Amazon Prime Video to double Indian investment & unveils 40-strong slate

Mirzapur

Amazon Prime Video is making a big push into India, with plans to more than double its investment in the country over the next five years and a slate of 40 local projects.

Announced at the first Prime Video Presents India showcase event yesterday, the company unveiled Hindia, Tamil and Telugu language titles covering new and returning scripted and non-scripted original series and co-productions that are to stream on the service over the next two years, as well as a move into original Indian films.

The company, which said it will “more than double” its investment in Indian content has also struck licensing deals with Indian prodcos Ajay Devgn FFilms, Dharma Productions, Excel Entertainment and Yash Raj Films. It meanwhile also launched its TVOD service, Prime Video Store, to boost its film offerings in the country.

Upcoming scripted projects include Adhura, a supernatural thriller set in a boarding school which hides a terrible secret. Produced by Emmay Entertainment, the series is written by Ananya Banerjee and Anand Jain.

Indian Police Force, meanwhile, is an action-thriller from Rohit Shetty Picturez and Reliance Entertainment that follows a young Delhi Police officer who will go to any lengths to track down a terrorist mastermind.

QED Films is producing PI Meena, which follows a young private investigator, while Suzhal – The Vortex from Wallwatcher Films sees a missing person’s case tear apart the social fabric of a small town.

On the unscripted side, Wild Sheep Content & Brown Munde Inc are producing This is AP Dhillon, an all-access reality documentary following the hip hop star. Dancing On The Grave is a true crime investigative series from India Today Productions that features access to the perpetrator, while Dharmatic Entertainment’s India Love Project is a docuseries that shares the inspiring love stories of real people from across the country.

Returning series, meanwhile, include comedy Comicstaan, drama Breathe: Into The Shadows and crime shows Paatal Lok and Mirzapur.

“As we move forward, we are excited to partner with some of the most prolific creators to bring forth powerful stories across different formats, genres and languages for our customers. We are confident that our upcoming slate of shows and films will transcend all barriers of language, nationality or formats,: commented Aparna Purohit, head of India originals.