Sameer Nair, the head of Applause Entertainment, shares his thoughts on the evolving Indian streaming landscape, discussing the success of adaptations like ‘Criminal Justice’ and his belief that ‘The Office’ India would fare better in today’s larger market.
Mastering the Art of Adaptation
Adapting international shows and books for Indian audiences isn’t a new concept, but it’s one Sameer Nair has perfected. He views adaptations not just as a way to bring popular stories to a new audience, but as a crucial method to keep compelling narratives alive across generations and cultures.
From classics like Shakespeare, reinterpreted by Vishal Bhardwaj, to Oscar-winning films like ‘The Departed’ being based on Hong Kong cinema, the practice is global. Nair emphasizes that it’s about legitimately acquiring rights and retelling stories with a local touch, rather than merely “ripping them off.”
“Criminal Justice”: An Indian Success Story
One of Applause Entertainment’s standout successes is ‘Criminal Justice’, which has now surpassed its British original. Nair explains that while they stayed true to the core of the show, casting Pankaj Tripathi as the lawyer, Madhav Mishra, was a game-changer.
Tripathi infused the character with a unique mischief and humor not present in the original versions. This unexpected twist allowed the Indian series to evolve, creating an original franchise where Madhav Mishra became a beloved, humble everyman, anchoring the show beyond its initial premise.
Why “The Office” India Deserves Another Chance
The Indian adaptation of ‘The Office’ ran for two seasons, but Nair believes it would thrive much more today. He attributes its initial limited run to a smaller market size back in 2020.
With JioHotstar now boasting 300 million customers, the audience base is significantly larger. Nair feels the show, which brilliantly localized the office antics from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Faridabad, captured universal workplace humor and resonated well with viewers, particularly Gopal Dutt’s quirky character.
Big Stars and Streaming Economics
The discussion also touched on big stars venturing into streaming, like Ajay Devgn in ‘Rudra: The Edge of Darkness’. While ‘Rudra’ was a huge hit for its time and the most-watched show on Hotstar before ‘Criminal Justice’ Season 4, Nair suggests the economics for top-tier stars on streaming platforms are still evolving.
He notes that factors like return on investment and the early days of streaming played a role. However, he praises Devgn’s performance, stating he perfectly captured the essence of the original ‘Luther’ character.
Adapting Beyond English Content
Nair dismisses the idea that adapting from lesser-known international shows (like Israeli productions) is inherently more beneficial than adapting from popular English content. He believes the audience today is open to consuming content in any language, and the primary reason for adaptation is the belief that a story is worthy of retelling in a new context.
Bringing Indian Books to the Screen
Applause Entertainment has also successfully adapted Indian books, including the acclaimed ‘Scam 1992’ and ‘Black Warrant’. Nair highlights their commitment to showcasing rich Indian literature and contemporary history, like ‘The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case’.
When adapting books, they often focus on specific aspects, allowing the series to delve deep while encouraging audiences to read the original for the full scope. The upcoming ‘Scam’ season on Subroto Roy, and the ambitious ‘Gandhi’ series, based on Ramachandra Guha’s works, exemplify this approach.
Nair views the ‘Gandhi’ series as a “Crown”-like saga, offering a much richer, multi-faceted narrative of Mahatma Gandhi’s life and India’s independence struggle than previous short film adaptations, portraying him as a relatable “young adult story” rather than just the iconic old man.
- Indian adaptations like ‘Criminal Justice’ can surpass their originals by developing unique local elements.
- ‘The Office’ India could thrive in today’s expanded streaming market due to increased audience reach.
- Adapting stories, whether from international shows or local books, is essential for keeping narratives alive across generations.
- Streaming services leverage algorithms and audience preferences, with crime dramas remaining a consistently popular genre due to their voyeuristic appeal.
As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, Sameer Nair’s insights underscore the strategic blend of global storytelling with local nuance that defines successful content creation in India.
Sameer Nair, the Managing Director of Applause Entertainment, believes that the Indian adaptation of ‘The Office’ would see much greater success today due to the vastly expanded streaming market.
The Power of Adaptation in Indian Streaming
Sameer Nair has a unique perspective on India’s entertainment scene, from its early days of Western show imports to current successful adaptations. He highlights that adapting stories isn’t new globally; it’s a way to keep compelling narratives relevant across cultures and generations.
Today, this means acquiring legitimate rights to stories and reimagining them for a specific Indian context. This approach allows universal themes to resonate deeply with local audiences.
“Criminal Justice”: A Phenomenal Indian Success
‘Criminal Justice’ stands out as a prime example of a successful adaptation. It has even outlasted its British original by two seasons. Nair explains that while they kept the core story, casting Pankaj Tripathi as the eccentric lawyer, Madhav Mishra, was key.
Tripathi infused the character with an unexpected humor and mischief, making him uniquely Indian and allowing the series to build its own distinct identity. This led to a beloved character who now anchors the franchise, continually evolving while remaining a humble, relatable figure.
“The Office” India’s Untapped Potential
The Indian version of ‘The Office’ had a good run for two seasons. However, Nair feels it was held back by a smaller market at the time of its release.
He firmly believes that with Hotstar’s massive subscriber base today, the show would be a huge hit. The universal humor of a sleepy office and a quirky boss, localized to Faridabad, perfectly resonated, particularly through Gopal Dutt’s character. Nair regrets not making more seasons, envisioning an 11-season run like its American counterpart.
Big Stars and the Economics of Streaming
The conversation also touched on the viability of major stars like Ajay Devgn leading streaming shows, as he did in ‘Rudra: The Edge of Darkness’. ‘Rudra’ was a massive hit, becoming the most-watched show on Hotstar for a period.
Nair suggests that the economics and return on investment for big stars in streaming were different in the early days. While Devgn delivered a fantastic performance, aligning with the original ‘Luther’ character, the model for such high-profile projects is continually evolving.
Adapting Diverse Stories and Books
Nair explains that the source of an adaptation – whether a lesser-known Israeli show or a popular English one – doesn’t matter as much today. The global streaming audience is increasingly open to content from all languages.
Applause Entertainment has also successfully adapted Indian books, like ‘Scam 1992’ and ‘The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case’. They don’t just copy verbatim but focus on a specific aspect of the book, creating a compelling series while encouraging viewers to read the original for a deeper dive.
Reinterpreting History: The “Gandhi” Series
An ambitious upcoming project is the ‘Gandhi’ series, based on Ramachandra Guha’s books. Nair clarifies that this series isn’t meant to simply replicate past films like Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’.
Instead, the series format allows for a much richer, multi-season narrative, akin to ‘The Crown’. It aims to explore not just Gandhi’s life, but the broader Indian independence struggle and the many individuals involved, reinterpreting historical figures for a contemporary audience.
- Indian adaptations like ‘Criminal Justice’ can find unique success by localizing characters and stories.
- ‘The Office’ India’s potential was underestimated due to a smaller streaming market years ago.
- Adapting international and book content is crucial for keeping diverse stories alive.
- The ‘Gandhi’ series will offer a deeper, multi-faceted look at India’s independence struggle through a new lens.
Sameer Nair’s vision for Applause Entertainment emphasizes adapting compelling narratives for a rapidly growing and discerning Indian audience, ensuring relevance and engagement in the competitive streaming landscape.
