Mumbai : The Viral Fever (TVF), renowned for successful shows like “Panchayat,” “Gullak,” and “Kota Factory,” is set to expand its horizons by venturing into films and exploring new genres such as horror and thriller in its long-format content, according to Shreyansh Pandey, TVF’s Originals Head.
Having started as a YouTube channel, TVF has risen to prominence in the Indian streaming industry, delivering relatable stories from diverse parts of India. Their debut show, “Permanent Roommates,” was launched in 2014. Since then, TVF has captivated audiences with rural dramas like “Panchayat” and middle-class family tales like “Gullak.” “Kota Factory” dives into the lives of competitive exam aspirants in Kota, Rajasthan.
“We will continue to entertain people with our shows. Our next exciting step is to venture into filmmaking. TVF content studio is currently working on a couple of films, and we’re doing extensive groundwork. We are in the process of starting new projects,” Pandey revealed in an interview with PTI.
TVF plans to diversify its content with more genres, while maintaining dramas at its core. This approach will also apply to their films, which will range from simple stories to high-scale spectacles. “We have sci-fi, horror, and thriller projects in the pipeline. We’re also working on the next season of ‘Gullak,’ a family story that continues to receive immense love,” Pandey said.
Pandey also hinted at upcoming seasons for “Panchayat,” “Kota Factory,” and the sports drama “Sixer.” In 2023, TVF produced 15 shows, with plans to increase this number in 2024. “We aim to produce more shows. We have a list of 35 to 40 shows in various stages of development, from pre-production to production, though many factors will determine how many of these get executed.”
As the creator of “Gullak,” Pandey expressed mixed feelings of nervousness and pride about the fourth season, which premiered on SonyLIV last Friday. The series, featuring Geetanjali Kulkarni, Jameel Khan, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, and Harsh Mayar, follows the Mishra family’s everyday life in a small town in Uttar Pradesh. Initially planned as a YouTube show for Screen Patti, SonyLIV licensed it for its platform.
“When creating a fourth season, there’s always the challenge of balancing new elements with the beloved characters and universe we’ve built,” said Pandey, who debuts as a director with “Gullak 4.”
Pandey emphasized the difficulty of writing, noting that the team spent nearly two years finalizing the new season’s script. “The only way to get it right is through continuous rewriting and narrating to a group of people. Our strength lies in the feedback process within TVF.”
Reflecting on TVF’s 14-year journey, Pandey described it as “exciting, incredible, and happening,” with pride in having created at least 20 fan-favorite shows. He also expressed gratitude to the audience for their unwavering support.
“The love from the audience, the memes, the continued seasons, and the beloved characters all confirm that our stories are resonating with people. Celebrating the journey of a protagonist is vital for a storyteller; you have to believe in your story,” Pandey stated.
Pandey acknowledged initial skepticism about whether viewers would pay to watch TVF’s content on YouTube. “Those questions helped expand our content pipeline. We’ve always believed in pushing the envelope and creating something new,” he concluded.
