We all know Netflix updates its list of trending titles weekly and pleasantly two Indian cinematic gems: Vicky Kaushal’s ‘Chhaava’ and Priyadarshi Pulikonda’s ‘Court: State Vs A Nobody’ are shining brightly in the platform’s global non-English charts for two consecutive weeks now.
What’s more amusing is how despite being so different they have captivated audiences, with their distinct storytelling and this further underscores India’s diverse cinematic prowess.
Vicky Kaushal starrer historical epic ‘Chhaava’ follows the life story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and was a blockbuster hit in theatres doing a business of around ₹600 crores. This box office success made sure that the film would find audience on OTT too given the grand visuals, high octane action, and stellar performances.
Despite the language limitation ‘Chhaava’ has managed to stay at no. 5 in the global non-English movies list with 3.3 million views in the second week. (Chhaava is available only in Hindi and Telugu audios as of now on Netflix)
On the other hand, Nani backed ‘Court: State Vs A Nobody’ is an understated courtroom drama that has impressed viewers with its gritty narrative. Directed by debutant Ram Jagadeesh the film is about a driven attorney who battles a corrupt justice system to defend a young man whose relationship with a 17-year old girl provokes her ruthless family’s ire.
Priyadarshi Pulikonda’s delivers a career-defining role in ‘Court: State Vs A Nobody’ and has struck such a chord with the audience that it earned the film 6th spot on the same list with 2.9 million views this week. Also the multilingual digital debut has helped in achieving this feat by spreading its reach far and wide.
The global success of such contrastingly opposite films where one has the scale and grandeur and the other relies on substance and gripping storyline, signals a shift toward diverse Indian stories resonating beyond borders.
Another notable thing here is how OTT platforms like Netflix level the playing field and let a ₹60 crore film rival a ₹600 crore juggernaut. The biggest takeaway though has to be how this clash of titans proves that Indian cinema’s strength lies in its versatility.