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Tag: Aparna Ramachandran

  • Balaji Digital breaks the stream ceiling with two chartbusters in Ormax Top 50

    Balaji Digital breaks the stream ceiling with two chartbusters in Ormax Top 50

    MUMBAI: Balaji Digital has pulled off a streaming stunner. In just over a year since its OTT rebirth, two of the studio’s three original shows have stormed into Ormax Media’s Top 50 Streaming Originals in India (Jan–June 2025), cementing its digital street cred.

    Kull: The Legacy of the Raisingghs, a regal potboiler dripping in dynastic drama and betrayal, grabbed the #17 spot with 10.4 million viewers. Not far behind, Power of Paanch, a coming-of-age campus saga with a fantastical edge, clocked 9.4 million views to land at #23. Both shows are streaming on JioHotstar, a platform rapidly becoming Balaji’s preferred playground.

    “At Balaji, storytelling has always been our lifeblood, and digital is just another canvas, albeit a thrilling one,” said Balaji Telefilms Head of Digital Originals, Aparna Ramachandran. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see both Kull and Power of Paanch in the Ormax Top 50. Each of these shows was built with a deep belief in the audience’s appetite for emotionally intelligent, narratively bold content. This kind of validation tells us we’re on the right path.”

    It all began in 2024 with Dus June Ki Raat, a quirky comedy-thriller that laid the foundation for Balaji’s emotionally rich, character-forward narratives. But it’s in 2025 that the brand truly hit its stride. Power of Paanch brought spunk and sorcery to college corridors, while Kull unleashed a Game of Thrones-style royal rumble, desi edition.

    Reflecting on the digital landscape, Ramachandran noted, “There’s no captive audience anymore. Today’s viewer curates content based on mood, taste, and emotional relevance. We are happy to have struck a chord with specific segments and look forward to building more powerful stories from here.”

    Under Ekta Kapoor’s watchful eye and Ramachandran’s digital leadership, Balaji Digital is now eyeing bigger games, genre-benders, deeper platform partnerships, and stories that slice through the clutter.

    “The pressure on creators today is real, but it’s also an opportunity,” added Ramachandran. “We’re building a space where fresh voices, morally complex characters, and unconventional genres can thrive. The aim is simple: break moulds and stir conversation.” 

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  • Balaji raises the stakes with Kull: a royal drama poised to rule the streams

    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.”