Combining their backgrounds and respective strengths into a powerful new digital production company, top entertainment executives from the United States and India have announced the launch of Golden Karavan. The new Mumbai-based entity—set to create and finance a slate of original TV content over the next five years—is the vision of Jeff Sagansky and Florence Sloan of Goldenpeak Productions; Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment; and Apoorva Bakshi, Pooja Kohli and Sanjay Bachani of FilmKaravan Originals.
Golden Karavan is a first-of-its-kind, Indian-focused OTT television production company. With two productions greenlit and 10 more in active development, the outfit intends to create a steady supply of compelling, high-quality content from the region, targeting OTT and digital services including Netflix India and Amazon India.
By creating and packaging this content for exclusive license, Golden Karavan will provide a compelling answer to the emerging revolution in mobile and OTT/broadband delivery in India, servicing local language audiences with original programming.
“Given the access to broadband that is transforming the Indian media landscape, the timing is ideal to launch Golden Karavan, a studio that will provide provocative and high-end, Indian-themed content,” said Jeff Sagansky upon making the announcement. In 2015, Sagansky and his finance partner Harry Sloan invested in and took public on the NASDAQ Videocon d2h, India’s fastest growing satellite provider of pay TV. That company will merge with DISH TV later in the year to become the largest media company in India.
Added Aaron Kaplan: “We recognize the opportunity to focus on the underserved Southeast Asian market with amazing storytellers and talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and we couldn’t have stronger partners leading the creative than we do with Apoorva, Pooja, and Sanjay.”
“Given our extensive knowledge and distribution experience of the Indian film business, Film Karavan wanted to use that expertise to expand into the TV sector,” said Apoorva
Bakshi, speaking about the new venture. “We are hitting the ground running with two series projects greenlit and many others in development.”
Golden Karavan’s initial slate of OTT projects includes the following:
* The company has formed a collaboration with renowned indie filmmaker Hansal Mehta to adapt Ashwin Sanghi’s best-selling book, “The Sialkot Saga.” Mehta’s most recent directorial venture, “Omerta,” garnered rave reviews when it recently premiered during the Toronto International Film Festival.
* Golden Karavan is also collaborating with award-winning Canadian-Indian auteur Richie Mehta on a yet unnamed drama series. His latest, a Google-funded Ridley Scott initiative called “India in a Day,” was critically applauded worldwide.
Commented Florence Sloan: “One of the real powers behind Golden Karavan is the ability to creatively curate material with an eye to engage and entertain digital audiences in India. We are pleased with the running start we already have and look forward to bringing more exciting projects to fruition.”