James R | On 16, Dec 2016

Amazon has announced a wave of new Indian originals to go with its expanding global presence.

The streaming service launched around the world earlier this week, bringing Amazon Prime subscribers in India new release Bollywood and regional Indian blockbusters, as well as Hollywood movies, TV series such as The Man in the High Castle, Mozart in the Jungle and Ripper Street, and US TV acquisitions. On top of its existing US and UK Amazon originals, though, Amazon Studios has also announced that it is starting production on new Indian Amazon Original series, featuring top Indian talent and filmmakers, which will be released worlwide.

“We’re just getting started,” says Nitesh Kripalani, Director and Country Head, Amazon Video India. “Prime members can enjoy reliable, high-quality playback of some of the best shows and movies available including brand new Amazon Original Series with top Indian stars and filmmakers over the next year. This is on top of the benefits Prime members already know and love—unlimited free one-day and two-day delivery on India’s largest selection of products.”

“India has one of the richest and most vibrant entertainment industries in the world — Amazon is energized by the talent and the passion of India’s film industry and is excited to be making multiple Indian original shows already, with more to come,” says Roy Price, Vice President and Head of Amazon Studios. “It’s no secret that Amazon is making a big investment in India and is happy to take Original content, created by Indian talent, to audiences worldwide. We are also making a commitment to our Indian customers to deliver high-quality, binge-worthy shows that they’ll love to watch.”

The Amazon Original Indian Series will span diverse genres such as drama, comedy, psychological thriller, biopics, period/action, mythological/fantasy, sports drama and political satire. The new shows (working titles) and creators associated with them include:

Bodhidharma: Master of Shaolin | Equinox Features | Ram Madhvani, Prasoon Joshi and Sunil Doshi
Breathe | Abundantia Entertainment | Vikram Malhotra, starring R Madhvan and Amit Sadh
The Ministry | AIB and OML
Powerplay |Excel Media & Entertainment | Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar starring Vivek Oberoi, Richa Chadda and others
Mirzapur | Excel Media & Entertainment | Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar
Stardust | Phantom Films| Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena, Anurag Kashyap and Vikas Bahl
The Family Man | D2R Films | DK Krishna and Raj Nidimoru
Vishpuri | Big Synergy | Vikas Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag Kashyap and Madhu Mantena
Made in Heaven Excel Media & Entertainment and Tiger Baby| Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti.

Amazon is also collaborating with authors, producers, writers and directors to develop several new series, with talent including Sujoy Ghosh and Hyunwoo Thomas Kim (Kross Pictures India), Ali Abbas Zafar, Himanshu Kishan Mehra, Sanjeev Gupta (Offside Entertainment), Rajat Arora (Funk Ur Blues), Karnesh Sharma and Anushka Sharma (Clean Slate Productions) and Navdeep Singh, Sudip Sharma, Tarun Tejpal, Raj Kumar Gupta (Raapchik Films), Pritish, Rangita and Ishita Nandy (Pritish Nandy Productions), Amit Kumar and Asif Kapadia (Fission Features), Aaradhana Bhola, Vidyuth Bhandary Tony and Diya Singh (Fremantle Media), Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari (Still & Still Moving Pictures).

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