Ranneeti Series Elevates Indian OTT With Authentic War Drama And Stellar Cast

With rave reviews and viewer adulation, the Sphereorigins-produced series "Ranneeti: Balakot and Beyond" has managed to raise the benchmark of Indian OTT programming.

The show, starring Jimmy Shergill, Ashutosh Rana, Lara Dutta, and Ashish Vidyarthi, among others, and directed by Santosh Singh, has captivated audiences with its gripping portrayal of hybrid warfare post the deadly Pulwama attacks. It has been lauded for its authentic representation and storytelling.

"Ranneeti is indeed a great story with top-class acting providing a near-realistic portrayal of the IAF as a professionally battle-hardened service. The episodes are riveting to watch, with direction and scenes of air battles in particular being of high quality, I would say, amongst the finest so far on Indian screens," said Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani (Retd), Former Vice Chief IAF.

However, it is learnt that bringing this complex narrative to life was no easy feat. The creators faced numerous challenges in crafting a show that balanced technical accuracy with engaging drama. With over two years spent in research and development, the teams worked on multiple drafts before finalising the version.

"The original concept and research were ideated by Sanjay Chopra, who is a pilot himself. I was very keen to make a series on defence forces. One of the greatest challenges was ensuring that we honoured the real-life experiences of those involved in hybrid warfare. We had to approach the storytelling with empathy and sensitivity," said Sunjoy Waddhwa, Producer and MD, Sphereorigins Multivision Pvt Ltd.

The scale of "Ranneeti" was another significant challenge. The show, being one of the grandest series made in India, required the teams to scout real-like locations to keep the authentic element intact. Eventually, "Ranneeti" was shot at multiple locations like Kashmir, Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai, Belgrade, and Novi Sad across India and Serbia.

"We wanted to be authentic in all manners as best as we could while still creating a drama that would keep the audience hooked. Anything different could have ruined the experience for the viewer. There were logistical challenges, from scouting locations to coordinating shoots across various regions," Waddhwa added.

Expert Involvement

To ensure the authenticity of the material, defence experts and aerial action experts were brought in to work on the show. This included working with military artillery and fighter jets to ensure credibility.

"I had goosebumps during the depiction of the Balakot attack, especially the farewell party scene and the Wolf pack prep. I am so glad that it's covering Abhinandan in detail; his role is illustrious. As was the lady AWACS controller... I would like to extend my best wishes to the entire team of 'Ranneeti'," said Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar.

A mammoth task to produce and execute, "Ranneeti" with its scale and storytelling calibre has enthralled fans across the country. Here's hoping we get to see many more such shows and looking forward to yet another season!