SonyLIV gave numerous streaming hits like Scam 2003: The Telgi Story, The Jengaburu Curse, College Romance Season 4, Kafas, Rocket Boys Season 2, and more in 2023. However, it ended the year with only two projects. In December 2023, the streaming service had to offer Chamak (TV Series) and Toby (Film). Out of these two, only the former was an original SonyLIV entry. Toby was a licensed project which came out in theatres in August 2023.
The significant lack of content on SonyLIV is a matter of concern, considering the rising competition in the Indian OTT market. Yes, the platform believes more in quality over quantity. But in reality, only those streaming services that have managed to find a balance between these two have actually worked in India.
Chamak was the only original series that came out of SonyLIV’s arsenal in 2023. It revolves around Kaala (Paramvir Cheema), an aspirational rapper from Canada. The series brilliantly explores the music industry’s dark side and touches on sensitive subjects such as honor killing, politics, and corporate rivalry. In addition, it benefits immensely from powerful performances from Cheema and veteran actor Manoj Pahwa.
Toby was another project that arrived on SonyLIV in December last year. Helmed by Basil Alchalakkal, Toby has talents like Raj B. Shetty, Samyukta Hornad, Chaitra Achar, and more. It was a big critical success, with special praise directed towards the acting performances, technical aspects, director, and plot. Though, it suffered from pacing issues. Still, it is an entertaining watch.
SonyLIV needs to develop more quality regional projects to strengthen its presence in the Indian OTT market. It can also consider adding more international projects to its library, offering subscribers a wide range of movies or TV shows. This will not only help the platform gain more subscribers but also make it a worthy competitor against the likes of Prime Video, Netflix, and more. Stay tuned for more updates.
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