Content Hub
Gippi director Sonam Nair on her upcoming shows and challenges in the OTT industry
MUMBAI: Sonam Nair, director and writer best known for her work in Wake Up Sid, Gippi and The Trip in a fireside chat at the Content Hub 2020 spoke at length about directing digital and television series.
After working as an assistant director in Wake Up Sid and Vishal Bharadwaj’s Saath Khoon Maaf Nair made Gippi a movie based on her own life. Nair poured her heart out while addressing social stigmas and how she was bullied and body shamed as a kid. However, things were never easy for her. She had to wait for three years to make a sex comedy film. Finally, a short film based on the same ethos of sex comedy Khujli starring Neena Gupta and Jackie Shroff resurrected Nair’s career.
“I don’t think in a way which is a very large screen, having lots of special effects, ensemble star cast. I think simple, relatable stories can have humour attached to it. This whole digital platform opened up for me and I could tell stories I wanted to tell. After Khujli I directed the second season of Trip, I directed Kaafir and now I am working on a story written and directed for Netflix called Masaba and Masaba," she said.
The show is based on the bond between a real-life mother-daughter duo of ace fashion designer Masaba Gupta and Bollywood actor Neena Gupta.
While addressing the issues prevailing in the content industry Nair said, “It is difficult to sell stories to a particular platform because this not how OTT platforms work. It is an anthology of supposedly six short films that works otherwise platforms are quite scared to take just one story.”
Content Hub
TCH 2024: One Nation: Diverse Voices
Mumbai: Exploring the shift from regional to national content, this synopsis delves into the trends and challenges. It navigates the transformation, analyzing industry dynamics, emerging trends, and the hurdles faced. From preserving regional variation to adapting to a broader audience, it examines the multifaceted journey of regional content evolving into a national narrative. In what ways do the emerging trends and challenges influence the dynamics of the entertainment industry during this transition? How can creators navigate these changes effectively? What strategic approaches can content creators adopt to strike a balance between maintaining regional identity and fostering a cohesive national narrative in their work? How can the transition from ‘regional’ to ‘national content’ impact cultural diversity within the entertainment industry, and what measures can be taken to ensure the preservation of regional variation?
In a rapidly evolving media landscape, seasoned industry professionals have offered valuable insights into the transformation of content consumption and production. The session was chaired by Ernst and Young partner Raghav Anand, MMTV chief executive officer P.R. Satheesh, Sony Marathi business head Ajay Bhalwankar, PTC Network chairman & MD Rabindra Narayan, Shemaroo Entertainment COO, Digital, Saurabh Srivastava esteemed voices in the field, have articulated their perspectives on the burgeoning shift towards globalised content.
Rabindra Narayan emphasised the dissolution of regional boundaries in content consumption, attributing it to the accessibility facilitated by global platforms and connectivity options. He predicts a future where language barriers will fade, citing the potential of technology to clone and adapt voices, thus enabling seamless localization across languages.
Saurabh highlighted the democratisation of content creation in the digital era, underscoring its empowerment and revenue potential, particularly in linguistically diverse markets like India. He emphasizes the value of culturally rooted storytelling in filling gaps in content supply, with technology enabling effective monetization, especially through OTT platforms.
Ajay Bhalwan sheds light on the evolving landscape of Hindi and regional language content, noting a significant shift where a substantial portion of content on Hindi film channels originates from regional languages. He accentuates the importance of language in enhancing authenticity and audience engagement, exemplified by the strong resonance of Marathi content in Maharashtra.
PR Satheesh underscored the paramount importance of content quality in driving viewership and transcending language barriers. Drawing parallels with the global popularity of Korean dramas, he advocates for leveraging technology, including AI and real-time translations, to enhance content creation and distribution.
These insightful perspectives collectively echoed the industry’s adaptation to a globalised content landscape, where technology catalyzes innovation and accessibility. As content continues to evolve, these experts offered valuable guidance on navigating the dynamic media landscape and maximizing the impact of storytelling in diverse markets worldwide.
Content Hub
TCH 2024: Need for sustainability & content creation
Mumbai: The eighth edition of The Content Hub Summit delves into the ever-changing world of content creation. With the consolidation of platforms, creators face new hurdles in gaining visibility, maximizing revenue, and maintaining creative freedom. The event also explored the remarkable theatrical success of Indian cinema and unraveled the secrets behind its unprecedented profits, with a critical eye towards its sustainability.
The fireside chat saw Indiantelevision.com group founder, chairman & editor-in-chief Anil NM Wanvari in conversation with India GreenSet CEO & co-founder Anupama Mandloi.
They discussed the critical importance of sustainability in content creation, especially in India, which leads in volume. They highlighted the industry’s potential for influence and the necessity to adapt to climate change. Mandloi emphasized the need for sustainable practices, citing examples like the Mumbai floods’ impact on business.
Wanvari proposed initiatives like eliminating single-use plastics at events and forming industry alliances for sustainable standards. They emphasized the shift toward sustainability as a cultural change, stressing the industry’s collective responsibility and the need for unity to overcome hurdles.
Mandloi suggested practical steps individuals can take, urging a bottom-up approach to drive the sustainability revolution.
Content Hub
TCH 2024: Ink on the edge: Overcoming challenges for writers with audio series
Mumbai: The eighth edition of The Content Hub Summit delved into the ever-changing world of content creation. With the consolidation of platforms, creators face new hurdles in gaining visibility, maximising revenue, and maintaining creative freedom. The event also explored the remarkable theatrical success of Indian cinema and unraveled the secrets behind its unprecedented profits, with a critical eye towards its sustainability.
The session was chaired by Radioandmusic.com editor Namrata Kale. It included the following panelists: writer & director Pubali Chaudhuri, screenwriter Ishani Banerjee, Majburi Main Bandha Ek Rishta writer Jigyasa and Pocket FM head – branding and communications Vineet Singh.
The panel discussion shed light on the challenges writers face in the audio, film, and OTT industries, stressing the need for recognition, fair contracts, and empowerment.
Pubali emphasized the need to acknowledge writers’ contributions and improve revenue sharing, while Ishani highlighted the significance of contracts, credits, and acknowledgment in empowering writers. Vineet outlined Pocket FM’s initiatives to empower writers globally with equitable revenue-sharing models, while Jigyasa shared her journey of discovering writing talent during the lockdown and finding success with Pocket FM.
In conclusion, the panel underscored the industry’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by writers and providing platforms like Pocket FM to showcase diverse narratives.
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