JioHotstar has announced a major push into South India’s entertainment market with plans to invest $444 million over five years to acquire and produce regional content. The investment marks one of the largest commitments by an OTT platform to expand South Indian storytelling at scale, at a time when regional cinema is surpassing Bollywood in popularity and box office impact.
Krishnan Kutty, Head of Entertainment (South) at JioStar, said the platform is committed to spending 40 billion rupees over the next five years to deepen engagement with viewers in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam markets.
Coolie (Tamil), Good Bad Ugly (Tamil), Sankrathiki Vastunam (Telugu), L2: Empuraan (Malayalam), and Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra (Malayalam) are some of the major hits in South India in 2025.
JioHotstar, which already has more than 200 million subscribers, aims to more than double its user base by prioritizing regional films, series, and influencer-led content.
Consumers in southern states spend 70 percent more time on the platform, aided by JioHotstar’s affordable plans starting at 50 rupees a month. The platform will invest in new original series, films, non scripted shows, and cinema releases that have already performed well at the box office.
Major Investment Backed by Tamil Nadu Government
JioHotstar also announced a partnership with the Government of Tamil Nadu. The collaboration aims to strengthen the state’s creative ecosystem through regional first formats, storytelling innovation, writing labs, mentorship programs and skill building initiatives.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin unveiled JioHotstar’s slate of 25 new South titles and said the partnership is expected to generate 1,000 direct jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs. He highlighted that OTT platforms complement cinema and help creators reach global audiences from any part of the state.
Transforming India’s Regional Entertainment Landscape
Sushant Sreeram, Chief Marketing Officer at JioStar, said the platform is building the future of entertainment by leveraging India’s rich cultural storytelling traditions with cutting edge technology. Krishnan Kutty added that more than 500 creators, directors and showrunners have joined hands with JioHotstar in the last ten months, reflecting the region’s growing influence in India’s entertainment industry.
Diverse Slate of South Originals and Movies
JioHotstar’s new lineup includes a wide mix of originals, franchises, and unscripted formats:
Kerala Crime Files S3, Save The Tigers S3, Heartbeat S3 and Good Wife S2
New long format shows such as Cousins and Kalyanams, Moodu Lantharlu, LBW – Love Beyond Wicket, Resort, Secret Stories: Roslin, Lingam and Vikram On Duty
Regional adaptation of Aarya titled Vishakha
New productions including Kaattaan starring Vijay Sethupathi and Pharma featuring Nivin Pauly
New movie titles such as Lucky The Superstar and Kenatha Kaanom
The platform is also expanding its reality catalogue with Comedy Cooks, Mad for Each Other and Second Love. In a first, Roadies will debut in Telugu, further strengthening JioHotstar’s leadership in non fiction entertainment.
A New Era for South Indian Storytelling
With a strong focus on regional culture and creator empowerment, JioHotstar’s investment signals a bigger shift in India’s entertainment landscape. As South Indian cinema continues to dominate both national and international attention, the platform’s long term commitment aims to take stories from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala to audiences everywhere.
Baburajan Kizhakedath