Netflix has ordered its first original series from India, an adaptation of Vikram Chandra’s best-selling novel Sacred Games, to be produced by Phantom Films.
The Hindi and English-language series will be shot on location in India and available to Netflix subscribers globally upon completion.
Set in Mumbai, Chandra’s novel explores the city’s intricate web of organised crime, corruption and politics, which lie beneath India’s economic renaissance.
Founded by four leading Indian directors and producers – Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vikas Bahl and Madhu Mantena – Phantom Films has previously produced feature films such as Raman Raghav 2.0, which recently premiered at Cannes, Queen, Bombay Velvet and Masaan. The Netflix project marks the company’s first TV production.
“I’m confident that all the colour and vitality and music of the fictional world I’ve lived with for so long will come fully alive on the large-scale canvas provided by Netflix. I’m thrilled to be working with Netflix and Phantom Films,” said Chandra.
“We are very happy to start this journey with Netflix by producing Vikram’s outstanding story, set in Mumbai,” said Phantom’s Mantena. “And we are extremely confident that, together we will create some exciting and groundbreaking television content from hereon.”
Phantom also has a deal with Blumhouse Productions and Ivanhoe Pictures to produce local-language genre movies, including Kashyap’s upcoming Giddy.