The rise in OTT content consumption in India has given rise to an interesting trend – adaptations. Not only are foreign web shows being adapted for Indian audiences, but Indian productions are also being adapted into different regional languages. Case in point: The Tamil and Telugu versions of the Hindi web series Panchayat were announced earlier this year.
Audiences have a “growing content appetite” for diverse storytelling and high production values. Manish Kalra, Business Director, ZEE5says, “The success of titles like Gyaarah Gyaarah, Duranga and more show that the creative ecosystem is perfecting the art of adapting to the palettes of Indian viewers.”
‘It is not a copy but a reimagination’
While certainly not novel, the combination of global themes and local nuances brings new perspectives in the Indian OTT space. as director Umesh Bistwho directed Gyaarah Gyaarah (an adaptation of the Korean drama Signal), says, “When you know that the original series has done well, it is easy to sell your idea to producers and OTT platforms. If it has worked in one language, then it could resonate in different cultures.”
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Actor Tillotama Shomewhich is part of The Night Manager, an adaptation of a British series of the same name, says adaptations are much more than simply remaking a show in a different language. “It’s not a cheap copy, it’s a reimagining.” She gives her opinion and adds: “Adapting a program may involve altering plots, characters or settings to adapt them to the new context; “It has to be faithful to the original material, but also transformative.”
‘Something for everyone’
Actor Gaurav Arorawho played Fareed Mir in Tanaav, a remake of the Israeli series Fauda, credits OTT platforms for bringing new concepts to their audiences. “I think there is something for every audience. After doing Tanaav, I realized that a large section of the audience didn’t even know Fauda. Many people do not know the content around the world, so medium OTT It really helps to do that with web series adaptations,” the actor reflects.
actor-dancer Mukti Mohan agrees, adding that adaptations allow for more character and plot points to be developed. “My character (in Gyaarah Gyaarah) barely appeared in the Korean show, but in the Indian adaptation, her arc was defined differently and she got a fitting ending,” she shares.
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What clicks and what doesn’t?
Trade expert and producer. Girish Johar suggests that audiences might click on a show, especially if they are aware of the previous success of its predecessor. “The story has already become popular among the public, so people think it would be good. “Once it resonates with the local culture, it becomes a little more relatable,” he explains.
Interestingly, many adaptations have been reinterpretations of popular thriller shows. Ask if genre matters and Bist explains: “These are not adaptations, as the thriller genre is generally more popular on OTT.”
“A successful adaptation is a matter of masterful reimagination and not just of genres. The longer format also allows for a deep immersion (into the plot and characters),” concludes Shome.
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