In a major move to transform the South Indian entertainment landscape, Jio Hotstar announced massive plans and investments of Rs 4,000 crore. The OTT platform has unveiled a list of 25 brand-new broadcasts, which includes original movies, blockbuster films, and high-engagement series across various South Indian languages. Today's South Unbound event saw the presence of numerous star icons and industry veterans, including Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal, Nagarjuna, Rahman, and Vijay Sethupathi, alongside other Southern artists, technicians, and producers.
Sushant Sriram, Head of SVOD & Chief Marketing Officer at JioStar, and Krishnan Kutty, Head of Cluster, Entertainment (South) at JioStar, attended the event. They explained the revolutionary changes Jio Hotstar is bringing to the Indian entertainment sector and the efforts being made to deliver Indian storytelling on a wider scale to the Southern audience.
JioHotstar has entered into a partnership agreement with the Government of Tamil Nadu. The aim of the agreement is to promote regional content and introduce, on a large scale, next-generation stories and innovative narratives that transcend geographical boundaries. Creativity-focused programs such as writing labs, mentorship programs, and skill-development workshops to encourage new-age filmmakers, writers, editors, and digital storytellers are part of the endeavour.
"Through this partnership, young artists will receive training based on modern technologies. Creative labs will also be established. Chennai will transform into a global film city. Over the next five years, JioHotstar is investing Rs 12,000 crore in the South Indian entertainment sector. This will directly create jobs for 1,000 people and indirectly provide employment to 15,000 people. Through this partnership, our government is committed to building a strong economic system through cinema," TN CM MK Stalin said.
"JioHotstar's dream is to build the entertainment future of tomorrow, to bring our country’s rich history and stories to a wider audience, and to become a destination for Indian entertainment everywhere through state-of-the-art technology. We are happy with the progress we have made in less than a year, with live broadcasts of sports and entertainment programs. We have established JioHotstar as the clear choice for audiences across India," the team from the streaming platform stated. "Our commitment is to energize this ecosystem with meaningful, long-term investments in talent, infrastructure, and new storytelling trends that align with their tastes. In the past ten months, more than 500 creators, directors, and showrunners have become part of the JioHotstar family. We want every creator in the South to dream big, give shape to those dreams, and take these stories further than ever before. With South Unbound, we promise to amplify the creative power of South India and make these stories accessible to as many people as possible," they further stated.
Actor-parliamentarian Kamal Haasan said, "Storytelling should not end with talent alone. To take these stories to the maximum number of people, the right leadership is essential. In this matter, I believe JioHotstar will play a crucial role. It is commendable that they are viewing the South not just as a market, but as a ‘creative gravity’. Media study programs, animation, and VFX fields need structured training. World cinema is now looking towards India. This is the right time for us to present stories rooted in Indian culture to the world."
Titles announced across formats:
JioHotstar is showcasing one of the most diverse content portfolios in South India, spanning originals, franchises, films, and unscripted formats. Jio Hotstar unveiled a diverse slate of 25 titles across reality, fiction, and non-fiction categories. The lineup includes Bigg Boss Telugu, hosted by Nagarjuna, along with Bigg Boss Malayalam hosted by Mohanlal, and Bigg Boss Kannada hosted by Kichcha Sudeepa. In fiction, the platform presents Good Wife Season 2 starring Priyamani, Sampath Raj, and Aari Arujunan; Moodu Lantharlu featuring Aishwarya Rajesh; Kerala Crime Files Season 3 with Aju Varghese, Lal, and Arjun Radhakrishnan; and LBW - Love Beyond Wicket starring Vikranth and Niyathi Kadambi. Other notable titles include Vikram on Duty, Cousins and Kalyanams, and Lucky The Superstar featuring GV Prakash, Anaswara Rajan, and Meghna Sumesh. Vishakha, starring Kajal Aggarwal, and Secret Stories: Roslin, led by Meena, Vineeth, and Hakim, add to the strong roster. Also featured are Resort with Vijay Kumar Rajendran and Thalaivasal Vijay, Varam starring Vishwadev Rachakonda, Shivathmika Rajashekar, and Srinivas Avasarala, and Anali with Leona Lishoy and Nikhila Vimal.
The lineup continues with Heartbeat Season 3 starring Anumol, Karthik Kumar, and Deepa Balu; Batchmates; 1000 Babies Season 2 featuring Neena Gupta and Rahman; and Lingam starring Kathir and Divya Bharathi. The much-awaited Save The Tiger Season 3 returns with Chaitanya Krishna, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, and Abhinav Gomatam. Also included are Pharma featuring Nivin Pauly, Rajit Kapur, and Shruti Ramachandran; Love Always starring Jaya Prakash, Jayasudha, Gauri Kishan, and Ramsan; and non-fiction titles such as Mad for Each Other with Radha Nair and Sreemukhi, Comedy Cooks, and Roadies. The lineup is rounded off with Kaattaan, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Milind Soman, showcasing a rich mix of entertainment across languages and genres.
