Netflix share drop effect: Platform to cull 90% desi content, survivors, like Delhi Crime 2, under intense scrutiny

The ripple effect of the recent 35-40% stock crash at Netflix is hitting the streaming giant’s India bucket of original shows and movies. Amid a sharp fall in rating and subscriptions, both in India and the West, it is being reported that Netflix India is setting in motion some drastic steps to stem the decline.

According to a report in BollywoodLife, a well-placed source within the industry claims that the streaming giant is looking at dropping a whopping 90% of its upcoming slate of Indian web series and movies. The source states that Netflix India will now focus on a newer, more commercial approach to its content, in a stark departure from the serious, dark, artistic path it has been following till now in a bid to entice viewers. Considering that most of the desi shows and movies on its slate fall in the former category, the source says that Netflix will scrap a large chunk of that content.

Among the shows/movies that are not yet a part of this massive cull is Delhi Crime season 2, but according to reports, the showrunners are neck-deep in trouble with Netflix, which is less than pleased with the output received for the second season so far, despite multiple reshoots.

A quick look at Netflix’s India content bucket with renewed status includes crime dramas She and Jamtara – Sabka Number Ayega, romantic dramedy Mismatched and the romantic thriller Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein, while others like Aranyak, Decoupled, The Fame Game, etc., have no word on their current status. Industry insiders will also keenly look for word on in-production content like Soup, Guns and Gulaabs, etc., as well.

Amid projections that Netflix could likely lose another two million subscribers once its proposed measures against sharing of passwords comes into force, the platform has not only let go of several high-ranking employees, including the head of original animation, but also announced cancellations of several originals.

Internationally, this year, so far, Netflix has already cancelled Another Life, Archive 81, The Baby-Sitters Club, Bone, Bright 2, Cooking with Paris, Diablero, Fast & Loose, Gentefied, On the Verge and Toil &Trouble, among others. It has been reported that the platform axed some shows despite a favourable fan following, like, Tuca & Bertie, One Day at a Time, Sense8, Lady Dynamite, I Am Not OK With This, Teenage Bounty Hunters, Turn up Charlie and Cowboy Bebop.