25 New Titles Announced in the Presence of Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu and Southern Cinema Icons
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Jio Hotstar announces massive plans to revolutionize the South Indian entertainment sector with an investment of ₹4,000 crores over five years.
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Signs an agreement with the Government of Tamil Nadu to strengthen and promote creative talent and cultural heritage.
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Unveils a lineup of 25 brand new titles across South Indian languages, including original films, blockbuster movies, and high-engagement series.
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Event attended by cinematic legends Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal, Nagarjuna, Rahman, Vijay Sethupathi, alongside other artists, technicians, and producers from the South.
Jio Hotstar has marked a significant milestone in the South Indian media and entertainment industry. Jio Hotstar announced that its parent company, JioStar, will be investing ₹4,000 crores over the next five years to fuel creative innovation in South India.
The announcement was made at a grand event in Chennai on Tuesday evening, in the presence of the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Udhayanidhi Stalin, Minister for Tamil Language Development and Information, M.P. Swaminathan, Honorable Member of Parliament Padma Bhushan Shri Kamal Haasan, and other prominent figures from the South Indian film and television industry.
Sushant Sreeram, Head of SVOD & Chief Marketing Officer at JioStar, and Krishnan Kutty, Cluster Head of Entertainment (South) at JioStar, detailed Jio Hotstar's efforts to revolutionize the Indian entertainment sector and its commitment to bringing Indian storytelling to a wider audience in the South.
Partnership with Tamil Nadu Government
Jio Hotstar announced a partnership with the Government of Tamil Nadu, signing a Letter of Intent. This collaboration reflects a shared vision to accelerate the state's creative and production ecosystem. As part of this, Jio Hotstar will play a key role in strengthening the creative economy of Tamil Nadu. The agreement aims to prioritize regional authenticity and introduce new-age stories and innovative narratives that transcend geographical boundaries on a massive scale.
Jio Hotstar will roll out creative-centric initiatives such as writing labs, mentorship programs, and skill development workshops to foster new filmmakers, writers, editors, and digital storytellers.
Unveiling the 'South Unbound' Content Slate
Symbolizing this new chapter, Honorable Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin unveiled the Jio Hotstar Blockbuster South Lineup, featuring 25 new titles that reflect the culture and traditions of South India and pave the way for the future of regional entertainment.
Honorable Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin shared his thoughts on the creative future of Tamil Nadu and the objectives of the partnership:
"We are delighted to partner with Jio Hotstar. Tamil Nadu is the center of all South Indian states. Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema were born here. It is a great thing that this place is home to artists from all South Indian states. Arts and literature hold a special place in Tamil history. Art can bring change, and cinema can educate people. Tamil writers turned stories into weapons for social change. The dialogues of Annadurai and Kalaignar Karunanidhi not only entertained the audience but also inspired them greatly and initiated change.
"We have a history of stories that cause social change. The contribution of South India has set new standards for Indian cinema. Content is key when it comes to storytelling. If the content is good, it crosses language and regional barriers and entertains everyone. Kamal Sir is a great inspiration and example of how to tell a story and how to reach the masses. He experimented extensively in cinema. Back in 2012, Kamal Sir released a film directly to home. I welcome this project implemented by Jio Hotstar in that direction.
"This partnership will help train young artists based on modern technology. Creative labs will also be set up. Chennai will transform into a Global Film City. Jio Hotstar is investing ₹12,000 crores in the South Indian entertainment sector over the next 5 years. This will create 1,000 direct jobs and 15,000 indirect employment opportunities. Our government is committed to building a strong economy through cinema with this partnership."
Sushant Sreeram, Head of SVOD Business & Chief Marketing Officer at JioStar, stated:
"Jio Hotstar started as a dream to build the future of entertainment, to bring the rich history and stories of our country to a wider audience, and to become the destination for Indian entertainment everywhere, powered by cutting-edge technology. We are happy with the progress we have made in less than a year with live sports and entertainment programs. We have established Jio Hotstar as the clear choice for all of India. In line with South India’s amazing viewing heritage and India’s storytelling culture, we are striving to promote great, authentic narratives by providing diversity, accessibility, and viewing experiences that match the tastes and expectations of every viewer."
Krishnan Kutty, Head of Entertainment (South) at JioStar, elaborated on the South's creative plans:
"South India has always been a powerhouse of creative energy. It is a great honor to serve in a direction that defines the next era of Indian storytelling. The stories that originate here are courageous, and the creators craft them fearlessly. Moreover, South Indian audiences prioritize entertainment more than anywhere else in the country. Our commitment is to stimulate this ecosystem with meaningful, long-term investments in talent, infrastructure, and new storytelling trends that match their tastes. Over the past ten months, more than 500 creators, directors, and showrunners have become part of the Jio Hotstar family. We want every creator in the South to dream big, give shape to those dreams, and take those stories further than ever before. South Unbound promises to nurture South Indian creative power and ensure these stories reach as many people as possible."
Honorable Member of Parliament Padma Bhushan Shri Kamal Haasan, attending the event, said:
"This is a welcome step. This is a time when the audience is becoming the platform for the first time in the entertainment industry. Stories should not be confined to the screen. Stories must travel with the people and the audience. We must strive to bring stories rooted in our origins to everyone. Be it Madurai, Malappuram, or Machilipatnam... the stories from there are no longer regional cinema. They are all National Treasures. Kantara, which came from the grassroots of a remote area, shook the entire country. Can we forget the narrative of Drishyam in Malayalam? In Telugu, Baahubali and Pushpa entertained everyone, even foreigners. The reason for these successes is simple: the stories are born from our soil. Storytelling should not stop with talent. The right leadership is needed to make these stories accessible to the maximum number of people. I believe Jio Hotstar will play a key role in this. It is commendable that they see the South not just as a market, but as a Creative Gravity. Udhayanidhi Stalin is implementing great schemes in Tamil Nadu's information and technology sector. Structured training must be provided in media study programs, animation, and VFX sectors. The world cinema is now looking towards India. This is the right time to present our stories rooted in Indian culture to the world. What I would say to the youth is that I want Tamil artists to prove their mettle in world cinema."
The Jio Hotstar 'South Unbound' 2025 Lineup
Jio Hotstar will showcase one of the most diverse content portfolios in South India, featuring Originals, Franchises, Films, and unscripted formats.
The lineup includes the return of blockbuster franchises like Kerala Crime Files S3, Save The Tigers S3, Heartbeat S3, and Good Wife S2, underscoring the demand for long-form storytelling. Alongside these popular series, Jio Hotstar is introducing new Originals such as Cousins And Kalyanams, Moodu Lantharlu, LBW - Love Beyond Wicket, Resort, Secret Stories: Roslin, Lingam, and Vikram on Duty.
Expanding its premium original catalog, Jio Hotstar is adapting the critically acclaimed Hindi series 'Aarya' into a regional language, titled 'Vishakha,' starring Kajal Aggarwal. They are also bringing bold new productions like 'Kaattaan' starring Vijay Sethupathi and 'Pharma' starring Nivin Pauly. New-age films like Lucky The Superstar and Kenatha Kaanom are also part of the slate.
Building on the success of Bigg Boss across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, Jio Hotstar is expanding its reality portfolio with innovative formats that reflect cultural and modern trends, such as Comedy Cooks, Mad For Each Other, and Second Love. In a landmark move, the 'Roadies' show will be introduced in Telugu. Jio Hotstar strongly believes this show, one of India's most famous adventure formats, will resonate immensely with the South Indian audience in the non-fiction segment.
The event was graced by eminent South Indian film stars including Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Dhanush, Vijay Sethupathi, Sivakarthikeyan, Nivin Pauly, Aishwarya Rajesh, Kajal Aggarwal, Meena, Priyamani, Nayanthara, Samantha, Nithya Menen, Aju Varghese, Lal, Neena Gupta, and rising artists Deepa Balu, Anumol, Charukesh, Kavin, Arjun Radhakrishnan, Guru Lakshman, Smeha Manimegalai, and directors Jeethu Joseph, Ahammad Khabeer, among others. Representatives from prominent production houses like Banijay Group, Vikatan, DQ Productions, Aashirvaad Cinemas, Arka Media, and Naavi Productions also attended.
Jio Hotstar South Unbound 2025 Lineup: 25 Titles
| Category | Tamil | Telugu | Malayalam | Kannada |
| Reality | Bigg Boss Tamil (Hosted by Vijay Sethupathi) | Bigg Boss Telugu (Hosted by Nagarjuna) | Bigg Boss Malayalam (Hosted by Mohanlal) | Bigg Boss Kannada (Hosted by Kichcha Sudeepa) |
| Reality / Non-Fiction | Comedy Cooks, Second Love | Mad for Each Other (Starring Radha Nair, Sreemukhi), Roadies | ||
| Original/Fiction Series | Good Wife S2 (Priyamani), LBW - Love Beyond Wicket, Vikram on Duty, Resort, Lingam, Heartbeat S3 (Anumol) | Moodu Laantharlu (Aishwarya Rajesh), Cousins And Kalyanams, Vishakha (Kajal Aggarwal), Varam, Save The Tiger S3 (Priyadarshi Pulikonda), Batchmates, Love Always | Kerala Crime Files S3 (Aju Varghese, Lal), Secret Stories: ROSLIN (Meena), Anali (Leona Lishoy), 1000 Babies S2 (Neena Gupta) | |
| Film (New Titles) | Kaattaan (Vijay Sethupathi), Lucky The Superstar, Kenath Kaanaom | Pharma (Nivin Pauly) |
