SonyLIV’s first half of 2025 saw a fluctuating content strategy. After a quiet January, February brought success with Bada Naam Karenge, a family-friendly hit, alongside the action-packed but narratively weak Marco.
March continued with the acclaimed original The Waking of a Nation, offering historical depth, though Rekhachithram proved divisive. April delivered a mixed bag with Chamak: The Conclusion and the decent thriller Adrishyam Season 2, along with a few licensed titles.
May was strong, with popular originals like Black, White and Gray and Kankhajura, and the successful film Maranamass. However, June saw a significant dip, with only two licensed titles, most notably the hit Alappuzha Gymkhana, highlighting the need for consistent original content in the competitive OTT landscape.
January 2025
While competitors like Netflix and Prime Video kicked off the year 2025 with a slate of strong licensed and original titles, SonyLIV, surprisingly (or should we say typically?), remained quiet in January. It made a slight noise with Joju George’s Pani, but it wasn’t enough.
Speaking of Pani, this Malayalam action thriller marked a confident directorial debut for Joju George and was hailed as a mass entertainer. Despite its typical revenge plot, the gripping narrative and solid performances kept audiences engaged.
February 2025
SonyLIV picked up some much-needed momentum this month with the releases of Saale Aashiq, Bada Naam Karenge, and Marco. While Saale Aashiq was a bit of a letdown, despite Tahir Raj Bhasin’s strong performance, Sooraj R. Barjatya’s Bada Naam Karenge reigned supreme among users.
Bada Naam Karenge emerged as SonyLIV’s first big hit of the year. Praised for its standout performances and wholesome content, it’s a nostalgic treat for ’90s kids and a testament to family bonding, proving Rajshri Productions still excels at clean, family-friendly storytelling.
We also got the ultra-violent and ultra-bloody Marco, starring Unni Mukundan. Though it earned acclaim for its action, it received little praise for its story or tone.
March 2025
SonyLIV carried forward February’s momentum into March with a strong lineup of releases. The month opened with The Waking of a Nation, a well-received original that shed light on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a crucial yet often overlooked historical event.
The series effectively portrayed the injustice and tragedy of the era, offering a thought-provoking perspective on how history is shaped and the fight for truth.
Alongside it came Rekhachithram, a Malayalam flick that divided viewers. While Asif Ali’s performance, editing, and musical score were praised, many found the plot too predictable.
Another release was Agent, starring Mammootty and Akhil Akkineni, which was enough to make users mad.
April 2025
Chamak: The Conclusion landed on SonyLIV in April and received a mixed response. It was applauded for its stellar performances, powerful music, and gripping revenge narrative. However, some viewers found it overly complex and emotionally messy, with a fragmented plot and many unresolved threads.
Adrishyam Season 2 turned out marginally better than its debut, emerging as a decent and fast-paced espionage thriller.
Pravinkoodu Shappu, which had bombed at the box office, found a warmer reception on OTT. Viewers praised the performances and cinematography, though some criticised its non-linear comedic structure for producing inconsistent humour, refreshing at times, cringeworthy at others.
SonyLIV also dropped three licensed foreign titles this month: The Narrow Road to the Deep North, This City Is Ours, and Doc—all of which were considered satisfactory.
The month ended with the semi-hit Bromance, a chaotic Malayalam action-comedy exploring Gen Z’s world. It offered a brisk, entertaining ride with plenty of LOL moments.
May 2025
Black, White and Gray gained major popularity thanks to its mockumentary style and Mayur More’s standout performance. The show explored a Nagpur murder and tackled themes of caste, class, and patriarchy, backed by strong cinematography, though it had minor plot weaknesses.
Maranamass was a box office hit. Directed by Basil Joseph, the film offered a fresh, darkly comedic take on the serial killer genre. Praised for its humour and pacing, it featured strong performances, though some found the second half disjointed.
Kankhajura created plenty of buzz in May. The story follows Ashu (Roshan Mathew) as his manipulative past threatens his brother Max’s (Mohit Raina) life after 14 years in prison. It was lauded for its unique story, powerful direction, and Mathew’s performance, though the ending felt unsatisfying to some
June 2025
SonyLIV’s content dropped sharply in June after a strong May. The platform released only two licensed titles: the blockbuster Malayalam sports drama Alappuzha Gymkhana, which significantly boosted viewership, and Alert: Missing Persons Unit Season 3.
However, the absence of new originals highlighted a key issue. In an increasingly competitive Indian OTT market, SonyLIV needs a steady stream of original content to retain subscribers and stay relevant.
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