From A Suitable Boy to The Empire: Will period dramas be the next big thing on web?

While Hindi cinema has belted out a bevy of period dramas over the years, the genre is relatively new to its counterpart, the OTT space. The recently released web series, The Empire, which traces the rise and fall of the Mughal Empire, may have received mixed reviews, but many believe that it will set a precedent for filmmakers to try their hands on period dramas as a long format storytelling. Many believe that the Empire will set a precedent for filmmakers to try their hands on period dramas as long format storytelling However, The Empire isn’t the first period drama piece in the web space. Taking cue from this, the rich history of India also deserves to be chronicled for consumption.” But writing a period piece for a long format, she feels, is the biggest challenge: “Episodic build-ups and cliff-hangers require a fair bit of intuitive skill.” While he’s hopeful that the audience will be treated to more period dramas in the near future, Kohli asserts that budget is also an issue. They’ve a longer gestation period but they’re interesting and clutter-breaking.” “An elevated scale, sharper story narrative, in depth characters and an increased visual treat, which requires a heavy investment on resources and time” are the reasons why Ridhima Lulla, Chief Content Officer, Eros Group, thinks that the genre has not been explored much.