazon shopping app, Airtel Xstream and airing on Sony Entertainment Television at 10:30 pm, brands also get the bonus of multi-platform reach.

    Rise & Fall isn’t just another unscripted series; it’s shaping up to be the OTT cultural moment of the year, where entertainment collides with hustle, and power shifts become prime-time spectacle. As fresh episodes drop daily at 12 pm, one thing’s clear, the only thing falling here are the contestants, while the show itself continues its meteoric rise.
     

  • Shemaroo wins ‘creative marketing team of the year’ at Gema 2025

    Shemaroo wins ‘creative marketing team of the year’ at Gema 2025

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo has done it again, twenty times over. The entertainment pioneer was crowned “creative marketing team of the year” for the second straight year at the Gema India awards 2025, while also sweeping up an impressive 20 trophies across categories.

    The wins included eight golds and 12 silvers, with standout honours in sound design, music usage, editing, promos, campaign design, animation, and key art. Celebrated projects such as The Rings of Time, Vash, The Goat movies, Bhraanti – An Illusion, and applause-worthy movies stood out for originality, cultural resonance, and audience impact.

    Speaking on the recognition, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd., chief operating officer, Arghya Chakravarty said, “Shemaroo Entertainment winning ‘Creative Marketing Team of the Year’ at Gema India awards for the second consecutive year, is a reflection of the consistency and creative leadership we have built over time. We have always believed in staying ahead of the curve, combining innovation with cultural relevance to engage audiences meaningfully. These wins are not isolated achievements but part of a sustained journey where year after year, our teams have set new benchmarks in creativity.”

    Now in its seventh decade, Shemaroo continues to cement its reputation as one of India’s most inventive entertainment brands, pioneering in storytelling, creative campaigns, and cultural engagement.

  • Prime Video streams Kannappa in Hindi: a divine tale with starry cameos

    Prime Video streams Kannappa in Hindi: a divine tale with starry cameos

    MUMBAI: Prime Video today dropped the Hindi dub of the epic fantasy-action drama, giving audiences a chance to stream the much-talked-about Telugu blockbuster in their own tongue.

     

     

    Headlined by Vishnu Manchu, Kannappa isn’t short on star power, with dazzling cameos by Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar and Kajal Aggarwal. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by Mohan Babu, the film is now available on Prime Video in Hindi, along with Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada versions.

    Based on true events and steeped in mythology, Kannappa follows the journey of Thinnadu (played by Manchu), a fearless tribal warrior who begins as an ardent atheist. His life takes a dramatic turn after a fateful encounter with Vayu Linga, a form of Lord Shiva, sparking a transformation into one of Shiva’s most devoted followers.

    With its mix of high-octane action, spiritual depth and larger-than-life visuals, the film aims to strike a chord with audiences across generations. Its sweeping narrative promises both spectacle and soul, making it a quintessential big-screen tale, now brought home via streaming.

    For Prime Video, this exclusive Hindi premiere further cements its position as India’s go-to entertainment hub, offering everything from homegrown originals to global blockbusters.

    So whether you’re here for the mythology, the megastars, or just the sheer scale, Kannappa is now just a click away. 
     

  • Short and sweet, One Take Media launches Vertigo TV for micro-dramas

    Short and sweet, One Take Media launches Vertigo TV for micro-dramas

    MUMBAI: Two minutes to drama, sixty to closure storytelling just got a major speed boost. Mumbai-based One Take Media has taken a bold leap into India’s streaming wars with the launch of Vertigo TV App, a first-of-its-kind platform dedicated to vertical, short-form dramas. The app introduces Indian audiences to a global bingeing trend micro-dramas that wrap up entire story arcs in 40 to 60 episodes, with each instalment lasting barely two minutes.

    In an era where Gen Z and millennials live by the swipe, Vertigo TV is built for the thumb and not the remote. It’s mobile-first, snackable, and designed for those who want their narratives as fast-paced as their feeds.

    “Vertigo TV App isn’t just a platform; it’s a movement redefining storytelling,” said One Take Media Founder & CEO Anil Khera. “Today’s viewers want rich narratives—and they want them fast. We’re bringing gripping Korean, Chinese and international micro-dramas to India in a way that feels fresh, addictive and mobile-native.”

    Micro-dramas, sometimes called mini-dramas or vertical dramas have exploded in Asia. By 2024, short-form videos made up over 60 per cent of all video consumption among 18–34-year-olds in Asia-Pacific, according to industry reports. In China alone, the micro-drama market was worth 5.3 billion dollars in 2023, growing at an impressive 18 per cent CAGR.

    Vertigo TV aims to replicate that boom in India with its SVOD model priced at Rs 499 per year, available on both Android and iOS.
    Why it clicks

    ●    Hook in 10 seconds: Every drama is crafted to capture attention instantly.

    ●    Mobile-optimised vertical format: Designed for on-the-go, one-hand viewing.

    ●    Global stories, local touch: Content spans Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi, and English originals, complete with subtitles.

    ●    Binge without guilt: An entire show can be polished off during a commute, lunch break, or workout.

    ●    High replay value: Short arcs make rewatching and sharing irresistible.

    India’s OTT space has long been dominated by long-format web series and films. Vertigo TV flips the script by going short, vertical and international. With storytelling now tailored to India’s growing smartphone-first population, it offers a fresh alternative to the clutter of big-screen bingeing.

    For viewers tired of endless episodes, cliffhangers that drag for months, or padded narratives, Vertigo TV offers a micro-dose of high-stakes drama with cinematic quality. It may well spark India’s own micro-drama revolution.

    As Khera summed it up: “This is entertainment reimagined for the attention economy quick, powerful, and always within reach.

  • Atrangii hires veteran producer to spearhead content blitz

    Atrangii hires veteran producer to spearhead content blitz

    MUMBAI: Atrangii and Hari Om OTT have recruited  Vidyuth Bhandary as executive vice-president for content and studios, as the streaming platforms gear up for an aggressive expansion push.

    The appointment brings nearly three decades of media muscle to the homegrown platforms. Bhandary previously ran studios at Dice Media, where he masterminded OTT content development and production. His cv spans heavyweight roles at Times Internet/MX Media, FremantleMedia, Star India and Big FM, with credits including top-rated international format shows and blockbuster Indian streaming content.

    In his new perch, Bhandary will commandeer content teams across both platforms whilst heading up their newly-minted studio division. His brief includes turbo-charging Atrangii’s fiction and non-fiction pipeline and crafting devotional stories for Hari Om. The studio arm will churn out original intellectual property for third-party OTT services, television and films.

    “We’re in a phase of aggressive growth, expanding our footprint and cementing our leadership,” said Vibhu Agarwal, founder of both platforms. “Vidyuth’s appointment is a key step—his experience will help strengthen our in-house content engine and accelerate our plans to build a world-class studio ecosystem.”
    The hire signals Atrangii’s intent to muscle in on India’s crowded streaming battleground. Bhandary pledged to forge fresh content partnerships whilst building “a multi-year roadmap” for both domestic and international markets.

    “My goal is to help build a strong in-house content slate, while also developing a full-fledged studio setup,” he said. “I look forward to expanding into new markets, genres and achieving the vision set by the management.”
    The move underscores how Indian streaming services are doubling down on original content to differentiate themselves in an increasingly saturated market.

  • ChuChu TV appoints Cookbook Media to drive North America expansion

    ChuChu TV appoints Cookbook Media to drive North America expansion

    CHENNAI:  Chennai’s own ChuChu TV, the preschool YouTube sensation with a global following, has appointed New York-based Cookbook Media as its exclusive content and consumer-products representative for North America. The deal marks the Indian brand’s most aggressive international push yet, aimed at transforming its digital stardom into a broad entertainment and retail franchise.

    Under the mandate, Cookbook will broker distribution of ChuChu TV’s existing catalogue and forthcoming releases to broadcasters, streamers and AVOD platforms across the United States and Canada. The agency will also steer licensing deals spanning publishing, toys, apparel, live entertainment, gaming and digital products. Experiential activations and retail partnerships are on the slate, with Cookbook showcasing the brand at major markets including Mipcom in October.

    “From humble beginnings, ChuChu TV has grown into one of the most loved and watched preschool brands worldwide,” said founder Vinoth Chandar. “We see tremendous opportunity to connect with children and families in North America through new formats, consumer products and experiences, and we are excited to work with Claudia and Rob to bring these dreams to life.”

    Cookbook co-founder Claudia Scott-Hansen called ChuChu TV “a global success story that has captured the hearts of children and families everywhere”. Her partner Rob Bencal added: “We are in the golden age of fandom. Consumers have so many ways to show their love for favourite brands and characters. This is the perfect moment to expand ChuChu’s reach and make it a true lifestyle brand for preschoolers.”

    Launched in 2013, ChuChu TV began with animated nursery rhymes and simple songs. It now commands more than 180 million subscribers and over 100 billion views across multiple YouTube channels, with its flagship feed regularly ranking among the platform’s top ten worldwide. Its blend of bright animation and catchy tunes has won a loyal audience of children and parents from India to the Americas.

    By tapping Cookbook’s franchise-management expertise, ChuChu TV aims to convert that digital dominance into a 360-degree presence on screens, shelves and stages—turning a once-humble YouTube channel into a North American preschool powerhouse.

  • Micro-dramas set to race to $9.5 b global market as China leads the charge

    Micro-dramas set to race to $9.5 b global market as China leads the charge

    SINGAPORE: Micro-dramas, once a fringe curiosity, are now a juggernaut. China’s revenues rocketed from $0.5 billion in 2021 to $7 billion in 2024 and will overtake the domestic box office this year, according to Media Partners Asia’s latest study, The Micro Drama Economy 2025.

    More than 830 million Chinese viewers are tuning in, nearly 60 per cent paying or transacting. Profitability is no longer theoretical: DramaBox booked $323 million in revenue and a $10 million net profit last year, while ReelShort (Crazy Maple Studio) has scaled fast despite heavy costs.

    Outside China the market hit $1.4 billion in 2024 and is on track for $9.5 billion by 2030. Affluent women aged 30–60 drive demand in the United States, while younger mobile-first audiences dominate Asia.

    Artificial intelligence is accelerating the boom, from content personalisation and rapid creative iteration in China to dubbing and localisation worldwide.

    “There are too many players with limited differentiation and too much churn, but winners are emerging,” said MPA executive director Vivek Couto. “Production is cheap but distribution is costly. Success depends on speed, scale and repeatable IP. China shows what’s possible when content is tied to social and payments rails, while the US proves the global opportunity. Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America are next.”

    The report maps viewership patterns, key demographics and profitability benchmarks, charting how micro-dramas leapt from niche experiment to multi-billion-dollar global category.

  • India streams ahead with 601 million OTT users in Ormax 2025 report

    India streams ahead with 601 million OTT users in Ormax 2025 report

    MUMBAI: When it comes to streaming, India is no longer buffering, it’s booming. Ormax Media has unveiled the fifth edition of The Ormax OTT Audience Report: 2025, pegging the country’s OTT universe at a staggering 601.2 million viewers (60.12 crore), or 41.1 per cent of India’s population.

    The report, based on a robust survey of 15,600 respondents across urban and rural India in June and July 2025, defines an OTT audience as anyone who has watched at least one online video free or paid in the past month. While the audience base grew by 10 per cent year-on-year, the rate is slightly slower than the 13–14 per cent surge in 2023 and 2024.

    Paid subscriptions are also gaining ground, with 148.2 million active subscriptions (including telecom bundles and aggregator deals) recorded in the report. Meanwhile, the most dramatic growth has come from the living room: India’s Connected TV user base now stands at 129.2 million, translating to 35–40 million homes, marking a jaw-dropping 87 per cent jump in just a year.

    Ormax Media Founder & CEO Shailesh Kapoor said the Connected TV surge was a turning point: “India has long been regarded as mobile-first, but this sharp rise in CTV usage signals a paradigm shift in viewing behaviour.”

    Since its launch in 2021, the Ormax OTT Audience Report has become the industry’s go-to yardstick. This year’s edition goes further, adding fresh parameters on time spent, preferred languages, content formats, and media habits. Ormax head of business development (streaming, Tv & brands) Keerat Grewal said these updates were driven by industry feedback: “The 2025 edition widens the scope, complementing business and monetisation insights with a richer picture of content consumption.”

    The full report, available on subscription, is aimed at streaming platforms, advertisers, media agencies, investors, and production houses, offering a data-backed lens on the ever-expanding OTT ecosystem.
     

  • Building Digital Communities Through Sincerity: The NoDee Unfiltered Journey

    Building Digital Communities Through Sincerity: The NoDee Unfiltered Journey

    MUMBAI: From Nomaan Unfiltered to NoDee Unfiltered, this unique YouTube channel has stepped up its game by offering viewers unbiased, unfiltered content that leaves an impression.

    With their sincere yet offbeat approach to content, No Dee Unfiltered aims to build a community of like-minded people who are looking for honest reviews and opinions.

    From Nomaan Unfiltered to NoDee Unfiltered: Why the Change

    Nomaan Unfiltered was geared toward delivering content that is bias-free, candid, and direct. NoDee Unfiltered, i.e., a different name but the same channel, took this approach and gave it a revamp.

    But this is not just a revamp or a rebranding. Instead, it is a call for all who enjoy a no-holds-barred commentary to be a part of their journey.

    Today, the Channel, which started its journey by making press conference-based parodies for cricket to highlight the gaps between players and fans, has expanded to a broad range of topics, like movie reviews and opinions on all topics that revolve around daily life.

    Mapping the Market: NoDee Unfiltered’s Target Audience

    Trying to learn what the YouTube audience prize, NoDee Unfiltered found a gaping hole – a lack of channels that are honest in their opinion and content. With a huge amount of subscription-driven and sponsored content, people come across biased content more times than they care to admit or view.

    By expanding their content beyond cricket, NoDee Unfiltered is set to create a larger audience. These people will not just be those who love cricket and need some sharp insights, but people from all walks of life who want to know more.

    Whether it is cricket or a movie review, what a celebrity said to how something can impact you, NoDee Unfiltered offers raw commentary that speaks to the audience instead of the polished content that exists just for entertainment.

    The NoDee Unfiltered Journey: Leveraging the Market Through Experience

    NoDee Unfiltered built its primary listener base with cricket enthusiasts. They provided clear, crisp, and sharp insights on how a match is going to unfold, predicting play-by-plays, and learning what is the true meaning hidden behind a celeb’s words.

    Where other influencers and channels delivered mainstream content, they have set themselves apart with their knowledge, creativity, honesty, and out of the box topics. This approach has helped them create a loyal following that values their input and loves the real-time community experience they are trying to build.

    Today, NoDee Unfiltered has expanded its scope. They are no longer just about cricket commentary and insights. Sure, they still do that, but they are also creatives who challenge the norm, questioning trends, narratives, and creators and calling out the half-truths of mainstream digital content.

    Making an Impact: Top Topics Delivered by NoDee Unfiltered

    NoDee Unfiltered is gearing up to both take the market by storm and build a community loyal to them. Most of their content revolves around cricket, spanning formats and leagues like IPL, WPL, Test Matches, ODIs, T20s, and more.

    A noteworthy and memorable event for NoDee Unfiltered was when they were able to predict a ball-by-ball of a WPL match with surprising accuracy.

    In recent times, NoDee Unfiltered has not shied away from any topic. To garner attention and a bigger audience, they have presented the following: 
    ●    Honest and Witty Teaser Reactions for Upcoming Movies. 
    ●    Movie reviews for both popular and underrated productions. 
    ●    Live Streams of the Cricket matches. 
    ●    Live Streams of WWE matches. 
    ●    Watchalongs for live matches. 
    ●    Inputs on Popular Series and Game Shows. 
    ●    Shorts on social issues with honest opinions. 
    ●    Unfiltered opinions on what’s happening.

    This is a clear show of how they are expanding beyond their usual domain, i.e., cricket and live streams. Further, NoDee Unfiltered presents only true, honest opinions, offering not just entertainment value but unbiased opinions with courage and clarity.

    The Long-Term Plan: A Connected, Loyal Audience

    The two prongs of NoDee Unfiltered, Nomaan and Desai Bhai, are committed to creating honest content that resonates with people. By striking a balance between comedy and honest, unfiltered opinion, the NoDee Unfiltered team approaches every topic and content with raw bravery that is a breath of fresh air.

    They care less for sponsorships and more about presenting the truth to their audience, which is where they deviate from the usual mainstream content creators. Instead of making biased content, which can generate revenue and new sponsorships, they prefer making content that their audience can relate to.

    And what’s more, they experiment with formats to learn what viewers love and want to see more. This confidence and flexibility are rapidly making them the top choice among their viewers.

    The NoDee Unfiltered Promise

    Honest, unbiased commentary with zero hidden promotions and half-truths is what NoDee Unfiltered revolves around. They experiment with different formats to learn what people like best and relate to most. Their fearless approach and sharp insights are why people value their opinion.

    With a commitment to creating not just a channel but a movement, NoDee Unfiltered makes people laugh but also think. Just like the creators, NoDee Unfiltered goes beyond simple, empty entertainment, creating a unique channel that is ready to tackle every topic.

    Thus, it is not just a channel ready to experiment, but one prepared to stay unfiltered in the interests of its audience.