Netflix has announced it is significantly expanding its Tamil film collection, obtaining the rights to a further 18 Tamil-language films for streaming in 2023.
According to a statement by Netflix, the films will be added to the platform throughout the year after they have completed their respective theater runs. This move comes as part of Netflix’s plan to serve not just international communities but speakers of regional languages around the globe.
With the lucrative Tamil film industry booming, this will be a prominent step toward showcasing Tamil cinema to a global audience. The list sees titles such as AK 62, directed by Vignesh Shivan, and upcoming period action drama Vaathi, written and directed by Venky Atluri and starring Tamil actor Dhanush.
Previous showings of Tamil films have produced positive ratings for the platform, fueling a decision to give the Tamil film industry greater exposure. Monika Shergill, VP of content at Netflix, explains, “Our audience has a huge appetite for locally authentic and global stories across India, and we want to give them more of what they love. Films such as Beast, Doctor, and Gatta Kusthi have been enjoyed and sparked conversations among our global audience, and we are confident that our new lineup of Tamil films will have the same effect.”
Gatta Kusthi, a 2022 Tamil comedy, has already been released as part of the list and has produced positive ratings.
Despite their Tamil production and origins, these films will be available to stream in other languages. The majority of the list will be dubbed in Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam, with a select number of titles also available in Hindi. Subtitles are expected in several Indian languages and English.
Shergill added, “The slate presents a variety of films across multiple genres highlighting the abundance of creative talent from South India, and with the work we are doing behind the scenes around our dubbing and subtitling, we are delighted to make these films accessible to a wider audience all over India and every corner of the world.”
