Netflix to stream 10 more original films in India

MUMBAI:Netflix has commissioned 10 new original films for India as it seeks to create more relatable entertainment content, according to the company. This is the video streaming service’s largest content announcement in India, one of its fastest-growing markets, since it launched in January 2016.

Netflix has so far released seven films in India over the last three years. They include Love Per Square Foot, Lust Stories and Sacred Games.

The company has partnered with top directors and producers in Bollywood, including Shahrukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Ronnie Screwala’s RSVP for the new movies.

The original films are expected to release between April and December 2020. They include Ghost Stories, which is based on short horror stories. Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee would direct the film. Farah Khan is producing Mrs Serial Killer, a murder mystery. Another film, Yeh Ballet, is based on the story of two boys who discover ballet. Sooni Taraporewala will direct the film. Terrie Samundra would direct Kaali Khuhi, which is based on female infanticide.

“We have a rich storytelling culture in India. Our film industry is over 100 years old, and we have made about 45,000 films till now. We are a film hungry audience,’’ said Srishti Behl Arya, Netflix’s director for international original films in India.

“Our focus is to follow our creative instinct to bring the best stories from the most interesting storytellers.” Arya, whom Netflix hired in May last year, said it is the concept that dictates the format.

Indians spend the maximum time watching films (not necessarily Indian) on Netflix, the company said in a statement without giving specifics.