The Screen in Your Pocket: How OTT Gave Viewers Total Control

Reported by Kajal Bhukan

Pune, 18th May 2025: Remember when family evenings meant fighting for the TV remote, flipping between serials and movies on scheduled time slots? That world now feels distant. In today’s digital era, every individual holds their own screen, their own control, and their own entertainment universe. Welcome to the era of OTT in India.

OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms are streaming services that deliver video content directly over the internet, bypassing traditional cable or satellite TV. Names like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, ZEE5, SonyLIV, and JioCinema now dominate our entertainment choices, accessible anytime on smartphones, tablets, laptops, or smart TVs.

India’s OTT industry has witnessed phenomenal growth in recent times. While platforms like Netflix and Hotstar existed before, the pandemic acted as an unexpected accelerator. With lockdowns shutting down theatres and people confined indoors, OTT platforms became the go-to source of entertainment. Even major entertainment channels were re-telecasting 90s epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, sparking nostalgia across households. But something else was happening quietly—young audiences were diving into fresh content across languages, genres, and cultures.

What began as curiosity soon turned into a content revolution. People explored Korean dramas, Spanish thrillers, Malayalam crime thrillers, and Marathi slice-of-life series—all from their couches. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar saw a massive rise in paid subscriptions and engagement. According to Statista, India is set to reach 974 million internet users by 2025, and the OTT market is projected to hit $12.5 billion by 2030, growing at a 28.6% CAGR, 28.6% CAGR, as per a 2024 FICCI-EY report.

India now boasts 448 million OTT video viewers, making it the second-largest market globally after China. What sets Indian OTT growth apart is the demand for local and regional content—over 70% of consumption happens in Hindi or other Indian languages. From rural villages to metropolitan cities, OTT content is bridging social, linguistic, and cultural divides.

With 40+ streaming services now competing for viewer attention, the battle is fierce—but for audiences, that means more variety, more voices, and more value. The abundance of platforms and stories means Indian viewers enjoy greater choices, often at affordable prices. Moreover, OTTs have become safe havens for bold, experimental content that might not survive in traditional cinema.

But where to begin in this vast ocean of content? Here are some handpicked OTT suggestions to initiate your journey:

10 Must-Watch Films on OTT Platforms

1. Drishyam (Hindi – Amazon Prime)

2. Sardar Udham (Hindi – Amazon Prime)

3. The Lunchbox (Hindi – Netflix)

4. Dhamaka (Hindi – Netflix)

5. Andhadhun (Hindi – Netflix)

6. Minnal Murali (Malayalam – Netflix)

7. Article 15 (Hindi – Netflix)

8. Tumbbad (Hindi – Amazon Prime)

9. Jai Bhim (Tamil – Amazon Prime)

10. Kantara (Kannada – Amazon Prime)

10 Web Series to Begin Your Binge

1. Sacred Games (Hindi – Netflix)

2. Paatal Lok (Hindi – Amazon Prime)

3. Made in Heaven (Hindi – Amazon Prime)

4. Scam 1992 (Hindi – SonyLIV)

5. Delhi Crime (Hindi – Netflix)

6. Rocket Boys (Hindi – SonyLIV)

7. Asur (Hindi – JioCinema)

8. The Family Man (Hindi – Amazon Prime)

9.  Kota Factory (Hindi – Netflix)

10.  Farzi (Hindi – Amazon Prime)

From mythological reruns to edgy political thrillers and multilingual dramas, OTT has democratized storytelling in India. It has empowered creators, widened viewer choices, and turned passive audiences into active, demanding content connoisseurs.

OTT isn’t just a shift in technology—it’s a cultural transformation. In a country as diverse and storytelling-rich as India, this takeover is not just inevitable—it’s revolutionary. So grab your popcorn, pick your screen, and let the binge begin. The remote is finally, completely yours.