MUMBAI: Amazon is leap frogging and getting more and more local production houses on board for the launch of its premium video service — Prime Video — in the country. After getting Vishal Bhardwaj and Vidhu Vinod Chopra on board, Amazon has now managed to rope in Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar-owned Excel Entertainment to make its show — Power Play, it is stated on Excel's web site.
Amazon Prime Video and Excel Media and Entertainment are also coming together to launch Amazon India's original show, titled 'Inside Edge'. It is a story that does not mince words, pulls no punch, and takes no prisoner. And beneath it all, it is a story of passion, courage, and love, New Kerala Dotcom reported.
Amazon Video India director and country head Nitesh Kripalani said that they were very excited to announce Amazon India's original "Inside Edge" partnering with Excel, launching in over 200+ countries worldwide. Indians love both cricket and entertainment; and Excel's expertise in storytelling makes them the perfect choice for Amazon Original.
Excel Entertainment’s director Ritesh Sidhwani confirmed that they are working on a series but has not revealed anything about Amazon’s involvement or other details.
Sidhwani said that they have worked on the shows for the eight-nine months. Power Play is a show based on cricket and showbiz-theme. A person aware of the matter has suggested that Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti are also involved in the making of Power Play.
This move from Excel is also tied to its move into the digital space. The company has recently acquired a 10 per cent stake in mobile application Flickbay.
Another crime-based show is also said to be in the works. It is a gangster epic set in Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. The production for the same will start in December. It is said to be loosely based on Narcos, a series produced by Netflix. It will also be in Hindi and English and the producers will get a presence on Amazon’s global platform, including some degree of branding and promotion.
Amazon has set aside around $300 million from Jeff Bezos’ recently announced $3 billion additional investment. The amount will be used to produce original content as well as acquire rights of the local content. Amazon has already hired Aparna Purohit as head for creative development.
Netflix, which launched in India last year, has also announced its first Indian original series – Sacred Games.The series will be based on Indian Author Vikram Chandra’s critically acclaimed best-selling novel of the same name. For this, it has partnered with Phantom Films to produce and shoot the Hindi-English series in multiple locations of India.
