It’s been a fortnight since Excel Entertainment’s Mirzapur 2 premiered on Amazon Prime Video. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to state that Mirzapur 2 is easily one of the most awaited seasons of any Indian web series until now, second in anticipation only to Netflix’s Sacred Games 2 maybe. Imagine their disappointment then, when a huge chunk of eager viewers have not been able to watch Mirzapur 2 yet. Surprised? You won’t be, when you discover why.
Mirzapur is the hottest and most adored of all Indian web shows put together. A massive percentage of its dedicated fans comprises of Telugu and Tamil viewers. But Amazon Prime, in its wisdom — or lack of it — simply refuses to acknowledge the needs of this very significant demographic of viewers. Even fifteen days after the premiere of Mirzapur 2, the streaming platform has not launched Tamil and Telugu audio versions of the show. This despite a gazillion requests from Southern state viewers to release Mirzapur 2 with audio in other Indian languages. The requests have gone unheeded — they are simply water off a duck’s back.
While social media is having a whale of a time with a glut of Mirzapur 2 memes on the internet, Tamil and Telugu viewers are clueless about it all. Few spew insults on Amazon Prime Video for ignoring their demands for Tamil and Telugu audio. But most have resigned themselves to the fact that Amazon is simply not interested. It will release Mirzapur 2 with audio in diverse languages only when it wants to, if at all.
What Amazon Prime Video has not taken into account is the fact that very soon, the charm of watching Mirzapur 2 will wear off for Tamil/Telugu viewers; and then THEY will lose interest in watching Mirzapur 2 at all. Other shows/movies will be released – there is a huge number of direct OTT releases in the next two months. Also, Disney Plus Hotstar is breathing down Amazon Prime’s neck with its recently announced, thrilling Tamil slate.
Taking their own sweet time to release Tamil/Telugu audio for Mirzapur 2 will definitely result in Amazon Prime losing a sizeable number of eyeballs for the show – a loss they cannot afford. Not with the direct to OTT duds they have been premiering since lockdown began.
Come to think of it, Amazon Prime Video even has Tamil, Telugu and Hindi audio for The Boys 2, a show foreign in origin, though loved in India. Is it too much to ask for Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions of a homegrown show – a show created and nurtured in our very own country?
We don’t think so.
And neither should Amazon Prime Video.
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