Popular film producer Sharrath Marar, the man behind North Star Entertainment who was associated with several biggies like Sardaar Gabbar Singh, Gopala Gopala, Katamarayudu and a few dubbed outings in the past, tasted success with his very first digital production titled The Grill recently. The show had streamed on Viu and eventually went on to become the most-watched Telugu original on the portal.
Discussing what prompted him to venture into the digital space, Sharrath Marar, in a candid chat with Binged.com, poured his heart out:
“The best thing that I like about the OTT space is that it’s a world of many possibilities. And having been in the entertainment industry for so long, I have come to understand the streaming content is the future. For those who’re looking to stay for the long haul, especially producers, making a foray in this medium was critical,”
He’s open to admitting that the writing of a show holds the key to its success among spectators:
“The Grill was just the right kind of show to make a start. The story (a college comedy) was identifiable with the younger generation. The cast was impressive; the script had the right element of emotion, and comedy to last a season. Working with Viu was comfortable and they were open to new ideas.”
Marar confirmed to Binged.com that the sequel to the series is very much on.
The producer finds that the OTT world is much more structured in comparison to other visual media:
“Storyboarding becomes critical in the digital medium. The failure rate is drastically low. It is important to think in terms of seasons. Unlike films, an open-ended narrative becomes the norm of the day to create curiosity among spectators.”
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