Vicky Kaushal, Manoj Bajpayee, Huma Qureshi Star as ZEE5 Global Reports Surge in Viewership for Reality-Based Content (EXCLUSIVE)

As a dedicated follower of ZEE5 Global and an avid consumer of South Asian content, I have witnessed the platform’s remarkable shift towards reality-inspired titles over the past few years. The growing popularity of such productions, which now make up about 20% of the platform’s total viewership, is truly fascinating to me.


Over the last two years, there’s been a significant increase in the number of viewers tuning into reality-style shows on ZEE5 Global, a well-known streaming service specializing in South Asian content. About one fifth of the platform’s overall audience now watches these types of programs.

Real-life stories and figures continue to captivate audiences, with factual narratives seeing a surge in popularity. In 2024, the biopic “Sam Bahadur,” which showcases the life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, played by Vicky Kaushal, became the most-watched content across all genres. This groundbreaking production set new benchmarks for viewership and audience engagement. Other successful titles in this category include “Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,” which portrays the life of Indian political figure V.D. Savarkar with Randeep Hooda leading the cast, and “Main Atal Hoon,” a biographical drama about former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee featuring Pankaj Tripathi in the title role.

In 2023, “Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai” and “Tarla,” two original productions, made their mark with compelling storytelling based on real-life events. The first, featuring Manoj Bajpayee, was a gripping portrayal of a landmark child sex offense case and became the most-watched original movie. Meanwhile, Huma Qureshi starred in “Tarla,” an engrossing biopic about celebrity chef Tarla Dalal, which took third place in the same category.

The emphasis on real-life stories is a major factor in the increased number of viewers on ZEE5 Global for films and web series. Among these genres, dramas and thrillers are particularly favored, with many viewers finishing them completely.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’ve noticed an intriguing trend in the world of Indian language content. In 2023, Hindi films dominated the Asian-Pacific, Middle Eastern, and African markets with titles like “Maurh,” featuring Ammy Virk, leading the way as the most-watched Punjabi title. This powerful anti-colonial film resonated deeply with audiences across regions. Similarly, the Tamil-language documentary series, “Koose Munisamy Veerappan,” about the notorious Indian poacher and smuggler Veerappan, gained significant attention and acclaim.

Archana Anand, ZEE5 Global’s chief business officer, commented: “The increasing popularity of authentic, real-life stories on ZEE5 Global indicates a clear shift in viewer tastes. Shows like ‘Sam Bahadur’ and ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ prove the powerful effect of genuine storytelling on audience engagement. As we add more impactful content to our collection, we aim to deepen our bond with our global viewers and establish new standards in the streaming sector.”

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2024-07-25 08:47