ZEE5 Global, the world’s largest streaming platform for South Asian content, unveils data insights showcasing the success of reel-to-real titles on the platform in the last two years.  These content titles now account for nearly one-fifth of the total viewership on the platform.

Content inspired by real-life incidents or influential personalities has consistently topped the charts lately, reflecting a growing appetite for reality-based stories. Leading the charts is Sam Bahadur, the top-watched content across all categories in 2024 so far, breaking several records in viewership and engagement. This year, other popular titles from this segment include Swatantrya Veer Savarkar and Main Atal Hoon. Original titles like Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and Tarla paved the way for true-to-life narratives in 2023 as well. While Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai was the most-watched original movie on the platform, Tarla secured the third spot in the category in the same year.

This strategic focus on bringing true stories to the forefront has driven a notable increase in viewership across both movies and web series on ZEE5 Global. Among these titles, drama and thriller remain the most-watched genres, boasting some of the highest completion rates on the platform.

This trend can also be noticed in Indian language titles such as Maurh and Koose Munisamy Veerappan. Maurh, a Punjabi movie, occupied the top slot as the highest-watched Punjabi title in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa markets in 2023. Koose Munisamy Veerappan that delves into the life of the infamous Indian poacher and domestic terrorist Veerappan, features unseen real-life footage along with bits of narration by the bandit himself and has been appreciated by the audiences across markets as well.

Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global, commented, ” “The rise in viewership for real-life inspired content on ZEE5 Global highlights a significant trend in audience preferences. Titles like ‘Sam Bahadur’ and ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai’ demonstrate the larger and more profound impact of authentic storytelling on viewer engagement. By continuously expanding our portfolio with such impactful content, we look to further strengthen our connection with our global audience and set new benchmarks in the streaming industry.”