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Prime Video’s Panchayat Season 4 Achieves Record-Breaking Success, Delivering the Highest Opening in the Franchise’s History During Launch Week; Season 5 Officially Confirmed for 2026

Following the phenomenal success of its previous seasons, the much-loved series Panchayat returned with Season 4 on June 24 and has already solidified its standing as both a local and global sensation. The latest season recorded the strongest opening, surpassing all previous seasons in viewership, showcasing its wide appeal and gripping narrative. On launch day, Panchayat Season 4 trended among the Top 10 titles in over 42 countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and UAE among others, and was streamed in more than 180 countries during its launch week, highlighting its growing footprint. In India, it has been trending at #1 in India and was streamed across 95% of the country’s pin codes in the first week, reaffirming its deep-rooted popularity. Riding on the overwhelming response to Season 4, Prime Video has confirmed that Season 5 is already in development and will premiere in 2026. Since its debut on Prime Video in 2018, Panchayat has consistently captured hearts and earned critical acclaim. Season 2 was honored with the inaugural Best Web Series (OTT) Award at the 54th International Film Festival of India in 2023. With Season 4 delivering the biggest opening for the series yet, Panchayat continues to scale new heights, resonating deeply with audiences in India and around the world.

“We are absolutely delighted with the phenomenal response to Panchayat Season 4, which has further elevated the series’ stature and set new benchmarks for authentic storytelling,” said Manish Menghani, Director & Head – Content Licensing, Prime Video India. “The season’s exceptional viewership across India and in over 180 countries within its launch week is a testament to its universal appeal and deep cultural resonance. With its heartfelt narrative and relatable characters, Panchayat has evolved into a global phenomenon, transcending borders and touching audiences with its warmth, simplicity, and authenticity. This milestone not only reflects the enduring love for the series but also reinforces the growing global appetite for rooted, Indian stories. We’re excited to share that work has already begun on Season 5, and we look forward to continuing the journey of Phulera and its beloved characters.”

“It has been a truly extraordinary journey collaborating with Prime Video to bring Panchayat to life and witness its incredible growth over the years,” said Vijay Koshy, President, The Viral Fever (TVF). “This series holds a special place in our hearts, as it beautifully captures the charm, humor, and nuances of rural India, celebrating the power of simple, human storytelling. Panchayat reflects the shared vision and values we hold with Prime Video: to tell meaningful, relatable stories that resonate with audiences across geographies. We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming love Season 4 has received—not just from viewers across India, but from audiences around the world. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible cast and crew whose passion and dedication made this journey possible, and to the fans whose unwavering support continues to inspire us. We’re excited for what lies ahead and look forward to bringing Season 5 to audiences in 2026.”

Produced by The Viral Fever, created by Deepak Kumar Mishra & Chandan Kumar, written by Chandan Kumar and directed by Akshat Vijaywargiya & Deepak Kumar Mishra. The series features a much-loved cast, including Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, Ashok Pathak and Pankaj Jha. 

Panchayat Season 4 is a part of Prime Video’s Prime Day 2025 line-up. Amazon India returns with its much-awaited Prime Day from 12th to 14th July 2025. Prime members get ready to discover joy with big savings, great deals, new launches from leading brands, small and medium businesses, blockbuster entertainment and much more. During Prime Day, save big with 10% savings on payment using ICICI Bank Credit/Debit cards, SBI Credit Cards and EMI transactions on ICICI Bank Credit Cards and SBI Credit Cards. Amazon Prime is designed to make your life better every single day as it provides the best of shopping, savings, and entertainment in one single membership, unlimited 5% cashback on all purchases using their co-branded ICICI credit card, access to exclusive deals, early and exclusive access to our shopping events including Prime Day. Not a member yet? Join Prime in India, for an annual Prime membership at INR1,499 – with full shipping, shopping & entertainment benefits like Prime Video, Amazon Music, and more; Prime Lite at INR799 – with full shopping benefits & Prime Video benefits, or Prime Shopping Edition at INR399 – which is tailored for customers only looking for shipping and shopping benefits. Visit amazon.in/prime to join Prime now.

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by Vivek Kumar

BBH India, the creative agency for CaratLane, has conceptualised and created a heartwarming Pujo film that positions Durga Puja as the perfect moment to pop the question. At the heart of the film is CaratLane’s elegant proposal ring, brought alive by BBH India as the ultimate symbol of commitment – timed to perfection with the emotional crescendo of Pujo. Titled ‘Maayer Aashirbaad’, the film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Bauddhayan Mukherji of Little Lamb Films, with music composed by legendary Debojyoti Mishra. It is a sensory delight that blends timeless Rabindra Sangeet with folk melodies, creating a soundscape that is both nostalgic and fresh. Mekhla Dasgupta and Chirantan Banerjee’s voices breathe life into Mishra’s score. The music becomes the emotional engine of a slowly unfolding love story between two protagonists, played by actors Ayoshi Talukdar and Subhrojit Saha, whose chemistry lights up the screen with playful intensity. Spanning the key days of Pujo from Shoshthi to Doshomi, the film captures iconic moments like Anjali, Dhunuchi Naach, and Bhog, each scene steeped in the colour, rhythm, and emotion of Bengal’s most cherished celebration.  The storytelling unfolds entirely through music. The girl drops playful hints of her desire for commitment while the boy responds with lighthearted mischief. The lyrics themselves become a conversation, questions and answers set to melody. The narrative builds gently, as days of festivity and moments of romance gather weight, until it culminates in a poignant proposal during Doshomi’s shindoor khela, where the male lead goes down on one knee and presents the CaratLane proposal ring, an unforgettable moment framed by tradition and tenderness. Parikshit Bhattaccharya, Chief Creative Officer, BBH India, said, “Durga Pujo is already a love story – between people, rituals, and memories. We wanted to frame it as the perfect backdrop for one more love story, and the CaratLane proposal ring became the natural climax. At BBH India, we believe powerful cultural truths make for the most resonant brand storytelling, and that’s exactly what this campaign celebrates. It weaves cultural nostalgia with feel-good romance to break away from the usual format of jewellery advertising.”According to Saumen Bhaumik, Managing Director, CaratLane, “The vision behind the campaign was to connect with people on a deeper, more personal level. “Love, romance and proposal are matters of the heart. We believe a proposal comes from the heart, on your own terms, in your own time, free flowing, and spontaneous—like an unforgettable melody. The film ‘Maayer Aashirbaad’ attempts to capture that beautifully honest moment cinematically in the backdrop of Durga Pujo—the biggest event in Bengal. The medley of Rabindra Sangeet and folk melodies truly brings this story to life. Just to say that the most meaningful moments of love are simple, sincere, and made to last.”

by Livemint

A few weeks ago, Netflix confirmed that it used generative AI for the first time ever in a TV show. Shortly after, the streaming giant shared a set of guidelines with its creators for promoting the responsible and transparent use of new technology while avoiding legal trouble. In a blog post about the new guidelines, Netflix said, “Generative AI tools (GenAI) that allow users to rapidly generate new and creatively unique media (video, sound, text, and image) are increasingly being used across creative workflows in Content Production.” “At… Source link

OTT
by Vivek Kumar

Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, today announced a multi-year licensing collaboration with Maddock Films, securing worldwide-exclusive streaming rights to eight of its highly anticipated upcoming films. Doubling down on its commitment to offer the best of Indian entertainment to audiences globally, these films will be available to Prime members on Prime Video across 240+ countries and territories, shortly after their theatrical release.  The new post-theatrical licensing slate makes Prime Video the exclusive home to films from Maddock’s much-loved and celebrated horror-comedy universe premiering theatrically between 2025 and 2027. This includes Thama, in addition to two other titles in this franchise that will be announced soon. With Stree 2, the last blockbuster film from Maddock’s horror-comedy universe, Prime Video not only delivered one of the biggest hits on streaming globally but was also able to cultivate fandom for the movie far beyond its theatrical release.   The slate also includes the highly anticipated Sidharth Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor-starrer Param Sundari that premieres in theatres on 29th August 2025 as well as Shiddat 2 and Badlapur 2, expansions of two highly successful franchises.  The broader licensing collaboration also includes the Sriram Raghavan-directed Ikkis starring Agastya Nanda, in addition to several other films to be announced soon. The collaboration reinforces the longstanding relationship between Prime Video and Maddock Films, following a history of bringing highly popular global blockbusters such as Stree 2, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, Stree and many more to the service, in addition to the super-successful co-production Bhool Chuk Maaf that premiered first in theatres before coming on Prime Video, and Original series Jee Karda. Dinesh Vijan, CEO & founder, Maddock Films, said, “We’ve always believed in telling stories that surprise, entertain, and resonate—and in working with partners who share that belief. Prime Video has consistently championed cinema that transcends languages, geographies, and formats. From our horror-comedy universe to our most beloved franchises, our endeavour has always been to create worlds that audiences love to revisit. This strategic long-term post-theatrical licensing deal is a natural extension of our shared vision: to take Indian storytelling to a truly global stage. We’re excited that these films will now continue their journey beyond theatres on Prime Video, reaching an even wider audience across the world.”  “We are thrilled to expand our strategic collaboration with Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films to continue delivering on our promise of bringing compelling stories to audiences across the world. This multi-film slate not only builds on the unique and wildly popular horror-comedy universe and franchise sequels but also brings in a distinctive blend of creative originality and fresh storytelling that is synonymous with Maddock. We look forward to entertaining our customers with the post-theatrical premieres of some of India’s most eagerly awaited films,” said Manish Menghani, director & head of content licensing, Prime Video, India. “At Prime Video, we have consistently worked towards expanding the reach of Indian movies, not just deep within India but also globally by taking them to geographies much beyond the scope of other …