If you follow football, you know this emotion well. Most clubs have one or more academy players, and you love them more than anyone else. That’s equivalent to what OTT platforms label as originals. They matter. They play the biggest roles in the long run.
This year, Netflix fumbled, especially when it comes to original content.
Were the originals bad? That’s not true.
We got Amar Singh Chamkila this year, undoubtedly one of the best originals ever. And the album? It stays with you.
Maamla Legal Hai also set records, which is commendable. We also had Heeramandi, which had a global impact for Netflix India.
Then there was Do Patti and CTRL, which managed to draw some audience during the second half of the year.
But Netflix’s best partner—controversy—was present too. With IC:184, there was a clash between Netflix and the government. The controversies and strong word-of-mouth gave Netflix some relevance, but it was licensed content that emerged as the real savior this year.
Most of Netflix’s exposure this year came from licensed content. These titles didn’t just perform well on the charts—they got people talking about Netflix.
Devara was one such title that gave Netflix a significant boost in the past month. Kalki, on the other hand, became Netflix India’s biggest win. Even titles like Khel Khel Main turned out to be winners.
Licensed content certainly helps platforms. These films barely need any introduction, which is a huge perk. But is it enough to survive?
In the short run? Yes. But for the long game, Netflix needs strong originals. And Netflix has the capacity to deliver. All they need to do is actively focus on it.
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