YRF Entertainment
YRF Entertainment, the streaming division of Indian studio Yash Raj Films, is looking back on its recent successes in the digital space as it looks to the future.
The company’s series, The Railway Men, has been a standout performer on Netflix, marking a significant milestone for Indian content on the platform. The four-part miniseries, which debuted on November 18, 2023, maintained its place in Netflix’s top 10 series list for a staggering 100 consecutive days, a feat that sets a new benchmark for Indian series on the streaming platform. The show’s widespread popularity is also evident as it also ranked in the top three of Netflix’s top global shows, maintaining its position for several months.
YRF Entertainment’s first collaboration with Netflix, Maharaj, also garnered attention. Released on June 21 this year, the period drama directed by Siddharth P. Malhotra quickly rose to second place in Netflix’s top 10 non-English language films list. Its popularity was also reflected in its viewership, with over 8.5 million hours watched in its second and third weeks combined.
Speaking about the company’s streaming strategy, Yash Raj Films CEO Akshay Widani said: “We always aim to create content that best represents our country, our people, our culture, our values and aspirations to a global audience. We want to be proud of the content we put out and in return, we want our country to be proud as well,” he said.
“We spend a lot of time selecting and refining our stories because we believe stories are the content that can stand the test of time and transcend borders and languages,” Widani said.
He also praised Netflix for its support in promoting these titles to a global audience. “Partners like Netflix have believed in our vision and are committed to bringing these titles to the world,” Widani said. “We share this moment with Netflix for their unwavering support, teamwork, disruptive insight, and commitment to content excellence.”
YRF Entertainment’s success with ‘The Railway Men’ and ‘Maharaj’ follows the documentary series ‘The Romantics.’The company has two more projects in the pipeline – the film ‘Vijay 69’ and the series ‘Mandala Murders.’
Widani highlighted YRF’s commitment to taking Indian stories to a global audience: “We believe that Indian stories are what the world wants to see, engage with and discuss, and we want to be at the centre of it,” he said.
As YRF Entertainment continues to expand its streaming lineup, it aims to unearth new voices while also working with top-tier talent. Widani promised a diverse lineup of projects across multiple genres and hinted at some upcoming surprises. “Our three YRF Entertainment projects represent our ambition to take extreme risks while putting content at the heart of disruption. Our upcoming lineup will only further this intention,” Widani said.