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Tag: Netflix India

  • FICCI FRAMES 2024: From playgrounds to pixels: Evolution and emerging trends in kids entertainment

    FICCI FRAMES 2024: From playgrounds to pixels: Evolution and emerging trends in kids entertainment

    Mumbai: The discussion traced the trajectory of this evolution, examining the impact of technology on content consumption, educational aspects, and the evolving preferences of young audiences. Emphasising the fusion of entertainment and education, the panel delved into the latest trends, such as interactive media, augmented reality, and immersive storytelling, offering valuable insights for creators, educators, and parents alike. The panel aimed to unravel the past, present, and future of kids’ entertainment, navigating the fascinating intersection of play and pixels.

    The moderator of the panel was Powerkids Entertainment CEO Manoj Mishra.

    “The essence of our content has remained consistent since the beginning. While storytelling and content creation have seen minimal alterations, there was a notable shift when I entered the industry. Initially, we relied heavily on foreign content, merely dubbing it for local audiences. However, over time, we began crafting our narratives that resonated more deeply with our audience, particularly children. The fundamental stories haven’t changed; it’s the platforms that evolve continually, and our adaptability has allowed us to broaden our horizons.” : Viacom18 kids TV network business head Anu Sikka.

    “In the future, animation will undeniably continue to hold a prominent position, Drawing insights from diverse channels, including online platforms like Netflix, and learning from the successes of digital endeavors, whether on Netflix or other platforms, we’ve adeptly tailored these achievements to suit the Indian landscape.”: Warner Bros Discovery head, kids network Uttam Pal Singh.

  • FICCI FRAMES 2024: Lights, camera, action: Golden era of storytelling

    FICCI FRAMES 2024: Lights, camera, action: Golden era of storytelling

    Mumbai: This session brought together seasoned storytellers and content creators to unravel the transformative impact of disruptive technologies on narrative formats. Delving into the shift from traditional blockbusters to the era of binge-watching, the panel explores how storytelling has evolved. Participants witnessed a dynamic discussion on changing audience dynamics, emerging platforms, and the innovative strategies employed by storytellers to captivate and engage audiences in an era marked by a constant evolution in entertainment consumption.

    The fireside chat was moderated by Indian critic and journalist Naman Ramachandran.

    “We are here to serve our audience with the most diverse & high-quality content. We find ourselves at an intriguing juncture in our streaming journey. Despite being a nascent industry, it is evolving rapidly, with people adopting it at an exceptionally fast rate.”: Netflix India VP – content Monika Shergill.

    Answering the question about the secret sauce in the theatrical business, Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani said, “As an organisation, we don’t punish failure. That is the secret sauce at YRF.”

    Answering the second part of the question on what YRF looks for when commissioning a film or a series, Widhani said, “It is a creative business. Either you go right or wrong, but it’s about the story. The north star for us is the story. We’ve been telling stories for the last five decades and we hope we’ll keep telling stories much after that. When it comes to what we decide on how we decide to greenlight, it’s pretty much based on what that story is and how it appeals to us.”

  • Poornima Sharma is the new head of marketing partnerships at Netflix India

    Poornima Sharma is the new head of marketing partnerships at Netflix India

    Mumbai: Netflix India has recently promoted Poornima Sharma as head of marketing partnerships. She became a part of Netflix in 2020 and previously held the role of partner marketing lead. Sharma shared this news on her LinkedIn profile.

    In her prior roles, Sharma worked with Paytm Insider, the ticketing platform for festivals and events as head of brand partnerships and alliances. She also spent a year in OML Entertainment (before moving to Insider, which was a part of OML before it became a Paytm company), in the festival marketing team, where she worked on marketing for various properties including Bacardi NH7 Weekender, EDC India, and more.

  • India Today Originals & Netflix present a true crime documentary CURRY & CYANIDE: The Jolly Joseph Case

    India Today Originals & Netflix present a true crime documentary CURRY & CYANIDE: The Jolly Joseph Case

    Mumbai: Jolly Joseph – mother, wife, daughter, alleged murderer. In a quaint town of Kerala, a string of unexpected deaths unravel at its center – a chatty, churchgoing, well-respected neighbour. Premiering on 22 December, Curry & Cyanide – The Jolly Joseph Case, India Today Original’s second collaboration with Netflix India, and third production in the OTT space, offers a compelling glimpse into a bone-chilling story.

    When news of the Koodathai deaths, in Kerala, first broke it was the profile of the prime suspect that shook the nation. Jolly Joseph, twice married once widowed, mother of two who was loved by family and community alike – was suspected of poisoning six family members, including a two-year-old child. Most people on hearing the details of the case echoed the same sentiment “she could have belonged in my family.” The film rips apart the façade of normalcy of the Indian middle-class family and asks the question – who is family? Who can you trust?

    Produced by India Today Originals, the film is directed by National Award winner Christo Tomy, edited by the US-based post-production house – Union Editorial, and written by National Award winning Shalini Usha Bhagat. Through firsthand testimonials it aims to piece together the many lies Jolly presented to the world and the sinister truth lurking beneath. Inviting audiences to reflect on the fragility of human relationships and the unnerving mysteries behind seemingly ordinary lives.

    Click here to watch the film.

  • Meta and Netflix partner to launch Archies-themed stickers on WhatsApp

    Meta and Netflix partner to launch Archies-themed stickers on WhatsApp

    Mumbai: Giving GenZ a chance to celebrate the upcoming Archies movies, Meta and Netflix India have partnered to launch an Archies-themed sticker pack on WhatsApp. The sticker pack will include key characters from Riverdale, i.e., Agastya Nanda as Archie Andrews, Khushi Kapoor as Betty Cooper, Suhana Khan as Veronica Lodge, Vedang Raina as Reggie Mantle, Mihir Ahuja as Jughead Jones, Aditi Dot as Ethel Muggs, and Yuvraj Menda as Dilton Doiley.

    The stickers are an exciting way for users to express themselves and their emotions on a WhatsApp chat without having to use words and are available to download on Android and iOS devices.

     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by WhatsApp (@whatsapp)

     

    Netflix India VP marketing Srivats TS, “The Archies, releasing on December 7 on Netflix, reimagines the classic Archie Comics. The film takes you on a nostalgic journey with these unique and charming characters, making them a perfect fit for stickers on WhatsApp. With the growing popularity and relatability of stickers, this collaboration will enable fans across India to connect with their favorite characters.”

    Meta director of consumer marketing Vyom Prashant said, “We want to bring more contextual and engaging experiences on WhatsApp that resonate with our users. We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Netflix India on the special Archies-themed stickers, and foresee great traction, especially by Gen Z and millennials when they are texting their friends, family, or in their group chats.”

    Stickers have become one of the most popular ways of communicating on WhatsApp, helping people share thoughts and expressions effortlessly and become even more exciting with their favourite characters.

    Download here – https://wa.me/stickerpack/TheArchiesOnNetflix 

  • BAFTA announces its Breakthrough 2023 cohort across India, UK and USA for the first time

    BAFTA announces its Breakthrough 2023 cohort across India, UK and USA for the first time

    Mumbai: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in  partnership with Netflix, has unveiled 10 upcoming individuals from the screen industries  selected for BAFTA Breakthrough in India. In this historic first, BAFTA simultaneously introduces its UK,  USA, and India participants, with 42 talented individuals selected globally.

    The ten names for BAFTA Breakthrough India were selected by a distinguished jury of industry experts, including Jury Chair and BAFTA Breakthrough Ambassador Guneet Monga Kapoor, Sikhya Entertainment producer founder & CEO Guneet Monga Kapoor, Lakshya Digital CEO Manvendra Shukul,  Monika Shergill (vice president, content – Netflix India), Rajiv Menon (Filmmaker), Naman  Ramachandran (Critic & Journalist), Sid Roy Kapur (Founder of Roy Kapur Films & Producer),  Shaunak Sen (Filmmaker) and Ratna Pathak Shah (actor, theatre director).

    The list of BAFTA Breakthrough India participants for 2023 is:

    ● Abhay Koranne | Writer – Rocket Boys

    ● Abhinav Tyagi | Editor – An Insignificant Man

    ● Don Chacko Palathara | Director/Writer – Joyful Mystery

    ● Kislay| Writer – Soni

    ● Lipika Singh Darai | Director/Writer – Some Stories Around Witches

    ● Miriam Chandy Menacherry | Producer – From the Shadows and The Leopard’s Tribe  

    ● Pooja Rajkumar Rathod | Cinematographer – Secrets of the Elephants

    ● Sanal George | Sound Editor/Mixer/Designer – Gangubai Kathiawadi

    ● Satya Rai Nagpaul | Cinematographer – Ghoomketu

    ● Shardul Bhardwaj | Performer – Eeb Allay Ooo!

    Over the last two years, the BAFTA Breakthrough programme, in partnership with Netflix, has  supported the cohorts in networking with global industry experts, including D.B Weiss (producer,  director, writer), Emma Lawson (BBC Comedy Commissioner), Howard Shore (Composer), Phoebe  Waller-Bridge (Actress, Producer, Writer), and Vishal Gondal (CEO, GOQii, nCore Games),  amongst others.

    The initiative has also opened doors for participants, facilitating industry meetings with Chaitanya  Hegde (Tulsea), Rob Carlson (United Talent Agent, US), Tarsame Mittal (TM Talent Management),  and more. Breakthroughs like Jay Pinak Oza have received one-on-one mentorship from Mira Nair  and Shonali Bose with potential collaborations in the works, while Karthikeya Murthy is working on  a Hindi feature film, with multiple projects lined up in Hindi, Tamil and English.

    BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip said, “BAFTA Breakthrough is a gold standard  programme. And the fact that we are celebrating our ten-year anniversary is testament to the  dedication of our incredible alumni, industry supporters, juries, and industry advisers. I’d like to say  a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed over the years, and particularly to our partner  Netflix. This year’s cohort is really impressive, having already achieved credits in high-end TV  drama, debut films, documentaries, hair and make design; and game design. BAFTA  Breakthrough is designed to harness that early success and develop the skills for life-long,  rewarding careers. Congratulations to this year’s BAFTA Breakthroughs.”

    BAFTA Breakthrough India Ambassador and Jury Chair Guneet Monga Kapoor said, “There is no  shortage of creative talent in India as demonstrated by the previous two iterations of  Breakthrough. We had a tough time choosing ten deserving candidates from an enormous pool  of fresh candidates. It will be exciting to see how they harness BAFTA Breakthrough’s opportunities  to hone their craft on a global stage.”

    Netflix India content VP Monika Shergill said, “India has a wealth of emerging  talent and we’re thrilled to be able to work with BAFTA on the BAFTA Breakthrough initiative to  provide them an opportunity to be chosen. It’s truly rewarding to be able to empower these  emerging creatives to showcase and enhance their skills. This year, we’ve identified an incredible  group and we look forward to helping to nurture their talents and make this an enriching and  once-in-a-lifetime moment for them.”

    During the course of the year-long programme, the BAFTA Breakthroughs will receive professional  development, industry meetings and global networking opportunities with the academy’s 12,000- strong global membership, alongside free access to BAFTA events and screenings for 12 months  and full BAFTA voting rights on the academy’s world-leading film, games and television awards.  Further details are in the notes to editors.  

    BAFTA’s flagship new talent programme celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Since 2013, it  has supported over 200 rising talents, including Aadip Desai, Arati Kadav, Charu Desodt, Florence  Pugh, James LeBrecht, Jay Pinak Oza, Josh O’Connor, Karthikeya Murthy, Letitia Wright, Sumukhi  Suresh, Tanya Maniktala, Tom Holland , amongst many others.

    The list of BAFTA Breakthrough UK participants for 2023 is as below:

    ● Adjani Salmon |Writer/Performer/Exec Producer – Dreaming Whilst Black (TV)  

    ● Bella Ramsey |Performer – The Last of Us (TV)

    ● Cash Carraway |Creator/Writer/Exec Producer – Rain Dogs (TV)  

    ● Charlotte Regan | Writer/Director – Scrapper (Film)  

    ● Cynthia De La Rosa |Hair & Makeup Artist – Everyone Else Burns (TV)  

    ● Ella Glendining | Director – Is There Anybody Out There? (Film)  

    ● Funmi Olutoye | Lead Producer – ‘Black History Makers’ (Good Morning Britain) (TV)

    ● Georgia Oakley | Writer/Director – Blue Jean (Film)  

    ● Holly Reddaway | Voice and performance director – Baldur’s Gate 3 (Games)  

    ● Joel Beardshaw |Lead Designer – Desta: The Memories Between (Games)  

    ● Kat Morgan |Hair & Makeup Designer – Blue Jean (Film)  

    ● Kathryn Ferguson | Writer/Director – Nothing Compares (Film)  

    ● Kitt (Fiona) Byrne | 2D Artist/Game Designer – Gibbon: Beyond the Trees (Games)  

    ● Michael Anderson | Producer – Desta: The Memories Between (Games)  

    ● Pete Jackson |Writer/Creator – Somewhere Boy (TV)  

    ● Raine Allen-Miller | Director – Rye Lane (Film)  

    ● Rosy McEwan| Performer – Blue Jean (Film)  

    ● Samantha Béart | Performer – The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow (Games)  

    ● Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson | Writer/Director/Presenter – Too Autistic for Black (TV)  

    ● Vivian Oparah| Performer – Rye Lane (Film)  

    The list of BAFTA Breakthrough USA participants for 2023 is as below:

    ● Amanda Kim | Documentary Director – Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV (Film)  ● Aminah Nieves | Performer – 1923 (TV)

    ● Apoorva Charan | Producer – Joyland (Film)  

    ● Cheyenne Morrin | Senior Games Writer – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Games)  

    ● Edward Buckles Jr.| Documentary Director – Katrina Babies (Film)  

    ● Gary Gunn | Composer – A Thousand and One (Film)  

    ● Jingyi Shao | Writer & Director – Chang Can Dunk (Film)  

    ● Maria Altamirano | Producer – All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (Film)  

    ● Santiago Gonzalez | Cinematographer – Shortcomings (Film)  

    ● Shelly Yo | Writer & Director – Smoking Tigers (Film)  

    ● Sing J Lee | Writer & Director – The Accidental Getaway Driver (Film)  

    ● Vuk Lungulov-Klotz | Writer & Director – Mutt (Film)  

     

  • Anurag Singh Thakur unveils the trailer of Bharat Hain Hum

    Anurag Singh Thakur unveils the trailer of Bharat Hain Hum

    Mumbai: Hon’ble Information and Broadcasting minister and Minister of Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur has unveiled the trailer of an enthralling animated series ‘Bharat Hain Hum’ in New Delhi today. The series is being launched on Prime Video, Netflix and Doordarshan, as a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, dedicated to shedding light on the unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle. While the names of great freedom fighters of our nation, like Mahatma Gandhi, Veer Savarkar, and Subhash Chandra Bose, are etched into the social consciousness, this series aims to also introduce the nation to lesser-known but equally significant freedom fighters whose contributions were instrumental in India’s path to independence on August 15, 1947. Countless heroic figures, such as Rani Abbakka, Tilka Manjhi, Tirot Singh, Peer Ali, Tatya Tope, Kotwal Dhan Singh, Kunwar Singh (an 80-year-old freedom fighter), Rani Chennamma, Tikendra Jeet Singh, and more, will finally take their rightful place in history through this animated masterpiece.

    Crafted by the talented minds of Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty, the series will encompass 26 captivating episodes in Season 1, each featuring a 11-minute animated narrative. The series is slated to be premiered on 15 October on Doordarshan, Prime Video and Netflix in 12 Indian and 7 international languages.

    Every episode will have popular characters Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy — previously renowned from the acclaimed KTB Movie series, embarking on dialogues that delve into the tales of these unsung heroes. The series produced by the Central Bureau of Communication and Graphiti Studio, is also a tapestry of faiths and unity that transcends religious barriers, unifying the country’s faiths and beliefs. Embracing the diversity of India’s struggle for freedom, the series will journey through different regions, featuring freedom fighters hailing from all across the country.

    Speaking about the series, Thakur said, “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. Under his vision, it is our humble endeavour to reignite the nation’s memory and ignite gratitude towards these unsung heroes, who deserve our unwavering admiration and respect. We have a very few heroes that the country has celebrated but there are so many unsung heroes who were not given their due credit in our history. Thirty percent of these heroes are women and these stories will inspire generations to come.”

    “We will do a lot more to ensure students and people of our country get to know about these heroes. We will also screen the series in the parliament so that the members can spread the word in their territories,” he added.

    Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty, co-creators of the series, passionately asserted, “We wanted to revive these tales of patriotism and relentless pursuit of freedom, paying tribute to their remarkable sacrifices, and inspire the children and the youth of India to take pride in our heritage. Animation is the perfect medium to bring alive these glorious tales and make them accessible to the children of our country. Our history often remains confined to the pages of school textbooks, and a knowledge gap exists beyond secondary education. This entertaining and informative series is aimed at every Indian irrespective of age.”

    “We are delighted to launch Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – Bharat Hain Hum on Prime Video starting 15th of October. A unique initiative, the series will introduce our next generation to the numerous heroes who played an important role in India’s freedom struggle, and give young viewers in India and across the world, a chance to explore our rich history,” said Prime Video India country director Sushant Sreeram. “We would like to congratulate the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Central Bureau of Communication, and Graphiti Studios for producing this wonderful series. We are excited to be launching the show globally – customers from the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Canada and more than 100 countries will be able to watch Krish, Trish and Baltiboy – Bharat Hai Hum, on Prime Video. Showcasing local stories that celebrate Indian culture and history, was one of the key tenets outlined in the Letter of Engagement between Amazon and MIB, announced earlier this year, and we are glad to take that commitment further with this animated series.”

    Also present at the event were Prime Video country head and I & B secretary Sushant Sreeram, Netflix India senior director, general counsel, legal, Sushant Sreeram, Prasar Bharti CEO Kiran Desai, CBC director general Gaurav Diwedi and Dhirendra Ojha.

    By encapsulating the forgotten narratives of courage, resilience, and love for the motherland, this series aspires to become a symbol of remembrance and a source of inspiration for future generations. As India celebrates its independence, it is an opportunity for every citizen to pay homage to the untold sacrifices that shaped the destiny of our great nation.

  • Berklee Valencia and Netflix India jointly present Music Supervisor Workshop

    Berklee Valencia and Netflix India jointly present Music Supervisor Workshop

    Mumbai: Berklee Valencia and Netflix India have joined forces to create a Music Supervisor Workshop. The workshop aims to train the next generation of music supervisors to support online content production. 

    Berklee and Netflix’s three-day workshop aims to help producers and music supervisors understand how to collaborate more effectively, enabling participants to have an open conversation about music workflow, and how to efficiently manage strategy, planning, and budget to maximize the production value of a title.

    After the success of international series such as Money Heist (La Casa de Papel), Squid Game, and The Fame Game, Berklee and Netflix’s Grow Creative initiative partnered to develop the workshop for a group of aspiring music supervisors in India. Workshop participants had the opportunity to collaborate with composers and post-production supervisors across a range of films, series and non-fiction projects.

    At the conclusion of the pilot workshop, which took place in Mumbai participants received music supervision certificates issued by Berklee Valencia and Netflix. The ceremony was attended by the renowned Indian music composer duo Ajay-Atul, who interacted with the workshop participants. Ajay-Atul have been composing music for close to two decades and have produced memorable soundtracks such as Sairat.

    Speaking of this collaboration Berklee Valencia senior vice president of international learning environments and executive director María Martínez Iturriaga said “Music plays a key role in the construction of a story, and that’s why the role of a music supervisor is so critical in the success of an audio-visual creation. I can’t think of a better partner than Netflix to develop this innovative training program.” 

    He added, “In this workshop, participants get a global perspective of the role of the music supervisor, contextualizing it to the Indian market while acquiring a tangible series of skills that they can immediately apply to develop their careers.”

    Berklee’s workshop modules focused on creative management and legal aspects of the music industry. Through a series of master classes and case study presentations, instructors shared their expertise on topics including music supervision, copyright and contract management, A&R (artists and repertoire) for creative supervision, and composer strategy and spotting. 

    Netflix India music creative and production team Ramprasad Sundar said “At Netflix, we are deeply invested in building the creative community with skills and knowledge to continue to add value to the entertainment industry.” 

    “The Music Supervisor Workshop was rolled out in partnership with Berklee Valencia, and it received an enthusiastic response from the participants. We’ll continue to strive for excellence by bringing in global best practices and workflows to build and nurture the next generation of music talent,” he added.

  • Indian movies on Netflix’s top-10 global chart

    Indian movies on Netflix’s top-10 global chart

    Mumbai: Indian films are attracting the global audience immensely. Half of the films featured in Netflix’s global non-english top 10 are from India this week.

    Alia Bhatt starrer crime drama “Gangubai Kathiawadi”, which hit #1 worldwide last week on Netflix continues to trend, along with Netflix’s action thriller “Thar”.  Tamil action thriller “Beast” and its Hindi version “Raw” as well as romantic drama “Radhe Shayam’s” Hindi version also made it to the Top 10.

    The global top 10 non-english films list has featured 21 films from India, including 7 original Indian films launched during this time. These include Kartik Aaryan starrer, “Dhamaka”, Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey’s “Haseen Dillruba” and “Navarasa”, helmed by Mani Ratnam and Jayendra Panchapakesan.

    Netflix India’s Director-Films and Licensing Pratiksha Rao said, “Films have always been integral to the rich storytelling culture in India and the diversity and variety of films being made today, from all corners of the country, is incredible. Our members in India love watching films – evident from how on Netflix, films make up a larger percentage of viewing in India than they do globally. Streaming has the unique ability to combine the best of entertainment and technology, enabling great stories to travel and making global entertainment a reality. We’re thrilled to see Indian films on Netflix find audiences across the country and the world.”

    Netflix continues to expand its film slate with the most differentiated and entertaining films. Netflix was the first streamer in India to invest in original films, which include hits such as International Emmy nominee “Lust Stories”, “Pagglait”, “The Disciple (Marathi)”, “Jagame Thandhiram” (Tamil)  and Malayalam cinema’s favourite superhero film, “Minnal Murali”. In addition, Netflix partners with the Indian film industry to bring an incredible variety of theatrical films to its members, including “Sooryavanshi”, “Badhaai Do”, “Shyam Singha Roy”, “Beast”, and “Kurup”. The powerful lineup of films includes “Jersey”, “RRR” along with original films such as Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Khufiya”, Vasan Bala’s “Monica”, “O My Darling” and Zoya Akhtar’s “The Archies”, which is currently filming.

  • Pritish Wesley named head of creative marketing production at Netflix India

    Pritish Wesley named head of creative marketing production at Netflix India

    Mumbai: Netflix India has elevated Pritish Wesley as head of creative marketing production. He joined the streaming giant in 2018 as a marketing creative producer.

    In his previous role at Netflix India, Wesley served as campaign operations manager, where he worked with the marcomm teams to strategise, ideate and produce marketing campaigns for Netflix’s content.

    With over 13 years of work experience in the media and advertising industry in India, Wesley previously worked with agencies like Ogilvy & Mather, DDB Mudra, McCann Erickson and the Mullen Lowe Lintas Group. He has primary experience in account management, with a short stint in planning.

    He has worked with clients across industries and categories, such as entertainment, FMCG, alcohol, retail, automobiles, real estate and infrastructure, technology, DTH dish TV service providers, fashion, and jewellery.