In India, entertainment isn’t just a pastime, it’s an emotion that unites generations, cultures, and languages. It’s the joy of shared laughter, the thrill of anticipating a new episode, and the pride of seeing local stories captivate audiences worldwide. At Netflix, we aim to be a stage for stories that bring people together.
Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content at Netflix India shares, “2024 has been a year of firsts for Netflix India, a landmark chapter where we redefined storytelling and broke new ground. From weekly programming with two hit seasons of The Great Indian Kapil Show to bringing Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grandeur to streaming with Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar and Anubhav Sinha’s gripping IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, we delivered stories that captivated audiences. We unveiled our first musical biography with Imtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila, launched our first franchise film Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, and made comedy legal with Maamla Legal Hai. Through these milestones, alongside gripping dramas, thrilling mysteries, powerful documentaries, and the best of theatrical cinema in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam coming to Netflix, we celebrated creativity like never before, showcasing the unmatched depth and diversity of Indian stories. As we step into 2025, we remain inspired to push boundaries and champion the extraordinary voices shaping India’s storytelling legacy.”
This year, Netflix India expanded its slate across a wide variety of genres, delivering stories for every kind of viewer. From edge-of-your-seat thrillers like Do Patti and IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack to heartfelt dramas like Vijay 69 and Kota Factory S3, our titles struck an emotional chord and united audiences through shared experiences.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar stood as the crown jewel of the year, a visual masterpiece that recreated the opulence of a bygone era. Released in 13 languages, including French, German, and Arabic, Heeramandi became a cultural bridge, taking India’s storytelling tradition to global heights. Films like Amar Singh Chamkila shattered boundaries with its authenticity and soul-stirring music.
The Netflix Effect was bigger than ever, transforming films and series into cultural phenomena that shaped conversations far beyond the screen. Our titles became defining elements of the cultural zeitgeist, influencing trends across music, fashion, beauty, and social media. Heeramandi’s regal costumes inspired fashion lines and festive collections. The iconic Gajagamini walk and newfound interest among young people in the folk songs of the OG Amar Singh Chamkila dominated social media. Fan theories and memes spread widely, with recreations of beloved scenes sparking countless conversations. Fandoms thrived, turning characters, stories and personalities — like the domination of Shalini Passi, into household names.
Comedy took centre stage, with The Great Indian Kapil Show becoming a weekend ritual for families. With two seasons trending globally, Kapil Sharma brought laughter into millions of households. Hits like Maamla Legal Hai and Tribhuvan Mishra: CA Topper showcased the versatility of Indian humor, as Vir Das announced his return with an upcoming special featuring his signature wit. Five Indian Netflix Originals in comedy trended globally, proving the genre’s universal charm. Indian dramas also dominated Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV and Film (Non-English) list, with 34 out of 48 Indian titles making the cut. From Maharaja and CTRL to Do Patti, these stories show that India’s narratives resonate across the globe.
Offering a rare and intimate peek into the lives of aspirational personalities, our non-fiction content treated Indian audiences to an exceptional lineup. Titles like Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale, and Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives garnered phenomenal success with Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous in the pipeline. These stories not only captivated viewers but also highlighted the growing appetite for the non-fiction category.
Netflix became home to an array of theatrical gems across genres and languages such as Laapata Ladies, Fighter, Dunki, Animal, Salaar, Crew, Shaitaan, Lucky Baskhar, Meiyazhagan, Maharaja and many more. The films found renewed love and acclaim on Netflix, transforming them into cultural touchstones and sparking conversations locally and globally.
None of these achievements would be possible without the finest collaborators. Audiences saw some of the country’s most acclaimed creators, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Imtiaz Ali, and Anubhav Sinha, bring their cinematic brilliance to streaming, while Shashanka Chaturvedi and Aditya Nimbalkar made promising debuts with their first feature films — Do Patti and Sector 36. Fan favorites also returned in style: Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein delivered an electrifying new season, and Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba kicked off Netflix’s first film franchise.
With 323 awards at various forums like Indian Television Academy, Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA), Bollywood Hungama OTT Awards and a recent sweep at the Filmfare OTT awards, Netflix India reaffirmed its reputation as a powerhouse of world-class storytelling.
Innovation defined 2024, whether through appointment viewing with The Great Indian Kapil Show, the screen-first format of CTRL, or the interactive joy of LUDO King. Features like Moments allowed fans to relive their favorite Netflix scenes.
As we step into 2025, Netflix India is ready to build on the momentum with bold new projects, groundbreaking partnerships, and stories that celebrate diversity. We remain committed to delivering entertainment and crafting unforgettable experiences that inspire and connect audiences everywhere.
Here’s to another year of powerful storytelling that transcends borders and unites the world.
