In the ongoing streaming wars between Netflix and Prime Video in India, Prime Video has gotten around to playing dirty tricks in order to beat the streaming giant. As the stakes to go one-up on each other get higher, Prime Video and Netflix are moving heaven and earth to gain the higher foothold among Indian streaming audiences.
Prime Video India seems to be winning, at least in India, on its own mettle of strong Indian Originals. Then what is the need to play all these dirty games?
What dirty games, you may ask.
Let us enlighten you.
This Thursday morning, Netflix India finally announced the release date for one of its most awaited and hyped Indian original – the dark comedy, satirical film, ‘Kathal’. The film has an eclectic ensemble cast of Sanya Malhotra, Anant V Joshi, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Brijendra Kala, and a novel premise. In short, ‘Kathal’ has all the makings of being a hit for Netflix India.
Well, Netflix announced that Kathal will premiere on the platform on 19th May, 2023.
What does Prime Video do?
The very next day, on Friday morning, Prime Video announces the release date for its highly anticipated Zoya Akhtar – Reema Kagti – Sonakshi Sinha Indian Original series ‘Dahaad’ – which will release on the same day as Kathal!
It is clear as day that the move from Prime Video India comes as a counter-move to Netflix’s release of a highly anticipated movie. Dahaad has been ready to stream since ages. After all, the series had premiered at Berlinale, back in February 2023. Prime Video had three long months after that to premiere Dahaad on its platform.
Yet, what does Prime Video do? It waits for Netflix to announce the release date of its most valuable property, and then bang — goes and announces the release date of its own most valuable property on the same date as Netflix’s Kathal release date!
If that isn’t dirty games, then what is?
But wait, this isn’t all.
The very next day, Prime Video did it all over again.
This Friday, Netflix took to its social media handles to announce that it will premiere its prime acquisition — Nani’s ‘Dasara’ — on 27th April, 2023.
The very next day, on Saturday, Prime Video India announces the release date of its own plum acquisition — Silambarasan TR’s ‘Pathu Thala’ — on 27th April!
Two back-to-back counter-attacks on two successive days – Prime Video India is most certainly on the war path of one-upmanship and to snatch maximum eyeballs from Netflix.
And poor, gobsmacked Netflix has nary a clue how to counter this sudden offensive from its strongest rival in India.
As for us, all we can do is quote Virus from 3 Idiots – “All’s fair in war, and this is World War III!”
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