How Digital is Taking India by Storm
A revolution has taken place in the Indian entertainment industry in the last ten years. Cheap internet and the ubiquity of smartphones have turned the viewers’ eyes from TV to streaming. This has ushered a new age of new media. Indian web series have overcome the geographical and language constraints faced by Indian cinema. Now artists have the opportunity to express themselves freely and creatively in a fearless and authentic manner, unshackled from the restraints of box office performance and television censors. This has fostered a cinematic revolution, not only attracting audiences in India, but also a growing international audience.
Breaking Free from Traditional Tropes
Popular Indian entertainment for many years consisted of melodramatic soap operas on television and big-budget Bollywood commercial films. Though these continue to find a strong following with the audience, today’s viewer is looking for something more contemporary and relatable. Indian web series have stepped up to the challenge. They provide complex characters and protagonist with ambiguous morality, as well as engaging stories about real-life issues. The narratives have shifted from hyper-realistic stories and happy endings to gritty dramas, political mocks and raw slice-of-life stories. This development has now drawn the attention of some of the industry’s best and brightest, including filmmakers and leading Bollywood actors who are now also keen to be part of the OTT (Over-The-Top) revolution and experiment with roles that they would never get to play on the big screen.
The Genres that are Most Popular in the Indian OTT Space
A key foundation of the OTT revolution is the variety of content that is being created. Content creators are experimenting with a range of genres to appeal to all possible audiences.
Nasty Crime and Political Thrillers
Indian crime thrillers are certainly the genre champions of digital. These stories, set in the hinterlands of India, with regional languages and gritty action are highly popular. The stories typically explore the seamy side of politics, gang wars and corruption. It’s their unfiltered exploration of power and survival that has won them popular favour, as an alternative to the glossy movies of mainstream cinema.
Slice-of-Life and Nostalgia
At the other end, comedies of ordinary life (or slice-of-life dramas) have also proven to be highly evocative. Such shows may depict the challenges of middle-class families, the stresses of entrance examinations or the pleasures of rural living. They offer solace, and evoke nostalgia through the viewer’s own experiences and accomplishments.
Mythological and Sci-Fi Experiments
Although still in its infancy, the combination of Indian mythology, science fiction and psychological thriller is on the rise. Filmmakers and web series makers are drawing inspiration from India’s rich mythology and combining it with forensic science, or futuristic themes to create a unique viewing experience that is gripping to watch. For fans of these genres, it’s possible to keep an eye on new releases via websites such as webseriesking.me, which can help you find your next fix.
The Streaming Big Guns Driving Change
The streaming wars in India are a fierce competition for eyeballs, with global and local players alike investing heavily in original content.
International Players Play to the Local Audience
Global players soon understood that to win the Indian audience, they must think local – both in language and content. They have spent billions on creating top-notch Indian web series. Working with leading Indian production firms, they have been able to produce series that are as good as any global production, and yet have an Indian identity.
Indian Platforms Standing their Ground
National platforms are not shying away from a fight with their international counterparts. Services such as SonyLIV and Zee5 have staked their claims. SonyLIV, for example, has amassed a large subscriber base with a specialisation in true events and financial frauds, and highly acclaimed biographical dramas. Meanwhile, streaming players like JioCinema are actively buying sports rights and producing reality shows and original content, to target the mass audience, demonstrating that knowledge of your local market is an important weapon in the streaming battle.
The Regional Content Explosion
The most exciting trend in India’s OTT landscape is the surge in content in regional languages. The Indian subcontinent is home to a rich tapestry of cultures and languages, and there has been an explosion in the consumption of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and Marathi content.
Bridging the Linguistic Divide
Online content providers are overcoming the language barrier with its professional dubbing and subtitles. Now a critically acclaimed Malayalam thriller can become a national success or a Tamil drama can become a must-watch. Such content sharing has added value to the viewer’s experience, enabling viewers to enjoy the cinematic excellence of other regions.
Expanding the Entertainment Ecosystem
Regional content has also democratized the entertainment industry. Regional actors, writers and directors are getting the recognition for their work on a national stage. If you’re a fan of this treasure trove of multi-lingual content and want to discover some hidden gems, be sure to check out some of the resources on webseriesking.me to discover some of the best regional stories currently available.
The Effects on Bollywood and Film
Indian web series has led to a transformation of traditional cinema. Viewers are now used to quality content on their phones, and are not as tolerant of poor quality cinema.
A Shift in Star Power
“Star power” is evolving Massive movies continue to be banked on superstar actors and actresses, but in the OTT landscape, content is king. The supporting actors of Bollywood films now play the lead roles in hugely popular web series, garnering huge fan followings for their sheer talent, rather than their star power.
Redefining Success Metrics
The metrics for success have also changed. It’s no longer all about the dollar. Viewing hours, completion rates and buzz are the new success factors. And this has allowed producers to be more experimental and pursue projects that may not have guaranteed opening weekend box office numbers but will surely have a strong following in the long run.
Future of Digital Media
The next decade of the web series industry in India is very exciting, with a number of new trends to look out for.
Interactive and immersive storytelling
With technological developments, we will see more interactive storytelling, giving users the option to decide the storyline. And soon we might have immersive viewing with the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies.
Franchise Building and Spin-offs
Like Hollywood, Indian creators are going for the franchise. Popular shows are giving birth to prequels, sequels and spin-offs, resulting in the creation of a rich universe that entertains fans throughout the year. This approach not only ensures the best value for money but also fosters greater audience engagement with the storyworlds.
Conclusion
Indian web series’ emergence is not a passing phase, but a new, permanent chapter in the world of storytelling in the subcontinent. Through its platform for fearless storytelling, display of unmatched acting talent and celebration of the cultural diversity of India, OTT has changed the entertainment landscape forever. As storytellers continue to innovate and consumers seek more and more quality content, the online screen will continue to be the most promising platform for storytelling in India.
Questions On Indian Web Series
How are Indian web series different to Indian TV shows? Typically, Indian web series have a shorter, more rapid-fire form of storytelling, superior production values, layered characters and sophisticated themes. By contrast, traditional Indian television shows are usually serialised daily soapy dramas limited by broadcasting regulations and excessive melodrama.
Why is the crime and political thriller popular in India? These genres are so popular because they typically mirror issues in society, power and regional politics. Their gritty depiction of these topics offers an edge-of-the-seat experience, unlike the censored dramas and films typically found on television and in cinemas.
What’s the success of regional content on OTT? Regional content is experiencing explosive growth. Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and other regional shows are now accessible to a national audience with top-notch dubbing and subtitles. Audiences are attracted to the creativity and cultural representation by regional creators.
Are web series from India family friendly? This varies from show to show and its rating. Many thrillers and dramas have mature themes, violence and foul language, but there are also hundreds of slice of life dramas, family dramas, and documentaries which are suitable for all audiences.
Is there a need to have multiple subscriptions? With the best shows split across multiple streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, SonyLIV and Zee5), it is common for users to have multiple subscriptions to access all the best shows. But many subscribers have different subscriptions each month, depending on the release dates of different shows.
