Netflix India celebrates Blockbuster Year of Global Acclaim and Local Love

India started the year as Netflix’s fastest-growing market globally and our momentum continues to grow. Be it a dose of desi comedy in Guns & Gulaabs, deep emotions in The Railway Men, the suspense and secrets in Khufiya or the untold story behind The Hunt For Veerappan, our stories and characters have resonated deeply. From becoming the first streaming service in India to win global awards, to captivating hearts locally, 2023 is a year to remember.

Audiences across India enjoyed great stories not only from every corner of the country but also from around the world, thanks to subtitles and dubs in over 35 languages. Locally rooted stories like Kaala Paani (Hindi), Thunivu (Tamil), Leo (Tamil), Kushi (Telugu) and Padmini (Malayalam) broke through, while RRR (Hindi), a true pan-Indian blockbuster, continued to dominate the India Top 10 for 25 weeks. Jawan (all languages included) became the most-watched film in India just two weeks after its launch on November 2. Our globally popular films and series, such as Extraction 2 and Stranger Things S4, available also in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, trended in India for weeks. Going beyond, Indian audiences also embraced French, Japanese, and Korean stories, making them the most-frequent non-English titles to appear in India's top 10.

Throughout 2023, Netflix was home to some of the best talent, both new and seasoned, across genres. From the streaming debuts of icons like Kareena Kapoor Khan in Jaane Jaan to Rana Daggubati in Rana Naidu,the discovery of talent like Suvinder Vicky in Kohrra to welcoming 15 new acting talent in Class and The Archies, we celebrated diversity. We introduced viewers to the vibrant world Gulaabgunj in Guns & Gulaabs, portrayed India’s biggest manhunt with The Hunt For Veerappan, shared a compelling tale of resilience in Trial By Fire, and adapted globally beloved characters from Archie Comics in The Archies. Films, series and unscripted documentaries across various genres like thriller, comedy, action and drama frequently appeared in the Top 10. And we are returning with new seasons of widely loved series — Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein, Class, Rana Naidu, Delhi Crime, Mismatched, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, Kota Factory and Kaala Paani. 

The love for stories transcends borders, evident in 2023 with the over 50 Indian stories reaching global viewers like never before. Indian films and series  consistently featured in the Global Top 10 for Non-English content for 47 out of 50 weeks. From the heist-thriller Chor Nikal Ke Bhaaga to the gripping series Kohrra, the murder mystery Jaane Jaan, to the family entertainer Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery, the world pressed play. Licensed films like Shehzada, Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Jawan, Gatta Kusthi, Vaathi and Waltair Veerayya found new audiences, featuring in global charts. 

Our success extended beyond viewership to accolades from critics and award bodies. Netflix India received numerous awards on national and global stages, including the historic victory at the 95th Academy Awards for The Elephant Whisperers in the Best Documentary Short category. Delhi Crime S2 and Vir Das: Landing earned our fourth consecutive international Emmy nomination, with the latter securing the award in the Comedy Special category. Scoop picked up two prestigious Asia Content Awards during the Busan Film Festival and Trial By Fire winning the Best Actress Award at the Asian Academy Creative Awards.

None of these achievements would have been possible without the passion, vision and support of our creative partners. Building on the existing creative collaborations with Raj & DK and Excel Entertainment, we forged partnerships with some of India’s most celebrated and iconic creators in 2023, such as Yash Raj Films, Hansal Mehta, and Neeraj Pandey. Working with first-time directors such as Yashowardhan Mishra (Kathal), Shiv Rawail (The Railway Men), and Arjun Varain Singh (Kho Gaye Hum Kahan), as well as seasoned creators like Sujoy Ghosh (Jaane Jaan), Vishal Bhardwaj (Khufiya), and Konkona Sen Sharma (Lust Stories 2), we took their stories to over 190 countries. Our commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative talent continues through initiatives like BAFTA Breakthrough and Take Ten, now in their third and second years, respectively. 

If 2023 left you in awe of the incredible variety of films and series, brace yourselves for the rollercoaster that is 2024!