EXCLUSIVE: Indian streamer SonyLIV has unveiled political drama Dynasty as a diamond in its upcoming content material slate.
Starring Raveena Tandon (Welcome to the Jungle), Ronit Roy (Kaabil), Prakash Belawadi (Mumbai Diaries 26/11), Talat Aziz, Zeyn Shaw and Gurfateh Pirzada, the present has Sahil Sangha (Baazaar) as showrunner and director. Mumbai Wallahs is the manufacturing home.
Billed as a “gripping political drama,” Dynasty follows Tandon because the daughter of India’s Prime Minister, who’s thrust into energy after his sudden loss of life. Although chosen as a puppet by her celebration’s outdated guard, she steadily asserts herself, difficult the system, defying expectations, and rising to grow to be essentially the most highly effective and controversial PM within the nation’s historical past.
Danish Khan, Enterprise Head of SonyLIV and manufacturing home Studio Subsequent informed Deadline that will probably be a “a pointy, character-driven story about energy, management and transformation,” that matches into the streamer’s Historical past & Politics editorial pillar.
Khan has completely outlined his staff’s priorities for the approaching 12 months, revealing how he plans to extend “discoverability” of the platform by means of partnerships, and addressing why “there’s sufficient room for a number of gamers” in India’s streaming panorama, regardless of JioHotstar’s sturdy launch this yr.
Moreover bolstering SonyLIV’s Hindi-language slate, Khan’s prime priorities embrace strengthening the platform’s viewers in different language markets.
“Our focus is to construct a robust client base in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam language market,” stated Khan. “Sony has by no means had any presence within the south by means of its linear enterprise, in contrast to a few of our competitors — and that’s been an excellent problem for us.”
One of many Tamil-language titles this yr will function well-liked actor-director-choreographer Prabhudeva, who may also make his OTT debut. He stars in Sethurajan IPS, the place he performs a cop tackling a politically delicate homicide case.
Amongst greater than 20 originals popping out this yr on the platform is Hindi-language drama Actual Kashmir Soccer Membership, which seeks to inform the story of two males who constructed Kashmir’s first skilled males’s soccer membership. The mission is produced by Jaya Leisure and Oshun Leisure, with Mahesh Mathai (Damaged Thread) serving as showrunner, and starring Manav Kaul (Saina) and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub (DNA).
One other instalment within the buzzy Rip-off franchise returns with Rip-off 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga, directed by Hansal Mehta and produced by Applause Leisure. Rip-off 2010 is the third title within the franchise about Indian monetary scandals, coming after Rip-off 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story and Rip-off 2003: The Telgi Story.
Right here’s a full Q&A from our chat.
DEADLINE: How would you assess 2025 thus far for Sony LIV?
We’ve had a fantastic begin to FY 25 — our Hindi Originals have been impactful, and every one has contributed strongly to the general slate. For those who have a look at the reveals dropped this yr (The Hunt, KanKhajura, Black, White & Grey, Court docket Kacheri) – every one is exclusive and has created desired affect. The Hunt, particularly, has been a runaway hit. Additionally, on regional slate, Mayasabha has been one of many highest considered Telugu originals within the nation and 4.5 Gang has finished properly in Malayalam. We’ve stayed true to our content material philosophy, and we’re proud of the outcomes.
DEADLINE: How a lot have you ever been impacted by the altering market, particularly the launch of JioHotstar?
I don’t suppose issues change in a single day simply because two firms have merged — it’s a big market and I feel there’s sufficient room for a number of gamers so long as you might be clear concerning the technique. We at LIV, have been fairly secure — with year-on-year progress and profitability. We’ve, in these 5 years, managed to create a robust client base foundation the content material that we have now produced – its differentiated and distinctive. We’ve managed to create profitable franchises as properly – this helps in retention of our current viewers base. Frankly, we have now been centered on our progress and don’t fear concerning the rumblings exterior
DEADLINE: What are you able to inform us about your present editorial technique?
We hold it easy — inform genuine but entertaining Indian tales meant for the ‘pondering’ Indian viewers. And that’s a considerably giant quantity in a rustic like India. For those who have a look at our content material decisions — Rip-off, Rocket Boys, Maharani, Freedom at Midnight, Gullak and even our most up-to-date hit The Hunt, they clearly observe this content material philosophy. We consider each present that we launch wants to start out a dialog — folks ought to have interaction with the story a lot past simply the present itself. And most of the time, we have now received this proper.
DEADLINE: What forms of tales are you on the lookout for, and what’s arising?
We search for distinctive concepts, we search for concepts that can make folks curious. However in each present, there’s rigour — they have to be rooted, they usually want to be genuine. Past Dynasty, we have now a robust line-up — whereas we have now very profitable season returns of Rip-off, Maharani, Freedom at Midnight, Gullak and Undekhi we even have new reveals like thirteenth, Actual Kashmir Soccer Membership, Summer time of 76 and Civil Strains, amongst others.
DEADLINE: You’ve received an originals-led technique. What number of originals per yr and which may we identify?
We’re taking a look at 12 Hindi originals and one other 12 originals in different Indian languages like Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam.
DEADLINE: What’s your greatest strategic mission for the subsequent 12 months?
Subsequent 12 months, our focus is to construct a robust client base in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam language market. Sony has by no means had any presence within the south by means of its linear enterprise, in contrast to a few of our competitors – and that’s been an excellent problem for us. Whereas we have now had a fantastic begin with reveals like Mayasabha, Brinda and The Chronicles of 4.5 Gang – the journey has simply begun.
DEADLINE: How simple is it for purchasers and audiences to find Sony LIV?
Discoverability is a precedence for us and over time it has improved considerably. Aside from being out there throughout all key app-stores and Telcos, we’re focussing on distribution and visibility in gadgets, particularly CTV. We’ve current partnerships for each distribution and promotions throughout CTV manufacturers and now we’re additionally constructing comparable partnerships with handheld gadgets. Sony LIV is now deeply built-in throughout gadgets and companion apps. We’re additionally increasing worldwide accessibility, with Sony LIV now out there in 42 nations like Canada, Unites States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and so on., we’re giving world audiences entry to our most compelling homegrown tales.
DEADLINE: What are you able to inform us about Dynasty?
Dynasty is a daring, fictional, political drama that follows the central character performed by Raveena Tandon, the daughter of India’s Prime Minister, who’s thrust into energy after his sudden loss of life. It’s a pointy, character-driven story about energy, management and transformation, and it suits into our Historical past & Politics editorial pillar.
