Blockbusters “RRR” and “Gadar 2” are spearheading a wave of patriotic films that have captured 65% of movie viewership on ZEE5 Global, the streaming platform for South Asian content, over the past year.
“RRR” has emerged as a standout, consistently driving viewership and subscription growth on the platform. “Gadar 2” has also secured its place among ZEE5 Global’s all-time top movie titles, ranking within the top 10.
The platform’s collection of patriotic-themed films includes “Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,” “Sam Bahadur,” “Tejas,” “Main Atal Hoon,” “Uri: The Surgical Strike,” “Maurh,” “Ghoomer” and “Parmanu.” These titles feature actors such as Vicky Kaushal, NTR Jr, Ram Charan, Sunny Deol, Abhishek Bachchan, Randeep Hooda, Pankaj Tripathi, Ammy Virk, Akshay Kumar and John Abraham.
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“Maurh,” starring Ammy Virk, became the most-watched Punjabi-language title of the year. The classic film “Sarfarosh,” starring Aamir Khan, saw a 150% increase in viewership on its 25th anniversary. The U.S. and Australia lead in consumption of these heritage-focused films.
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ZEE5 Global has added Cpics, a U.S.-based streaming platform for South Asian content, and Chaupal, which offers content in languages including Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and Haryanvi, to its Add-ons service.
For Indian Independence Day on Aug. 15, ZEE5 Global is introducing new titles like “Sarabha” and “Sarpanchi” through its Add-ons service in the U.S. “Sarabha” portrays India’s first Independence movement, while “Sarpanchi” explores village politics. Both titles are in the Punjabi language.
Archana Anand, chief business officer of ZEE5 Global, said: “ZEE5 Global has successfully engaged millions of viewers by investing in stories that deeply resonate with our audiences worldwide. By offering titles that evoke a strong sense of belonging and a deep connect to their homeland, particularly for those living overseas, we have created a profound and enduring connection with our viewers, making these narratives not only engaging but also deeply personal.”
