Inside ZEE5’s Kannada Originals Slate: From 'Raakshasa' and 'Jerax' to Non-Fiction Shows and Extended TV Content

ZEE5’s Kannada Originals slate has leaned into experimentation since day one — genre-bending titles such as Raakshasa and Jerax, stories rooted in regional belief systems, and even a dedicated Kannada language pack on the platform.

A year in, Deepak Sriramulu, Business Head, ZEE Kannada and Kannada, ZEE5, speaks to The Hollywood Reporter India about the process of building an original ecosystem from scratch, collaborating with storytellers, and offering a competitive Kannada-first space amid the industry’s ongoing dry patch in theatres.

Edited excerpts from the conversation:

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER INDIA: How have the viewing patterns on ZEE5 Kannada shifted over the years?

Before the past year, ZEE5 Kannada was mainly utilised as an alternative platform for consuming content from TV channels. When we started producing originals, we could see a shift in behaviour patterns. Audiences from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities began consuming this content. With storytelling being very rooted in their culture and language, the Kannada-first approach allows them to consume the content more on the digital platform.

THR INDIA: Titles like Raakshasa, Shodha and Jerax feature genre-bending elements. How have audiences responded?

We leaned on local flavours and beliefs. Maarigallu (2025) was set in Sirsi, and Raakshasa (2026) was set in Saundathi. In Saundathi, for instance, there is still a strong belief in crocodiles in water bodies. The Kannada audience is open to accepting this when the stories are relevant.

THR INDIA: How do you look at the past year with respect to Kannada content?

Last year was an experiment for us because there was no existing background study for this market. We did a dipstick study with the storytellers and our office. We understood that crime thrillers might stick with audiences. Every story gave us some learning. We have a writers’ team that constantly works on multiple levels of scripts. So, we put our learnings to use from whatever we understand from focus group discussions.

THR INDIA: What does your data reveal about Kannada audiences’ viewing habits on OTT?

I can confidently tell you that, project to project, we can see a lot of Tier 2, Tier 3 cities awakening, and they are showing a lot of interest in consuming the content. In the past, it was more of an urban audience. Our concentration is more on a co-viewing pattern rather than concentrating on one particular age, like the youth or the elderly. We wanted to have a co-viewing pattern where the kid can sit with their parents and watch the originals.

THR INDIA: What’s next for Kannada content on the platform?

Last year, when we started, we dropped four original pieces of content in a period of some seven to eight months. This year, apart from series, we are also experimenting with many other formats. Along with originals, we wanted to explore extended content from TV, which is like a 50-episode approach we are coming up with.

We’re planning non-fiction shows, events and a lot of new formats that we are exploring, and we have the line-ups. Every month, there will be something new on our platform.