SonyLIV presents the original “Freedom At Midnight” drama series with the highest budget; Reveal global streaming ambitions

Exclusive: SonyLIV has commissioned its most ambitious original series to date, an adaptation of a non-fiction book on Indian independence. freedom at midnightBecause Streamer is preparing to become a global service in three years.

News of the series order came in an extensive interview with SonyLIV Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Danish Khan, who also oversees Sony Entertainment TV and Studio NEXT’s production team. During the speech, he discussed many other new assignments, global expansion plans and the future of the popular Თ Fraud Detective thriller sign.

ᲓDramatic series freedom at midnight Based on the non-fiction book by Dominic Lapierre and Larry Collins, it is named after an epic political thriller set in 1947, the year of independence and partition of India. Abhinan Gupta, Advitia Kareng Das and Gundep Kauri adapt the text as writers.

“Independence was not just a transition from British rule to the Indian democratic system. “It consisted of many elements, actors, subtext and subtext, and this text is very well studied in the inner workings of India’s pre-independence days,” Khan told Deadline.

SonyLIV’s sister company, Studio NEXT, works freedom at midnight The Emmay Entertainment trio with Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani and Nikkhil Advani, who co-produce with the latter as showman. “We have the right partner: Nikhil Advan has done a fantastic job with us. rocket boy “The series,” Khan said.

Rocket Season 2 Lad – On the people behind India’s nuclear and space programs – is one of the other futures of the original Sony LIV, along with others including Vika Bahl good bad girl; domestic production Faadu; ტანაავIsraeli dramatic adaptation Fauda; Y GarmiWhich is from Tigmanshu Dulia.

In Khan 2020, the streamer went from more than 80,000 users to less than 18 million users, with less than 80,000 users.

SonyLIV manager revealed freedom at midnight It was the service’s largest production investment to date, with filming taking place in India, Switzerland and the UK and filming several famous stars. “This is the most expensive and ambitious show we’ve ever done, just because of the sheer numbers of people involved and the big headliners,” she said.

The show is currently in pre-production, with filming scheduled for the next six to nine months, with permission from COVID.

It also revealed three other original shows: Children of LibertyWhich is from showrunner Sudir Mishra and was founded in 1977 by a group in the 1920s that suffered the first government crackdown in their lives; Jazz City ’71, which refers to the war for the liberation of Bangladesh and has been defined by Khan as the “War in one language”; Y The first elections in India, on how democratic elections were held in 1947 despite mass illiteracy after India’s independence. Rahul Dolakia is the creator and director, while StudioNEXT is the producer.

Global release plans

SonyLIV, which as Studio NEXT is part of Culver Max Entertainment (pka Sony Pictures Networks India), operates in an extremely competitive Indian OTT market where companies like Disney + Hotstar and Viacom18 have been fighting for IPL rights this week. He has access to the Culver Max library and film library, but now focuses on moving the original commissions.

Khan talked about a service known for his popular crime drama Fraud 1992: The Story of Harshad MehtaIt could reach its current number of subscribers and has now begun its international expansion, partially delayed due to a pandemic: it plans to be a global service for the Indian diaspora for three years.

SonyLIV is currently available in 28 regions including Europe, the UK, the Middle East, North Africa, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. In the United States it aired on Sling TV.

““Every fifth or sixth person in the world is Indian, so the market is really big, but the value hasn’t been open for years,” Khan said. “It is a fact that a technology like OTT has more possibilities for direct customer travel and good long distance shows. It may take some time, but we will be a great Indian content service for the global market. “

Turn “fraud” into big business

Elsewhere, Khan has been discussing the future of Applause Entertainment. Თ Fraud The franchise that has begun Fraud 1992: The Story of Harshad Mehta and will continue soon Scam 2003: The story of TelgiIn which Gagan Dev Riari plays the role of the fake tycoon Abdul Karim on TV and Hansal Mehta Shooruner.

“Fraud “He is not a crime, but a very intelligent and competent person who loses his way and his morals,” he said. “Such cases will reappear in society. They are absolutely clear minds, ambitious people and always have a story for everyone. The brand can be extended to Applause and to us “.

Fraud 2003 Released in 2023 as part of what Khan calls the “cerebral but fun” original show strategy.