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Tag: Class

  • Mad science meets cinema as Madlab Alpha experiments with bold storytelling

    Mad science meets cinema as Madlab Alpha experiments with bold storytelling

    MUMBAI: If a hindi masala movie is the formula, Madlab Alpha wants to break it. In a move that could redefine the future of Indian storytelling, Bodhitree Multimedia, Madlab Films, and Universe of Ideas have joined creative forces to launch Madlab Alpha Private Limited, a first-of-its-kind content studio that promises to rip up the rulebook and write a new one, genre by genre.

    Touted as India’s first high-concept content lab, Madlab Alpha isn’t here to play safe. It’s here to play mad in the best possible way. With a pipeline full of cerebral thrillers, speculative dramas, dystopian epics, and even interactive narratives, the studio is aiming at audiences that are over masala and hungry for mind-benders.

    At the heart of the initiative is a bold attempt to merge art and algorithm using AI-assisted production workflows and immersive tech to create content that’s not just visually striking but narratively disruptive. Think less assembly line, more alchemy.

    But it’s not just about flashy tools. Madlab Alpha wants to be a creative ecosystem nurturing emerging voices, offering mentorship, and cultivating a diverse slate that’s as rooted in local nuance as it is ready for global resonance.

    Backing the venture is Bodhitree Multimedia, known for The Gone Game and Class, and Universe of Ideas, born out of D’Artist Talent Ventures. Together with Madlab Films, the trio brings a cocktail of IP experience, genre muscle, and next-gen storytelling ambition.

    Madlab Films producers Gaurav Shukla and Abhijeet Khuman added,“With the rise of OTT platforms and global content, audience taste, especially in India, has evolved rapidly. This shift is impacting conventional commercial cinema, as we’re seeing more viewers gravitate towards fresh, bold narratives. It’s high time we acknowledge this change and create stories that speak to this new sensibility. With Madlab Alpha Private Limited, we aim to tell the kind of stories others shy away from merging craft with technology to deliver content that truly resonates. Together, we’re committed to delivering bold, original, and scalable content that speaks to a new generation of viewers.”

    D’Artist Talent Ventures and Universe of Ideas founder & CEO Darshana Bhalla added, “At its core, Madlab Alpha Private Limited is about empowering new voices and building a collaborative creator ecosystem. We believe in nurturing and mentoring emerging talent, offering them mentorship, resources, and a platform that values originality, craft, voice, and diverse perspectives on the global stage, fostering a space where originality thrives.”

    Talking about the partnership Bodhitree Multimedia Ltd MD Mautik Tolia added, “Madlab Alpha Private Limited represents a bold leap into the future of storytelling. This partnership marks a pivotal evolution in our content strategy, reflecting our commitment to shaping the progress and success of the industry. Together with Gaurav, Darshana, and Abhijeet, we are investing in the future of storytelling one that is bold, disruptive, and unapologetically narrative-first. We’re building more than a studio, that’s agile, and one that is built to scale across formats and geographies.”

    With legacy productions already under their belt and a bold slate of future-forward content in the works, Madlab Alpha Private Limited is angling to be India’s cultural petri dish, a place where stories mutate, mutate again, and maybe, just maybe, evolve into something the world hasn’t seen before.

    So, if Indian entertainment has long been a well-trodden path, Madlab Alpha is here to carve a few new roads wild, winding, and wonderfully unpredictable.

  • Production house Bodhi Tree Multimedia seeks to raise funds

    Production house Bodhi Tree Multimedia seeks to raise funds

    MUMBAI: The Mautik Tolia-Sukesh Motwani-promoted Bodhi Tree Multimedia has a fund raise on its horizon. On 2 January 2025, the rights issue committee of the company approved the draft letter of offer to raise funds through the issue of equity shares of Rs 1 each. The shares are to be issued to eligible shareholders on a rights basis and the total raise will be within Rs 49 crore. The premium on the Rs 1 share will be decided at a later date. 

    Bodhi Tree informed the Bombay stock exchange about its intentions on 2 January. 

    The film and TV production house also said that it would submit the draft letter of offer to the National stock exchange as well as the Bombay stock exchange  seeking their in-principle approval for the rights issue. 

    Bodhi Tree’s production portfolio includes: Class, the Gone Game, Gunaah, Main Hoon Aparjita, Poornima, and The Interns.  The company has produced more than 40 shows for 10 broadcasters and platforms in five languages totaling almost 3,000 hours of content. 

  • For an average Indian viewer, distinction between original and adapted content is often irrelevant: Mautik Tolia

    For an average Indian viewer, distinction between original and adapted content is often irrelevant: Mautik Tolia

    Mumbai:  With over 3000+ hours of content produced across 50+ shows for major broadcasters and OTT platforms, Bodhitree Multimedia Ltd specializes in drama, thriller, horror, comedy, and lifestyle genres. Their services encompass producing, directing, writing, dubbing, mixing, subtitling, content editing, and localization for a variety of media including television, films, and digital platforms, operating primarily on a B2B business model.

    The company operates in three main verticals: Broadcast – Hindi General Entertainment, Content for OTT platforms, and Regional Content across languages such as Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, and Gujarati for broadcast and digital. By focusing on trending and edgy themes, Bodhitree has established a strong reputation in the Indian media industry, becoming a preferred partner for many broadcasters and OTT platforms, thanks to their versatile and high-quality productions.

    Bodhitree most recently launched Gunaah on Hotstar, Class on Netflix. Other titles under Bodhitree include Fuh se Fantasy, The Gone Game, Marzi, The Raikar Case, among others.

    Indiantelevision.com reached out to Bodhitree Multimedia’s managing director Mautik Tolia, where he highlighted their significant content consumption growth, adaptations, new ventures and much more…

    Edited excepts

    Your recent show “Gunaah” on Disney+ Hotstar has been a significant success with 3.4 million views. What factors do you attribute to its popularity, and how does it fit into BTML’s overall content strategy?

    When we examined the original Turkish content, we found it to be highly plot-driven and filled with raw emotions. These elements resonate strongly with the Indian audience due to their deep-rooted appeal in pulpy storytelling, themes of revenge, drama, and family betrayal. Recognizing this, we tailored the content into a love story, confident that it would connect well with Indian audiences, particularly those who consume Hotstar. This approach has proven successful, garnering a very positive response for the show.

    BTML has been actively expanding into new ventures such as media rights management and studio facilities. How do these new ventures complement your core business of content production?

    Our strategy involves vertical expansion within our existing businesses, addressing specific infrastructure needs within the industry. We aim to fill crucial gaps in the market, ensuring we meet growing demands effectively.

    With the establishment of subsidiaries focusing on regional content like Marathi and Bhojpuri, how important is regional language content to BTML’s growth strategy, and what are your future plans in this segment?

    Regional content plays an important role in our strategy, given its exponential growth potential, especially through OTT platforms as internet penetration increases. While Hindi remains a dominant market, regional languages such as Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali are gaining significant traction in content consumption, mirroring trends seen in traditional broadcasting. We are poised to capitalize on this shift by producing tailored content in regional languages.

    BTML reported a 50% revenue growth in FY24 and an EBITDA margin of 14.23%. What were the key drivers behind this growth, and how do you plan to sustain this momentum in the coming years?

    Key drivers behind this growth is that our expanded content strategy is more inclusive than before, encompassing a wider range of platforms beyond TV and OTT. This diversification includes the establishment of subsidiaries and other strategic initiatives, reflecting our commitment to broader market coverage and sustained growth.

    Adaptations like “Class” on Netflix have been well-received. Could you elaborate on your thoughts on adapting international content for the Indian audience?

    For an average Indian viewer, the distinction between original and adapted content is often irrelevant; what matters most is the quality and appeal of the content itself. Whether an adaptation of an international series or a homegrown production, viewers judge based on its merits rather than its origins.

    As the managing director, what is your vision for BTML in the next 5-10 years, and how do you plan to position the company amidst competition and changing consumer preferences?

    The industry is undergoing rationalization, and we position ourselves to serve all verticals of content creation comprehensively. Our trajectory aims to encompass diverse languages, genres, and formats, ensuring a versatile presence in the content creation landscape.