Banijay Asia, the content powerhouse, has partnered with Sony Pictures Television, the global television production and distribution company, to acquire the format rights to produce Indian remakes of five of its popular international scripted series. The international favourites by Sony Pictures Television that Banijay Asia will bring back for Indian viewers are:
Drop Dead Diva is a series that is both comedy and drama, detailing the life of a fashion model who dies in a car accident and comes back to life as a brilliant, plus-sized attorney.
La Prepago: This must be a lot of intrigue in this Colombian telenovela telling the story of such a woman, living a double life: on one hand, as a beautiful university student with a normal love life hailing from a traditional family, and on the other, as a classy escort being paid for companionship to support her family.
Men At Work: A rib-cracking, light-hearted comedy illustrating four friends living in Manhattan trying to understand the intricacies of employment, women, and friendship.
Mob Doctor: Medical drama mixed with organized crime. Mob Doctor describes the story of an exceptional surgeon working at a posh Chicago hospital who becomes embroiled with the mafia when she is forced to treat their injured.
Rosario Tijeras: This is a story of a poor ghetto young lady in Colombia, tormented by the impulse to take revenge, and of her love affairs with two best friends born into remarkably wealthy families.
The group development officer at Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India, Mrinalini Jain, appeared quite thrilled about the association. “This collaboration will allow us to bring some of the world’s most iconic and celebrated series to India by reimagining them through the Indian lens with a cultural twist,” she said. All these shows are marquee properties with huge followings, and it is our endeavor to maintain the essence of the originals while making them relevant to our Indian audiences. Our association with Sony Pictures Television has been one of celebrating collaboration and a passion for storytelling, promising content delivery for our viewers. We are looking forward to bringing the best in global entertainment to the Indian marketplace, and at the same time, ensuring each of the adaptations will create memorable experiences for our audiences.”
“We are excited to partner with Banijay Asia in bringing international favourites to Indian audiences in new and exciting ways,” said Sonika Bhasin, VP, Distribution, India, Sony Pictures Television. “These shows have accrued so much popularity worldwide, and we can’t wait to get them adopted for the Indian audience.”. We believe Banijay Asia has the skills to produce high-quality adaptations that capture the soul of the original series, providing a perspective that is new and contemporary for the local audience. It’s a very exciting opportunity to bring out the universal appeal of Sony’s rich content library and at the same time reflect India’s vibrant culture and storytelling technique, now an emerging key market of the global entertainment sector. “With the combined synergy of our interpretative skills and creative vision, the adaptations will do just as well in terms of success and appreciation across South Asia.”
Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India have taken the floor with a number of hit scripted adaptations, such as The Night Manager & The Trial, alongside successful originals like Aarya, Dahan, Matsya Kaand, Bombay Begums & Trial By Fire. The companies are also behind strong non-scripted productions including MasterChef, Big Boss, Temptation Island and Into The Wild with Bear Grylls.
