NETFLIX REVEALS FUTURE PLANS FOR INDIA AT MAMI FILM FESTIVAL

Netflix has been upping its game ever since it first launched in India last year. But with the entry of a rival, Amazon Prime Video, the competition increased and the platform had to rethink its strategy for the subcontinent. In keeping with the constant revamp, Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series at Netflix, revealed the platform's future plans for India at the MAMI Film Festival recently.

Barmack said that the company is targeting at least five to six Indian originals a year. Rival Amazon Prime Video announced 18 homegrown originals when the service launched in December last year, which are at various stages of production. It has already launched the first original, a cricket drama called Inside Edge.

Netflix’s first Indian series, currently in production, is Sacred Games, being directed by acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. It is based on author Vikram Chandra’s book of the same name and revolves around Mumbai’s web of organised crime, corruption, politics and espionage. The show will be launched next year and streamed worldwide.

“We tend to look for filmmakers since our series are like movies,” Barmack explained, arguing that Sacred Games had the potential to “trend like Narcos.” Barmack also revealed first-look photos of the series, which also stars actress Radhika Apte and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

“We would also like to introduce Indian actors in our U.S. productions,” Barmack added. For example, Netflix’s Sense8 featured Indian actress Tina Desai in a prominent role. When asked if Netflix’s recent U.S. subscription price increase would have any effect on its prices in India, Barmack declined to comment. In India, the service costs $8-$13 (500-800 rupees) per month.

Well, building content with local-appeal seems to be Netflix's next move and if done right it can be a great step. Now, we have to wait and see what Amazon prime comes up with in response to this.