In today’s digital age, OTT web shows and films have become an integral part of our entertainment landscape. Streaming giants, both major and minor, are investing significant amounts of money to create and promote content extensively. This has led to a steady stream of exciting releases across various platforms almost every week. Ormax, in its half-yearly report, has provided insights into which direct-to-OTT films have dominated viewership.
Amar Singh Chamkila Tops the OTT Charts
According to a report, the film “Amar Singh Chamkila” starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, emerged as the leader. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, this Netflix film, based on the life of one of the most celebrated Punjabi singers, garnered 12.9 million views.
Another Netflix film, “Murder Mubarak,” secured the second spot with 12.2 million views. This murder mystery featured Sara Ali Khan, whose performance also boosted her other OTT release, “Ae Watan Mere Watan,” on Amazon Prime Video, to 11.5 million views.
Maharaj: A Surprising Success
The film “Maharaj,” despite minimal promotion, was released on Netflix and managed to attract 10.6 million views. Produced by Yash Raj Films, this period drama intrigued audiences, partly due to the controversy surrounding it.
The film marked the debut of Aamir Khan’s son, Junaid Khan, and featured Sharvari and Shalini Pandey. The film’s unexpected success highlighted the power of curiosity and word-of-mouth in driving viewership.
Patna Shukla and Other Notable Releases
Raveena Tandon’s “Patna Shukla” on Disney+ Hotstar secured the fifth spot with 9.8 million views. Notably, Netflix had three out of the top five films on the list, and four in the top eleven. “Sharmajee Ki Beti,” an Amazon Prime Video film, was a surprise entry, managing to achieve 7.6 million views despite releasing in the last week of June. It ranked seventh, just below Bhumi Pednekar’s “Bhakshak” on Netflix, which received 8.9 million views.
Most-Watched OTT Hindi Films (January to June 2024)
The most-watched Hindi films from January to June 2024, according to Ormax, are:
- Amar Singh Chamkila (Netflix) – 12.9 million views
- Murder Mubarak (Netflix) – 12.2 million views
- Ae Watan Mere Watan (Amazon Prime Video) – 11.5 million views
- Maharaj (Netflix) – 10.6 million views
- Patna Shukkla (Disney+ Hotstar) – 9.8 million views
- Bhakshak (Netflix) – 8.9 million views
- Sharmajee Ki Beti (Amazon Prime Video) – 7.6 million views
- Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout (Zee5) – 7.3 million views
- Kaam Chalu Hai (Zee5) – 4.9 million views
- House Of Lies (Amazon Prime Video) – 4.9 million views
- Blackout (JioCinema) – 4.9 million views
This list reflects the diverse preferences of the audience and the competition among streaming platforms to deliver compelling content.