Drama Series
Balaji raises the stakes with Kull: a royal drama poised to rule the streams
MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms, the name long synonymous with India’s soap-operatic swagger, is charging ahead in the digital domain. Its newly energised arm, Balaji Digital, is making a bold play for streaming supremacy with its third original for JioHotstar – Kull – The Legacy of the Raisingghs, set to premiere on 2 May 2025.
Featuring a heavyweight cast of Nimrat Kaur, Ridhi Dogra, and Amol Parashar, the series dives deep into dynastic dysfunction, weaving a rich tapestry of loyalty, betrayal, legacy, and secrets best left buried. The recently released trailer has sparked a torrent of buzz across platforms, with fans dissecting every brooding glance and cryptic one-liner.
“At Balaji, storytelling has always been our lifeblood — and digital is just another canvas, albeit a thrilling one,” said , Balaji Telefilms head digital originals Aparna Ramachandran. “With Kull, we’re venturing into new tonal territory. It’s layered, political, emotional – and unafraid to ask hard questions about what families choose to remember, and what they’d rather forget.”
The move marks a sharp creative pivot for Balaji Digital, which has already made a streaming splash with Dus June Ki Raat – a dark, emotionally charged drama – and Power of Paanch, a long-format youth series that drew praise for its raw depiction of campus life.
“Power of Paanch was an important moment for us – it showed that youth stories can have depth, nuance, and emotional consequence,” Ramachandran added. “And with Dus June Ki Raat, we demonstrated that Balaji could tackle mystery and emotional realism in a slow-burn format.”
Kull, however, is a different beast. Set against the backdrop of a powerful royal family navigating present-day ambition and past sins, the show blends opulence with angst. Think Succession meets Gulzar — with the emotional complexity dialled all the way up.
“The digital viewer is restless, sharp, and demands emotional authenticity,” said Ramachandran. “They’re sampling Korean thrillers, Spanish crime sagas, and British slow-burns — so we have to be at our sharpest. The brief at Balaji Digital is simple: break moulds, not hearts.”
While Kull promises a spectacle, it’s also being pitched as a narrative about power and truth in the age of curated legacies. The Raisingghs, the show’s central family, are emblematic of India’s royal residues — clinging to relevance, shrouded in secrecy.
At the helm of this digital renaissance is Ekta Kapoor, who, after conquering TV and film, is reshaping her empire for the age of OTT. “Ekta has always believed in staying ahead of the curve,” Ramachandran said. “Balaji Digital is her next act — and Kull is just the beginning of what we have in store. We’re forging deep collaborations with platforms, and are already developing a slate that pushes the boundaries of genre and storytelling.”
MUMBAI: The ladies are back for one last round. Prime Video will premiere the fourth and final season of Four More Shots Please! on December 19, closing out a decade-long journey for the International Emmy-nominated series that helped redefine women-led storytelling in India.
The show will stream exclusively on Prime Video in India and in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Produced by Pritish Nandy Communications and created by Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy, the new season is directed by Arunima Sharma and Neha Parti Matiyani.
Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari, Bani J and Maanvi Gagroo return as the fearless foursome, joined once again by Prateik Babbar, Lisa Ray, Milind Soman, Rajeev Siddhartha and Ankur Rathee.
Rangita Pritish Nandy, president and creative director, Pritish Nandy Communications, called the finale the crescendo of a story built on friendship, flaws and fierce independence, and credited Prime Video for backing its bold voice from the start.
Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals, Prime Video India, praised the series as the original disruptor that sparked cultural conversations and broke barriers for women-fronted narratives.
Glitz, grit and girl power: the final toast promises to go out with a bang. Cheers to one last shot.
MUMBAI: Star Plus is bringing the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to life with Gita Mahotsav: Tulsi Ki Sang, a three-episode cultural event airing from 1–3 December at 6:30 pm. The special coincides with Gita Jayanti and reimagines the sacred teachings for today’s audiences through the lens of Tulsi Virani, portrayed by Smriti Irani.
Tulsi Virani, one of India’s most recognisable and trusted characters, lends emotional depth and cross-generational appeal to the series. Her impact is legendary: even Bill Gates once greeted her with “Jai Shri Krishna” during a Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi integration, highlighting her global resonance and the soft-power potential of India’s creative storytelling.
Smriti Irani said, “Returning as Tulsi for Gita Mahotsav has been grounding and creatively enriching. Audiences, especially younger viewers, are seeking stories with meaning and introspection. The Bhagavad Gita remains a treasure trove of wisdom, and bringing it to life for a new generation has been an honour.”
Gita Mahotsav: Tulsi Ki Sang bridges tradition and modernity, reflecting India’s evolving creative and spiritual economy. By blending iconic characters, cultural heritage, and contemporary storytelling, the series highlights the power of media to ignite curiosity, inspire reflection, and nurture a thriving creative landscape.
GOA: Prime Video clinched a major win at the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa, with Bandish Bandits season two bagging the Best Web Series (OTT) title—adding more shine to the streamer’s runaway momentum in India’s streaming wars.
Produced by Leo Media Collective, the Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari-created musical drama trumped tough competition from Prime Video’s own nominees—Paatal Lok season two and Suzhal: The Vortex season two—securing the platform’s second victory since the award was instituted in 2023. Prime Video earlier snagged the trophy for Panchayat season two.
The award was handed over by Sanjay Jaju, secretary, ministry of information and broadcasting, and L Murugan, minister of state for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs. A jury led by filmmaker and producer Bharatbala Ganapathy, alongside producer R Mahendran, director-producer Munjal Shroff, actor Rajeshwari Sachdev and writer-director Sekhar Kumar Das, selected the winner.
Written by Tiwari with Atmika Didwania and Karan Singh Tyagi, the second chapter deepens the show’s mix of rivalry, ambition and romance as Radhe and Tamanna chase legacy and artistic glory in an all-India band championship. The cast features Ritwik Bhowmik, Shreya Chaudhry, Sheeba Chaddha, Atul Kulkarni, Rajesh Tailang, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Divya Dutta, Rohan Gurbaxani, Yashaswini Dayama, Aaliyah Qureshi and Saurabh Nayyar.
Released on Prime Video across more than 240 countries and territories in December 2024, the musical drama hit the right notes with critics and audiences alike.
With another trophy in the cabinet, Prime Video’s orchestra shows no signs of hitting a flat note.
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