Amazon Prime Video bets big

Expands Prime Video’s Marketplace offering with the launch of Transactional Video-On-Demand (TVOD) Movie Rental Service in India. The TVOD Service will enable early rental access to the latest Indian and International movies; and in addition, offer a rich catalogue of popular movies from around the world on a transactional (per-movie) basis. Prime Video’s customer footprint is set to expand further as the TVOD Rental Service will be available to all Prime members as well as anyone who is not yet a Prime member.
Unveiling its biggest slate to date in India, at its maiden Prime Video Presents India showcase event in Mumbai, Amazon Prime Video has announced over 40 new titles, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, across original series, original movies and co-productions that it plans to launch over the next 24 months.
Dialling up its strategy of bringing the best and latest movies to consumers across languages, Prime Video announced new multi-year licensing deals and co-productions with some of India’s biggest and most successful studios. Prime video also announced its foray into original movie production in India with films in Hindi and Telugu, to be released directly on the service.
Prime Video aims to be a home for talent. It is working with a wide set of diverse creators with unique, cinematic voices from across the country. Almost 70% of the new upcoming titles will feature new talent - both in front of and behind the camera.
Elaborating on the expansive content slate announced today, Aparna Purohit, head of India originals, Amazon Prime Video said, “Our mission has been to tell compelling, authentic and rooted stories that not just connect with audiences in India but resonate with audiences across the world. We feel humbled that the characters of our shows and films have inspired new archetypes, blazed a new trail, and in fact, become a part of the cultural zeitgeist. As we move forward, we are excited to partner with some of the most prolific creators to bring forth powerful stories across different formats, genres and languages for our customers. We are confident that our upcoming slate of shows and films will transcend all barriers of language, nationality or formats.”
"Maja Maa" and "Aye Watan... Mere Watan" (Hindi) and "Ammu" (Tamil) are part of the 'Amazon Original Movies' section.
Hindi titles in the Prime Video 'Scripted Original Series' include Reema Kagti's "Dahaad" fronted by Sonakshi Sinha; Ishwak Singh-Rasika Dugal-starrer "Adhura"; Vikramaditya Motwane's "Jubilee" led by Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aditi Rao Hyadri, Aparshakti Khurana, Wamiqa Gabbi; "Bambai Meri Jaan", featuring Kay Kay Menon, Kritika Kamra, Avinash Tiwary, Amyra Dastur; Dharmatic Entertainment's "Call Me Bae" and Annu Kapoor-headlined "Crash Course".
The line-up of the shows also features titles in other Indian languages. They include Telugu series "Dhootha", which marks Naga Chaitanya's digital debut, and a number of Tamil series such as Arya's OTT debut "The Village", Pushkar and Gayatri-created "Suzhal – The Vortex", "Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie" and "Sweet Kaaram Coffee".
Other 'Scripted Original Series' titles in Hindi are Raj Babbar, Ratna Pathak Shah-starrer "Happy Family Conditions Apply", "Jee Karda" featuring Tamannaah, Tanya Maniktala's "PI Meena", and "Shehar – Lakhot".
The slate also includes the already-announced "Ram Setu", a film starring Akshay Kumar; Shetty's series "Indian Police Force", featuring Sidharth Malhotra, and multistarrer series "Hush Hush".
The trailer of "Modern Love Mumbai", the first of the three localised Indian adaptations of the acclaimed international series, was also released.
With "Farzi" and "Gulkanda Tales", creators Raj and DK further cement their ties with Prime Video. The duo's flagship project "The Family Man" will soon return for its season three.
Other hit series set to return at the streamer include "Breathe: Into The Shadows", "Four More Shots Please!", "Made in Heaven", "Mirzapur", "Mumbai Diaries", "Paatal Lok", "Comicstaan" and "Panchayat".
Kangana Ranaut's debut production "Tiku Weds Sheru", a film starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur, was listed as a 'Special Collaboration' by the streamer.
The 'Unscripted Original Series' section features reality documentary "This is AP Dhillon" on the life of the titular Punjabi singer-composer, "Cinema... Marte Dum Tak" from Vasan Bala, Patrick Graham's "Dancing on The Grave" and "India Love Project".
Prime Video also announced its licensing association with four major Indian production banners: Ajay Devgn FFilms, Yash Raj Films, Dharma Productions, and Excel Media and Entertainment.
Under the deal, the platform will be home for the movies released by these banners post their theatrical release.
These titles include Shah Rukh Khan's "Pathaan", Salman Khan-led "Tiger 3", Akshay's "Prithviraj", Ranveer Singh's "Jayeshbhai Jordaar", Ranbir Kapoor's "Shamshera", Johar's directorial venture "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani", Devgn's "Bholaa" and Farhan Akhtar's "Jee Lee Zara".