Mumbai: Despite the general dissatisfaction with the type of content Hindi cinema producers produced this year, 2022 had a few films and OTT shows that truly stood out and had audiences hooked. While connecting with audiences and relearning new content consumption patterns were challenges this year, a few producers understood the pulse of the market and successfully gave us some breakthrough content.

Here are the producers who broke through the clutter and made an impact in 2022:

Sanjay Leela Bhansali: A look at the harsh reality of female exploitation in a patriarchal society, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi rightly deserves the praise that came its way for its beautifully filmed, detailed, and nuanced depictions that were powerfully narrated. The producer was also praised for giving us a commanding female protagonist, Gangubai, played by Alia Bhatt, who towered above her tragic situation and emerged as an influential figure. Apart from receiving rave reviews for its filmmaking and its performances, the film made Rs 210 crore globally and became the fifth-highest grossing Hindi film in 2022.

Sameer Nair: Applause Entertainment, a content studio led by Sameer Nair, produced 14 shows in 2022 across different OTT platforms, a huge achievement in itself. The ultimate name in adapting global content for Indian audiences, Applause gave us Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach, Tanaav, Mithya, and Bloody Brothers, some of the most binge-watched shows of the year. Committed to bringing some of the best content to Indian screens, the studio has also rolled out an exciting slate of projects, including Scam 2003, Gandhi, City of Dreams 3, and some intriguing films with names like Vidya Balan and Kapil Sharma (Zwigato).

Alia Bhatt: As a debutante producer, Alia Bhatt hit it out of the park in her very first production, Darlings. A dark comedy that highlighted the existing reality of marital abuse, the young producer took a chance by backing an unconventional film that was praised by critics and appreciated by audiences. A mix of clever storytelling and fine performances, the film was an impressive attempt at an under-explored genre and took the OTT by storm.

Arunabh Kumar: A popular name in the web-series era, Arunabh Kumar made quite an impression in 2022 with shows like Gullak 3, Kota Factory 2, Hostel Days, and Pitcher 2. Someone who well understands the content young India enjoys consuming, the producer is the man behind some of the most popular shows and was among those who pioneered online content in India.

Nikhil Advani, Monisha Advani, & Madhu Bhojwani: With shows like Rocket Boys and Mumbai Diaries, Emmay Entertainment’s commitment to bringing original, impactful, and meaningful content to audiences is evident. Producers Nikhil Advani, Monisha Advani, and Madhu Bhojwani combine their expertise to deliver viewers some quality content that made headlines in 2022.