WEB SERIES

Netflix releases first look of Sacred Games, announces three new Indian originals

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Before the weekend kicks off, there's some really good news for binge-watchers and lovers of fiction series. Streaming platform Netflix has made two big announcements. First was the release of first look of the much-awaited Sacred Games, an adaptation of Vikram Chandra's novel. The posters featured the three lead actors – Saif Ali Khan, Radhika Apte and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

And second, the entertainment platform also announced three new originals from India—Leila, Ghoul and Crocodile—across genres and themes.

Leila, from writer and executive producer Urmi Juvekar, is based on a book by Prayaag Akbar, and tells the story of Shalini, a free-thinking woman in search of the daughter she lost upon her arrest 16 years earlier. Set in the near future, this inventive, boundary-breaking story centres around longing, faith and loss.

Ghoul is a horror series based on Arabic folklore, set in a covert detention centre. Nida, a newly minted interrogator who turned in her own father as an anti-government activist, arrives at the centre to discover that some of the terrorists held there are not of this world. Written and directed by Patrick Graham, and starring Radhika Apte and Manav Kaul, this unique and gripping series, with a supernatural twist, traces Nida’s battle for survival.

Then there’s Crocodile, written by Binky Mendez. It is a young adult murder mystery thriller series set in the seaside state of Goa. When her best friend goes missing, Mira sets out on her own investigation, uncovering secrets among her friends, romantic relationships and community.

From drama to horror to mystery, these broad and diverse stories, upon completion, will debut exclusively to over 117 million Netflix members in 190 countries. These series join a larger slate of original productions out of India including Sacred Games, Selection Day, and Bard of Blood.

In a statement, Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series at Netflix said: “We are proud to continue to invest in original content in India. These three series, from the scary to the supernatural, represent the tremendous diversity that Indian storytelling holds for a global audience. We are thrilled to work with some of the world's most talented writers and producers to bring these stories to life for India and the world."

It has taken the team a long time to make the first Indian original. But Motwane, one of the directors of Sacred Games (it's being helmed by Anurag Kashyap) had said earlier that the medium is such that that they have to be fully prepared because of the measure of the audience. “It is exciting, and at the same time really scary that it would be streamed in 190 countries and will be seen by the global audience. Our competitors really are Narcos, 13 Reasons Why and House Of Cards, which are wonderful shows. But we want to make a show that is world class and is going to be seen by a global audience."

And while the announcement of a new line-up is great, we hope all these shows actually live up to the expectations of the standard that Netflix has setup over the years.

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