Original shows on OTT platforms grow: Look at the new fare to hit screens

With growth in OTT viewership in India, OTT players are upping their content game and introducing more original shows. Regional content in Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Oriya, Tamil and other languages is also finding growing traction on OTT platforms. 

The shows on OTT platforms are increasingly spanning diverse genres – thriller, romance, comedy, drama and even food-related shows. 

Adgully takes a look at some of the shows that hit the digital screens in the recent months, with more to follow. 

SonyLIV – ‘Love Bytes 2’, ‘Hadh’, tie-up with FoodFood 

Sony Liv recently launched the season of its web series ‘Love Byte’. Season 2 has been released two years after the launch of Season 1, which hit the screens in September 2015. The first season was about the clicks and clashes between Ananya (Sukhmani Sadana) and Abhishek (Kushal Punjabi), a new-age couple who ended their relationship on a bitter note. Season 2 revolves around how the two of them get on with their lives after choosing their individual paths. It also introduces new characters who make an impact on the relationship in their own ways. 

‘Hadh’, a psychological thriller web series by Vikram Bhatt, made its debut on SonyLIV. The 10-episode gripping boardroom drama centres around revenge, feuds, lies, betrayal, murder and passion. The story revolves around a fight for the empire of a wealthy man and a race to the top. 

SonyLIV intends to bring the best of world cuisine to its viewers and double its exclusive food content from the existing 4,000 hours to more than 8,000 hours in the next 12 months. For this, the OOT player has joined hands with Padma Shri awardee Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Rajshri Food. As part of this partnership, Sanjeev Kapoor’s channel FoodFood will now also be available on SonyLIV, bringing the best from the culinary world to mobile devices, as well as engaging discussions between the chef and other celebrities. FoodFood will be available as a live channel on SonyLIV. 

Voot – ‘Stupid Man Smart Phone’ 

Viacom18’s Video-on-Demand streaming service Voot has launched India’s first ever digital survival series - ‘Stupid Man Smart Phone’, which is presented by Vodafone and powered by Motorola. Produced by BBC Worldwide Productions and hosted by actor and India’s biggest digital superstar Sumeet Vyas, this show is a unique format where scaling a treacherous mountain pass, battling wildlife and river rapids in the forests and beating the gruelling desert sun, the contestants have to survive and stay alive in these harsh, uninhabited terrains with the help of just a smartphone and a data strong network. 

ALTBalaji – ‘Bose Dead/ Alive’, ‘Ragini MMS Returns’ 

ALTBalaji promises to bring the best of entertainment industry and create an unforgettable experience for the viewers. This month, ALT Balaji launched a thriller, ‘Bose Dead/Alive’. Directed by Pulkit, ‘Bose Dead/Alive’ would unearth the mystery behind the enigma of Subhas Chandra Bose, whose life and death left people baffled for decades. Starring Rajkummar Rao, this show will trace the journey of the freedom fighter from being an introverted 14-year-old to a 48-year-old brave nationalist. 

ALTBalaji has also released a new show, ‘Ragini MMS Returns’, in the ‘horrex’ genre. Starring Riya Sen, the show unfolds a tale of terror, often through a hidden camera. The series features an equal measure of horror and the sensuous. 

Hoichoi – ‘Lift’, ‘Shoshibhushon’ 

Hoichoi delved into the world of inner struggles in its Paranoia series. The first, titled ‘Lift’, is about Nandita, a renowned journalist who has recently moved to her new apartment on the 25th floor of a city high-rise. Wracked by paranoia, Nandita feels unsafe in the mostly unoccupied building. The liftman Kartik’s constant stares every time she uses the lift further unsettles Nandita. Her dislike of him intensifies when the elevator gets stuck one night between two floors and the light goes out with Nandita and Kartik inside. 

Shoshibhushon’ revolves around a disciplined man Shoshi Babu, who’s life falls apart one day when everything goes out of control for him and things do not work according to his plan. Renowned director Kamaleshwar Mukherjee has donned the hat of an actor here, playing the protagonist. It is another Paranoia series on Hoichoi. 

Viu – ‘Social’ 

Viu released its first bilingual digital series, ‘Social’, last month. It is a story about four diverse individuals who come together to solve the mystery of a missing girl. The series is directed by Shashi Sudigala and produced by Whacked Out Media and Guru Films. The show sees the return of Rana Daggubati to the small screen after the success of ‘No. 1 Yaari’ on Viu. The show also stars Naveen Kasturia and Priya Banerjee, a Canadian film actress. The episodes come live on every Friday.

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