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Key Points

Netflix's Co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently discussed the platform's groundbreaking 'Sacred Games', India's first original web series. His comments suggesting the show might have been launched differently sparked a heated response from director Anurag Kashyap. The series, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan, was a pivotal moment in Indian digital entertainment. Despite mixed reactions to its second season, 'Sacred Games' significantly transformed the streaming landscape in India.

Key Points: Ted Sarandos Sacred Games Netflix India Launch Controversy

  • Netflix's first Indian original series marked digital entertainment transformation
  • Streaming platforms faced initial market adaptation challenges
  • Anurag Kashyap criticizes Sarandos' retrospective comments on 'Sacred Games'
3 min read

Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos recalls launch of 'Sacred Games', calls Indian entertainment market exciting

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos reflects on groundbreaking 'Sacred Games', sparking debate with Anurag Kashyap over timing and market potential

"It was very, very novel, but I didn't realise that we were going to be introducing a brand new kind of entertainment to a country the size of India. - Ted Sarandos"

Mumbai, June 8

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's 'Sacred Games' was India's first original web series, directed by Anurag Kashyap and released on Netflix in 2018. The series is considered to have marked a significant shift in India's digital entertainment landscape, underscoring the potential of web series and streaming platforms in India.

Netflix's Co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, recently opened up about the platform's expectations from the Sacred Games, as it was their first big web series venture in India.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Nikhil Kamath on his podcast, CEO Ted Sarandos recalled the platform's early creative choices in India, particularly 'Sacred Games', India's first original web series.

Sarandos noted, "It was very, very novel (Sacred Games), but I didn't realise that we were going to be introducing a brand new kind of entertainment to a country the size of India."

The Netflix co-CEO also acknowledged the broader learning curve of the OTT platforms in India. Despite the early struggles, Sarandos said that he believed in India's huge entertainment market capacity before launching India's first original web series.

"Early on, it took us a couple of years to get the product-market fit right, including payment systems and all those things. We knew that India was going to be a slower journey, but it's a great prize at the end of the day. Right now, you can see how fast Indian households are adopting fixed broadband, big-screen TV is growing - the addressable market in India is exploding in the next couple of years. So it's exciting," said Ted Sarandos at Nikhil Kamath's podcast.

Sarandos also discussed the timing of the show's launch, saying, "If I did it all over again, would I have done Sacred Games a couple of years later? Maybe."

However, this statement didn't sit well with Anurag Kashyap as he believed his directorial 'Sacred Games' was launched at the right time.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Anurag expressed his displeasure, sharing a screenshot of a report on Sarandos' comments on Nikhil Kamath's podcast.

In a post, he wrote, "He should have started with Saas Bahu... he would have done well. Which he is doing now. I always knew the tech guys are dumb when it comes to storytelling, but @tedsarandos is the definition of dumb - that I didn't know. Good to discover that. This explains everything now."

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKnh989tr_Q/

'Sacred Games', starring Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, was widely praised upon its debut and marked a pivotal moment in India's streaming content landscape.

Directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, the gritty thriller was lauded for its storytelling and production value, although its second season drew mixed reactions, and the series was not continued beyond that.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Sacred Games was a game-changer! 🎬 It proved Indian audiences are ready for bold, unconventional storytelling. Netflix took a risk but it paid off - now every OTT platform is chasing that same magic. Anurag Kashyap was absolutely right about the timing!
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Priya M.
Ted Sarandos shouldn't second-guess this. Sacred Games came exactly when we needed it - at the start of India's streaming revolution. Though I wish they'd made Season 3 instead of those mediocre reality shows Netflix is pushing now 😅
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Arjun S.
While Sacred Games was brilliant, Netflix still hasn't fully understood Indian audiences. Their pricing is too high for mass adoption. Hotstar and Amazon Prime give better value with regional content + cricket. Netflix needs more than one iconic show to win India.
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Sneha R.
Anurag Kashyap's reaction is so typical of him! 😂 But he's right - Sacred Games couldn't have come later. It created the template for all the great web series we see today. Though I do wish Netflix would invest more in regional language shows now.
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Vikram P.
The second season wasn't as strong as the first, but Sacred Games will always be special. Nawazuddin's performance was world-class! Netflix should focus on more such content instead of chasing quick wins with reality shows and mediocre rom-coms.
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Meera D.
Interesting to hear the behind-the-scenes perspective! While Sacred Games was groundbreaking, I hope Netflix realizes India's diversity. We need more content in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam etc. not just Hindi. The real "great prize" is in regional storytelling.

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