Series and movies from India amassed over one billion views on Netflix in 2023, the streaming service announced in its second engagement report. The report, which detailed viewership data from July to December 2023, highlighted the burgeoning popularity of Indian content on the global streaming platform.
From India, Sujoy Ghosh’s thriller “Jaane Jaan”, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, emerged as the most-watched movie with a staggering 20.2 million views. Riding high on the viewership charts, Shah Rukh Khan’s action-packed “Jawan” followed closely with 16.2 million views. Vishal Bhardwaj’s espionage drama “Khufiya” secured the third spot with 12.1 million views. Among other notable mentions were the sequel “OMG 2,” and the anthology “Lust Stories 2,” which continued to draw substantial audience engagement.
In the realm of series, “The Railway Men,” featuring an impressive ensemble of Kay Kay Menon, R Madhavan, Babil Khan, and Divyenndu, clinched the title of the most-watched series launched on Netflix during the same period.
Bigg Boss 17 winner Munawar Faruqui recently took to social media to shed light on a controversial incident that captured national attention. Referencing the Pune car crash that resulted in the tragic death of two engineers, Faruqui did not mince his words. “Woh Porsche kharid sakta hai, toh baaki cheezein bhi kharid hi li hongi,” he tweeted, alluding to the juvenile offender involved in the crash. The Juvenile Justice Board had granted bail to the 17-year-old within 15 hours, inciting public outrage. Faruqui continued, “When I was 17, I had a Nokia 1100,” further highlighting the stark differences in privilege and accountability.
Meanwhile, at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia and her cast of “All We Imagine as Light” made waves. The film’s premiere, marking the first Indian entry into the competition section in three decades, saw an eight-minute standing ovation—one of the festival’s longest in recent memory. Competing against titans like Jacques Audiard, Yorgos Lanthimos, David Cronenberg, Paul Schrader, and Jia Zhangke, Kapadia’s film was lauded by critics.
. Peter Bradshaw particularly praised its “freshness and emotional clarity,” even drawing a comparison to the legendary storytelling of Satyajit Ray.
In another nostalgic revelation, lyricist and poet Manoj Muntashir recounted an interesting chapter of Bollywood music history. He revealed the melodic connection between “Tere liye” from “Veer-Zaara” and the 1975 classic “Dil dhoondta hai” from the film “Mausam.” The tune for “Tere liye,” Muntashir disclosed, was crafted from Madan Mohan’s rejected melodies. Appreciative of the original composition, filmmaker Yash Chopra had held onto Mohan’s music, which decades later, was harmoniously blended with Javed Akhtar’s lyrics. The confluence of these elements resulted in an enduring soundtrack that honored Madan Mohan’s legacy.
In political and celebrity news, actress Parineeti Chopra and her spouse, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha, were spotted seeking divine blessings at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi. Draped in white attire, the couple’s temple visit followed their private wedding ceremony in Udaipur on September 24 of the previous year. Parineeti Chopra was last seen in “Amar Singh Chamkila” alongside Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh.
Touching on the music scene, the release of “Tu Juliet Jatt di” from the highly anticipated Punjabi film “Jatt & Juliet 3” has captured the attention of fans. Featuring the charismatic duo of Diljit Dosanjh and Neeru Bajwa, the track blends traditional Indian elements with modern sonic motifs. Composed by Bunny, with vocals by Dosanjh, the song promises a memorable musical experience. “Releasing this song is a special moment for me. It is fun and full of heart, much like our movie,” Dosanjh stated. Fans of the series eagerly await the continuation of Fateh (Dosanjh) and Pooja’s (Bajwa) saga.
The viewership data from Netflix’s engagement report demonstrates the ever-growing influence and reach of Indian cinema and series on the global streaming stage. With compelling stories and star-studded performances, Indian content continues to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide, making its mark in the competitive landscape of digital entertainment.
