Netflix announces 10 new Indian original films

1 min read Lata Jha 15 Apr 2019, 12:56 PM IST

By the end of 2020, a total of 15 new original Indian films will be available to Netflix members around the world
The new slate includes Ghost Stories, Class of ’83, Mrs. Serial Killer

American streaming service Netflix has announced 10 new original feature films to be made in India, building on its slate for the country that it calls one of its fastest growing markets.

By the end of 2020, a total of 15 new original Indian films (including previously announced titles Music Teacher, Cobalt Blue, Chopsticks, Upstarts and Bulbul) across a range of subjects and genres including drama, science fiction, thriller, horror, comedy and romance will be available to Netflix members around the world, the company said in a statement.

The new slate includes Ghost Stories, a film that marks the reunion of directors Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee, and Anurag Kashyap after Lust Stories. It will be produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Ashi Dua. Class of ’83 will be produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Atul Sabharwal (known for Arjun Kapoor-starrer Aurangzeb). It explores the story of an upright policeman-turned-trainer. There’s also Mrs. Serial Killer, a thriller directed by Shirish Kunder and produced by Farah Khan.

Several other films are also on the cards and are being made by directors as diverse as Ruchi Narain, Sooni Taraporevala, Shashanka Ghosh and Sudhir Mishra, among others.

“When Netflix launched in India, we changed the way Indian audiences enjoy their films," said Srishti Behl Arya, director - International Original Film, India, Netflix, in a statement. “Given our diversity, history and culture, India is home to powerful stories waiting to be told to audiences around the world. The depth of talent and vision of our creators is enabling us to create films our members will love. We want to be a home for India’s finest filmmakers where their stories travel to more people than ever before."

So far, Netflix’s foray into Indian feature film production is marked by outings like romantic comedy Love Per Square Foot, anthology Lust Stories, Soni , a tale of two Indian police officers and Rajma Chawal, a family drama set in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. In an interview with Mint last year, a senior Netflix executive had said the company plans to expand its India footprint with a special focus on feature films and is looking to get 8-12 films that are originals, produced and delivered per year, apart from the theatrical releases that are acquired.