VOOT announces 18 original shows
Viacom18’s VOOT is set to make a huge splash in international markets, including the UK from this November.
As a part of its expansion plans, VOOT has announced a slate of 18 new original web-shows, which will be rolled out in the coming months. Helmed by Viacom18 Motion Pictures, under the banner Tipping Point Films, VOOT will focus on Hindi and regional language shows.
Sudhanshu Vats, Managing Director, Viacom18, said, “Voot is integral to our strategy as we gear up for a future-ready Viacom18 that is screen, platform and pipe agnostic. We are building a digital-first brand to harness Viacom18’s strengths across its brands, creative franchises and businesses in multiple Indian languages. Furthermore, the inherent synergies with Reliance Jio, both as a platform for showcasing content and as a carrier of our service, have only dialled up the business roadmap for Voot.”
Monika Shergill, Head – content, Viacom18 Digital Ventures, added, “The digital medium brings us close to the consumer on a very personal level. Owing to the last mile measurability that the medium provides, our entire content strategy is based on a deep-data backed analysis of the needs and desires of our consumers and their consumption preferences and patterns. Thus, our play across a diverse bouquet of genres and languages.”
Here’s a list of the VOOT Originals coming up:
Feet Up with the Stars – a talk show hosted by Anaita Shroff Adjania. Guests include Jacqueline Fernandez, Karan Johar, Sonam K Ahuja (neé Kapoor), Ayushmann Khurana, Bhumi Pednekar, Maliaka Arora, Kriti Sanon, Radhika Apte. New episodes every Thursday and Sunday.
Barefoot 11 – a sports drama written by Javed Akhtar. Follows a devout Hindu and Muslim who unite India through football, set during the Golden Era of Indian Football in the late 1940s.
X-Ray – an anthology series based on Satyajit Ray’s short stories, in a contemporary setting. Produced by Viacom18’s Tipping Point and directed by Shrijit Mukherji. The episodes will vary vastly in genre and style, and will be “full of thrills, twist and turns and a strong emotional core”.
Jamtara – a crime drama set in a small town that’s the “epicentre of all phishing crimes” in India. Co-produced by Viacom18’s Tipping Point and directed by National Award-winning Soumendra Padhi. Will look at how the “influx of new-found money leads to fault lines between families, relationships, youth and the city’s moral fabric”.
Law and Honour – a legal drama directed by Sahir Raza, starring Piyush Mishra, Akshay Oberoi, Kubra Sait (Sacred Games). “Questions whether all lawyers are mercenaries or can some resist the lure of greed, ambition and power.”
Asura – a psychological crime thriller, starring Barun Sobti, written by Niren Bhatt, Gaurav Shukla, and Dr. Vinay Chhawal. About two forensic scientists trying to catch a killer, blending science and mythology.
Q Ward – a mystery drama starring Prateik Babbar, written by Agrim Joshi and Debojit Das Purkayastha. Follows four “young, honest” doctors who try to fight greed taking over ethics in the profession.
The Sawaikar Case – a thriller written by Bijesh Jayarajan and Anitha Nair, set in Goa. “About family, love, deceit, and the secrets that wrench [them] apart.”
Who Kaala Ladka – a coming-of-age comedy-drama about a dark-skinned boy “born darker than night”, who wishes to be a TV anchor and is growing up in the 1970s against the backdrop of television transitioning from black-and-white to colour.
R.A.W. Diaries – an “in-depth exploration of classified RAW missions in an ode to the faceless, nameless soldiers of RAW who quietly give their lives. Mukesh Radha Krishna Tak is the producer.
Rani Saheb – an inside look at Bollywood in the 1980s from Deeya and Tony Singh.
Candy Pop – a noir crime thriller involving a missing-persons case set in a small hill station.
Naaz – a kidnapped woman turned into a weapon who turns into an “accidental rebel”. Inspired by a true story set in Kashmir.
Dagalti – a romcom in Tamil
Sirrai – a psychological thriller in Tamil, about a leading fictional Tamil superstar.
I See You – a spinoff of Colors Kannada’s Agnisakshi following Siddharth and Sannidhi.
Don’t Think – a technological thriller, also in Tamil, where people are “at the mercy of technology.”
VOOT will also adding news content, through a partnership with Network18. It will make available 16 live channels across 13 languages from TV18 news services.
VOOT will also enhance the viewing experience on all VOOT Originals with Dolby Surround Sound.
