Netflix India Unveils Ambitious Slate for 2024, Promises Diverse and Bold Content

According to Monika Shergill, vice president of programming at Netflix India, the platform is opening up more to viewers in 2024. She points to comedies like "The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show" and the historical drama "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar," both directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, as examples.

With Indian material, the streamer has had "continuous and consistent success," according to her. 42 Indian Netflix titles were popular worldwide in 2022; by the previous year, that figure had increased to 62.

Can the nation, however, create a worldwide phenomenon like to the award-winning Korean serial "Squid Game," which in 2021 overtook all other streaming shows in terms of viewership? No service or inventor could have predicted such success. Following the announcement of Netflix India's 22 project lineup for 2024, Shergill told PTI, "There is only one way to achieve that success and that's the audience's love."

"As a creative boss, I would yield to the affection of the public. No one can plan it or forecast it. It will only get larger if we put in a lot of effort, take calculated risks, and create engaging material. Speaking on the variety of Indian material, Shergill said that viewers' preferences change as a result of what they see and consume.

"In actuality, viewers have no idea what's going to be popular next or what's around the corner, so when a lot of people start watching it at once, it becomes a success. We're opening up a lot more space for the public. We are considering a very broad range of programming stories," Shergill said.

The top executive said that despite its sad effects, the epidemic provided a great opportunity for people to discover information from across the world.

The streamer used it as a learning experience, and in 2023 it contributed to Netflix India's incredible growth. Additionally, the platform was recognized for "The Elephant Whisperers" with an Oscar, "Vir Das: Landing" for an International Emmy, and "Scoop" for a parallel event at the Busan International Film Festival, according to Shergill.

In light of this, 2024 promises to be even larger and bolder than it was last year. Take a look at some of the most popular games we are currently producing. The storyline and scope of "Heeramandi," which is directed by the greatest Indian filmmaker, have never been seen before. Our goal with "The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show" is to inspire everyone who has enjoyed Kapil's comedic style," she said.

The television series based on the December 24, 1999 hijack of the Indian Airlines aircraft that crashed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, will also be available to Netflix India members this year.

The film 'IC814: The Kandahar Hijack', helmed by Anubhav Sinha, is an intensely exciting and dynamic account of the world's longest hijacking in aviation history.

When we first began working on this narrative, it took us some time to really finish it the way we wanted to. We went on a trip with it because, in addition to being a journalistic piece, it is a big human interest tale that needed to be presented in a dramatic and exciting way, according to Shergill.

According to the executive, the typical film or series takes 18 to 24 months to put together, but certain tales, like the extravagantly staged "Heeramandi," need longer time.

As part of the 2024 showcase, Netflix India and YRF Entertainment have developed two films, Maharaj and Vijay 69, as well as a series called Mandala Murders. These follow last year's "The Railway Men."

Shergill, who claimed to have watched and enjoyed the period picture "Maharaj," which is set in the 1860s, is looking forward to it. The movie is the first feature film for actor Aamir Khan's son Junaid. She said that Imtiaz Ali's "Amar Singh Chamkila," which starred Diljit Dosanjh as the murdered Punjabi singer, is a unique telling of a real tale of a musician.

"Maharaj" is a strong and poignant movie. It will be a landmark film because of the way it will depict a historical moment. The criminal thriller "Mandala Murders" is unlike anything else, and "Vijay 69" promises to be a touching movie. "The documentaries on Yo Yo Honey Singh (supported by Guneet Monga) and Chamkila are coming from YRF this year, and both of them are likely to be memorable films. This year's film slate is very exciting, she said.

When asked why Netflix India hasn't produced a show like "Squid Game," which went on to become a massive hit worldwide in 2021, Shergill said, "That kind of success is like a unicorn."

"On the one hand, I feel very good about the question since no other service is asking it. It's incredible to see that trust in Netflix narratives and the company's ability to provide top-notch content," she said.

Along with movies like "Do Patti," "Murder Mubarak," "Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba," "Sikandar Ka Muqaddar," and "Wild Wild Punjab," the Netflix India 2024 slate also features television shows like "Dabba Cartel," "Khakhee: The Bengal Chapter," "Kota Factory 3," "Mamla Legal Hai," "Mismatched" season three, and "Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein."

With titles like "Fabulous Lives versus Bollywood Wives," "The Greatest Rivalry-India Vs. Pakistan," and the Oscar-nominated documentary "To Kill A Tiger," the unscripted format is filled with content.

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