Netflix Goes Full Desi: Lines Up 20 Original Regional Language Films, 12 Series For Indian Subscribers

Netflix is expanding the original content it offers in India, reports the Television Post. The on-demand video platform has confirmed that 12 new series and 20 new original local language films are in different stages of production.

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos, while at UBS’ 46th Annual Global Media and Communications Conference stated that the company perceives India as an opportunity.

“We’ve got a very aggressive production agenda in India right now. There are about 12 local languages original series and 20 original local language films coming out of India, various states of production in India right now. And I think there is definitely different languages that you deal with inside of India in different levels of production,” Sarandos said.

A prequel for the Baahubali franchise, ‘Baahubali: Before The Beginning’, is among one of the originals Netflix is working on, Sarandos said. The series, based on Anand Neelakantan’s book, The Rise of Sivagami will have nine episodes.

Despite admitting, India is a difficult market, Sarandos believes the Indian market is huge and has the potential to grow. He believes the series of ‘Sacred Games’ provided a positive impact on the Netflix brand in India.

“Sacred Games was a step change in our brand in India because people were so excited about it and then people loved it so much that it kept kind of self-reinforcing itself. It’s possible to do something at that level that would help the business that would also be viewed outside of India, which is really exciting”, he said while adding that Indians’ love for movies gives rise to the need of cinema-infused content.