Prime Video India 2024 content launch – getting the big guns out as Priyanka Chopra Jonas heads star turnout…

India’s biggest international streamer put on a show to announce a power packed slate of promising content for the year ahead…

🎥 Content Hub India vision – head of Prime Video says…

🎥India-based content has traction in 210 countries

🎥 Launch of ‘Fallout’ with stars Jonathan Nolan and Ella Purnell

🎥 ‘Citadel Honey Bunny’ hits stage with stars Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and well-known Indian directors Raj and DK

🎥 String of announcement of new programmes and streaming/OTT content on platform

🎥 Continuing series announcements – Mirzapur; Panchayat; Paatal Lok; and Bandish Bandits

🎥 Announcement of hit ‘Kantara 2’

🎥 New Priyanka Chopra Jonas documentary based on Indian woman’s trek and education journey through India – acv covered original Shrishti Bakshi film…

By Rodrigues C

HOLLYWOOD and Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonas arguably set the venue for the Amazon Prime Video 2024 season launch alight – wearing a blue embroidered pant suit.

The actor-producer (increasingly) turned to promote ‘Women of My Billion’, an upcoming documentary, which is about Srishti Bakshi, who embarked on a 2,300miles/3800km pilgrimage on foot through 12 Indian states from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to put spotlight on violence against women and to empower them by conducting 100 workshops on women’s safety along with digital and financial literacy. Chopra’s banner Purple Pebble Pictures has produced the documentary in collaboration with Awedacious Originals; it’s directed by Ajitesh Sharma.

The launch at Grand Hyatt Santa Cruz in Mumbai on Tuesday (March 19) was hosted by Indian hit director and chat show host, Karan Johar. Among the opening interviews was one with Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios. He set the out the case why India was important to Prime Video and how it wants to continue to create content that Indian – and global audiences can enjoy.

Director Rishab Shetty will make a second instalment of the hugely popular and critically acclaimed ‘Kantara’ – ‘Kantara: Chapter 2’ will go to Prime Video following its theatrical run. The film was commended at India’s largest film festival – the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in November 2023. There was also a special dance performance from Kantara.

But it was the stars of the launch who attracted the most attention…

The international franchise that is ‘Citadel’ becomes ‘Citadel Honey Bunny’, in its Indian incarnation, with Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu taking to the stage along with Raj and DK, who created and directed the show. On a lighter note, Dhawan, followed by Prabhu, touched Johar’s feet. The ace filmmaker responded to the gesture by saying he didn’t need to be reminded of his age, as he is already “going through a mid-life crisis”.
Dhawan and Prabhu’s appearance was the cue for further new programme announcements.

Among these were Bollywood Badshah himself – Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan’s ‘Stardom’ – about the dark underbelly of Bollywood. US film school graduate Aryan has written ‘Stardom’. His sister Suhana has already launched her acting career in ‘The Archies’ and there is much chitchat about her appearing alongside her father in a yet little-known production.

Also slated this year for Prime Video is ‘The Rana Connection’ – a Telugu talk show hosted by ‘Baahubali’ star actor Rana Daggubati; Vijay Varma starrer ‘Matka King’ – it is set against the backdrop of 1960s Mumbai; Renuka Shahane starrer ‘Dupahiya’ – about a village that has seen no crime in 25 years; ‘Khauf’ – centres around a woman, who moves into a new house in Delhi; ‘Call Me Bae’ – staring Ananya Panday and Vir Das, is produced by Karan Johar. It is about a woman who discovers that her most valuable assets aren’t her diamonds, but her street smart attitude and style.

‘Cheekati Lo’ is an investigative thriller that sees a woman learn the truth about a serial rapist; ‘Follow Karo Lo Yaar’ looks at style sensation and designer Uorfi Javed – she stepped out of what looked like a spaceship.

In the Tamil ‘Snakes and Ladders’, four children end up in a life-threatening situation.

Remo D’Souza Entertainment’s ‘Be Happy’ staring Abhishek Bachchan, Norah Fatehi and Johnny Lever will drop later this year.

Documentary ‘In Transit’, ‘Supermen of Malegaon’, ‘Ziddi Girls’, ‘Bandwaale’, ‘Dil Dosti Dilemma’, ‘Arabia Kadali’, ‘Gangs Kuruthi Punal’ and ‘The Tribe’ are just some of the other shows audiences will be able to access from Prime.

Johar’s involvement wasn’t trailed, and it was a pleasant surprise to see him as master of ceremonies.

Johar introduced and welcomed Gaurav Gandhi – VP – APAC & MENA, Prime Video and Sushant Sreeram – country director, Prime Video India on the dais.

The duo spoke and then followed a screening of some of Prime Video’s best offerings. Hopkins, who was interviewed by Johar, spoke about his Mumbai experiences during his previous visits to the megapolis.

He also spoke about Indian food among other things. Hopkins said that “Amazon believes in the story of India, which is a content hub”.

He also revealed that last year the Indian market for Amazon saw the highest number of people sign up for Prime Video anywhere in the world.

He also added that in 2023 Indian content was watched in 210 of Amazon’s territories and that the brand “wants to do creative content that resonates around the world” especially with shows such as ‘Family Man’ which has been a big hit. It stars Manoj Bajpayee as an Indian spy master who has to double up also as a ‘family man’ with a mysterious and time-consuming ‘job’. A comedy drama, it was created by directors Raj & DK.

Also at the opening section was Jonathan Nolan and lead actress Ella Purnell of the post-apocalyptic drama ‘Fallout’.

The duo gave attendees an insight into the show’s storyline and why people around the world should watch it. ‘Fallout’ will be released on April 11.

Established favourite ‘Mirzapur’ and other continuing series were also featured (see 🎥 above).

On Youtube, you can find the Prime Video India trailer.

Happy viewing…

Links

Interview with Srishti Bakshi about ‘Womb’