Netflix has built its brand on global inclusivity, promising stories from everywhere for everyone. Yet, when it comes to regional respect within India, the cracks are becoming hard to ignore.
Take Netflix’s latest release Inspector Zende, “based on true events in Mumbai.”
Directed by a Marathi filmmaker, produced by a Marathi producer, featuring a largely Marathi cast, and still, there is no Marathi language option available on the platform.
This isn’t a small oversight. It’s a glaring contradiction. A story rooted in Maharashtra, carried by Marathi talent, should naturally offer its audience the dignity of hearing it in their own language. Instead, Netflix has limited access to Hindi and other mainstream dubs, effectively sidelining the very community from which the story originates.
For years, regional cinema has been fighting for equal visibility in India’s OTT ecosystem.
While Tamil, Telugu, and even Malayalam often get space on global platforms, Marathi cinema continues to be treated as a niche, despite its rich history and cultural influence. Inspector Zende could have been Netflix’s opportunity to bridge that gap. Instead, it’s turned into yet another reminder of how regional audiences are undervalued.
And it’s not the first time that Netflix is doing this. Marathi dub has been snubbed by the OTT giants for a very long time as it’s only SonyLIV who takes the matter seriously.
If Netflix truly wants to deepen its foothold in India, it cannot afford to alienate local audiences. Language isn’t just an option, it’s identity. By ignoring Marathi for a Marathi-rooted story, Netflix has sent the wrong message: inclusivity, but only on its terms.