Shefali Shah in Delhi CrimeThe OTT platforms have empowered women like none other. Today, with the exponential increase in the number of OTT platforms and the content on these platforms, the scope of women-centric content, content highlighting women issues, etc. has also improved. Also, many more women are now in positions of power on these OTT platforms.
OTT has filled the vacuum that was created by mainstream cinema and television. There is more scope for creativity and room to experiment which was lacking in any of the previous mediums. OTT has also created room for female characters in main roles, in fact it has given rise to multitude of series and shows that have female characters in majority.
Many talented actresses, who could not get good roles in films or television, are now getting a chance to showcase their
Made in Heaven directed by Nitya Mehr
talent through OTT platforms. It has changed the role of women as accessories or fillers in films to main characters and strong, sensible roles.
OTT has also put more women in positions of power and that has encouraged scriptwriting and ideas focusing on women. Now, many characters are specifically written for women, that too of all ages. The shelf-life of women actors has increased because of OTT. In fact, it will be safe to say that there’s no shelf-life for women actors anymore. Roles are being written for women of all ages and this has empowered them in a big way.
It’s because of OTT that Indian audience is getting a taste of the acting prowess of artists like Shefali Shah, Renuka Shahane, Raveena Tandon, etc. who are portraying roles of women that are fierce, independent and are the leading ladies of the story. This kind of content that earlier no one would even imagine producing is now being created in big numbers, is reaching millions and making profit too.
Transforming preferences
Vice President of Content at Netflix India, Monika Shergill has played a crucial role in bringing a diverse range of content to the platform in India, from local and international productions to documentaries and stand-up comedy.
She is a prominent figure in the Over-The-Top (OTT) industry in India and has made significant contributions to the platform she works for, Netflix, by helping shape the way content is created, produced and consumed in India.
Shergill has been instrumental in commissioning original content for Netflix India, which includes several critically acclaimed and popular series and films. She has also built strong partnerships with local and international production houses, helping to bring high-quality content to the platform.
Under her leadership, Netflix India has continued to grow its user base, and is now one of the leading OTT platforms in the country. Monika is also known for her advocacy of inclusivity and representation in media, and has been instrumental in bringing stories from underrepresented communities to the forefront.
Original and impactful content
Filmmaker and screenwriter based out of Mumbai; Nitya Mehra received unprecedented success when she shifted focus to OTT. She is best known for the Oscar-winning film Life of Pi where she worked as the Assistant Director. Born in Amritsar in a Punjabi family, Nitya studied Literature from Delhi University before pursuing Film Production and Direction at New York University.
In 2019, Nitya show ran, executive produced and directed the critically-acclaimed web series Made In Heaven on Amazon Prime Video which explored the themes of love, relationships and the Indian wedding industry. It starred Arjun Mathur, Sobhita Dhulipala and Kalki Koechlin. The series was well-received by audiences and critics and helped establish her reputation as a talented and visionary producer in the OTT space.
She also directed one of the stories of the anthology film Unpaused – a Hindi-language anthology film consisting of five short segments directed by Raj & DK, Nitya Mehra, Nikkhil Advani, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Avinash Arun. The stories revolved around lives of people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and premiered on 18 December 2020 on Amazon Prime Video.
Mehra feels evolution is a reality and when television came, people on the radio were worried. She believes new things come with evolution and OTT has now given theatres a run for the money. But she insists there is a dedicated space for all formats and enough human beings on the planet to consume everything.
Pioneering change
Director and producer Leena Yadav has been a renowned name in the Indian OTT space. She has created several acclaimed series and films for OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Fostering a culture of experimentation and innovation in the Indian OTT space, her works have helped push boundaries of what is possible in the medium. She is also known for her advocacy of inclusivity in media and her works are shaping the future of OTT space in India.
Leena Yadav’s true-crime docuseries House of Secrets: Burari Deaths on Netflix was well received and said to go beyond the police investigation. She was the showrunner and co-director (along with Anubhav Chopra) of the three-part series. The show explores the theories surrounding the demise of 11 members of the same family on 30 June 2018.
The filmmaker is known for the 2018 film Rajma Chawal which was her first project for an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform. The film explored the themes of father-son relationships and technology. The film was well-received by audiences and critics and further established Yadav’s reputation as a visionary filmmaker in the OTT space.
New opportunities
OTT has opened the floodgates of opportunities for women producers, actors, directors, scriptwriters, editors, etc. It has also created uninterrupted space for content that highlights contemporary social issues and problems.
Delhi Crime, an Indian crime drama series written and directed by Richie Mehta, starred Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal among others. The first season was set in the aftermath of the brutal 2012 Delhi gang rape that triggered unprecedented change in the country. The series was released on Netflix on 22 March 2019.
Rangita Pritish Nandy, CEO of Pritish Nandy Communications has produced many critically-acclaimed films and web series for OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and ZEE5. Her show, Four More Shots Please, is about the lives of four privileged SoBo girls who build their lives as they go, sometimes making mistakes and moving on from them. It celebrates various aspects of womanhood at different stages of life.
Award-winning producer Guneet Monga has worked on numerous successful web series, including the Netflix original series Sacred Games. Monga is considered one of the leading producers in India and is known for her ability to bring unique and socially relevant stories to the Indian screen. She continues to produce and support a diverse range of film projects, both in India and internationally.
All these women who are ruling the OTT world have proven, time and again, their creative talents and business astuteness. They are also using every opportunity that comes their way to create and curate content, carefully, that shines a light on the female narrative and on sensitive issues of the contemporary world.