So you loved Sacred Games on Netflix? And the Ghoul trailer has got you all prickly with excitement? Netflix is indeed changing Indian digital entertainment with quality, original content that are pushing boundaries. Their idea is clearly, to go hyper local yet global. What’s also interesting is that they are creating a lot of series based on books, and with women as protagonists.
So what’s coming up next in the India original space on Netflix? Turns out, quite a lot. Here’s what we are looking forward to:
Ghoul
Ghoul’s trailer has already created ripples. Written and directed by Patrick Graham, the horror mini-series is based on Arabic folklore and stars Radhika Apte and Manav Kaul. The story revolves around Nida, a promising soldier who is present when an important prisoner is brought to a remote military facility for interrogation. The prisoner “turns the tables on his interrogators, exposing their most shameful secrets.”
Netflix is partnering with Phantom Films, Ivanhoe, and Blumhouse for Ghoul, which releases on 24 August.
Tidbit: Blumhouse is behind films like Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Get Out, and The Purge, and currently HBO’s Sharp Objects.
Selection Day
Bringing together two of India’s favourite themes - cricket and corruption - Selection Day is based on Booker-winning author Aravind Adiga’s eponymous novel. The coming of age tale revolves around 14-year-old Manjunath Kumar and his cricketing ambitions.
Netflix is producing the series in partnership with Seven Stories and Anil Kapoor’s production house.
Selection Day is sweeping in its scope and the range of themes it covers: from the highs and lows of sport to the passion and relationships of its protagonists. Translating this story into a medium that offers freedom, flexibility and the opportunity to relate to millions of people around the world is an incredibly exciting endeavor for me, and I can’t wait to start this journey.Anil Kapoor (as told to Firstpost)
Tidbit: Karan Boolani, who directed Anil Kapoor-starrer 24, would be helming the series. In an aside, he is also reportedly dating Anil’s daughter Rhea Kapoor.
Bard of Blood
The 8-episode high-octane political espionage thriller will be based on young author Bilal Siddiqi’s bestseller eponymous novel. The multilingual series, in partnership with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, will boast highly stylised action sequences, among other things.
The story revolves around a brillant RAW agent Kabir Anand, who was forced to leave the agency after a disastrous mission in Balochistan in 2006 -- part of India's covert support of the Balochi rebels. He gets pulled back into the game in a bid to save his country.
Tidbit: Author Bilal Siddiqi got a lot of his inputs from an actual CIA agent, and the Netflix script will incorporate some suggestions by SRK.
Leila
Acclaimed writer-turned-executive producer Urmi Juvekar is adapting Prayaag Akbar’s novel Leila for Netflix. Set in the near dystopic future, it revolves around Shalini, a woman who sets out in search of the daughter she lost 16 years earlier.
Tidbit: Urmi Juvekar has penned scripts for hatke films like Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, I Am, and Shanghai.
Crocodile
Another series with a woman protagonist, Crocodile is a mystery thriller written by Binky Mendez. Set in Goa, the series is about a young girl Mira, who sets out on her own investigation when her best friend goes missing.
Tidbit: Binky Mendez has co-written The Ashram with Ben Rekhi and is Aamir Khan’s manager.
Again
Again is a supernatural, female-led detective series set in New Delhi. It’s being penned by Marisha Mukherjee.
Tidbit: Marisha Mukherjee has written for TV series like Quantico and Heroes.
Midnight’s Children
Netflix will be adapting Salman Rushdie’s eponymous 1981 novel that follows the life of Saleem Sinai, born on the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947. The book explores a turbulent and changing India through the lens of magic realism.
I am absolutely delighted that ‘Midnight’s Children’ will have a new life on Netflix, and greatly look forward to working with them to help create it.Salman Rushdie, Author (in a statement)
Tidbit: Midnight’s Children has won the Booker Prize, the Best of the Booker twice, both in 1993 and 2008, and the James Tait Memorial Prize, among other accolades.
Mighty Little Bheem
Netflix is not going to ignore the little ones either. They are making their first Indian animated original series, Mighty Little Bheem, around the hugely popular Chhota Bheem. The series is being produced in partnership with Green Gold Animation.
Tidbit: Chhota Bheem was created by Rajiv Chilaka of Green Gold in 2008 and became a wild success in India.
Mumbai Indians Unscripted Series
This is the best showcase possible for the Mumbai Indians cricketing franchise. The unscripted series will cover unseen aspects of the team both on and off the field and tell their story as they make a bid to win the Indian Premier League for a record fourth time.
Al Edgington, Joe LaBracio, Dawn Ostroff, Jeremy Finn, Jamie Stewart and James Maby will serve as executive producers. The series is being co-produced with Condé Nast Entertainment.
Tidbit: Mumbai Indians are the most successful IPL team with three wins under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.
Also coming up: Two comedy specials with Vir Das and one with Aditi Mittal.
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