New Delhi: India has achieved a historic milestone on the global entertainment stage. TV9 Network’s in-house production unit, Studio9, has delivered the nation’s first-ever win in the OTT documentary category at the prestigious 30th Asian Television Awards 2025 in Singapore.
The award-winning documentary Fanatics, commissioned by DocuBay, explores the powerful and often extreme world of South Indian cinema fandom.
TV9 ‘s Studio9 won Best Documentary OTT award
TV9 Network’s Studio9 made India proud by winning the Best Documentary (OTT) award for its production Fanatics at the 30th Asian Television Awards 2025. The 55-minute film, commissioned by DocuBay, beat six other nominees, including Bitter Sweet Ballad, Echoes of Life and Life on the Millennial Old Grand Canal (China), Polar Alarm (Taiwan), and Indian entries Kargil 1999 and Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli.
Fanatics dives deep into South India’s fanatic fan culture—where admiration turns into intense devotion. The film features candid interviews with stars like Kichcha Sudeep, Allu Arjun, and Vijay Sethupathi, alongside mental health experts and film historians. It highlights the unique passion of fans who build temples for their idols, tattoo their faces, and celebrate birthdays and film releases like festivals.
Aditya Pittie, Managing Director of The EPIC Company, called the win “a defining moment for Indian nonfiction storytelling.” He said, “As the first Indian documentary in the OTT category to win this prestigious award, Fanatics reaffirms our belief in backing culturally rooted narratives that carry universal resonance.”
TV9 Network’s MD & CEO Barun Das added, “We knew we had a winner on our hands from the word go. The subject was unique, its appeal universal, and the stories both gripping and insightful. I thank DocuBay for allowing Studio9 to produce it.”
Studio9 Head Arpita Chatterjee expressed her pride, saying, “This was my first major documentary project, and I am thrilled that it has won accolades on the global stage. This is a huge validation of the work my team and I do at Studio9.”
DocuBay’s Chief Content Officer Samar Khan shared, “Fanatics demanded honesty, courage, and sensitivity. This win validates the creative risks we took and the responsibility with which we approached the subject.”
About Fanatics
Directed by Aryan D. Roy, Fanatics also sheds light on the darker side of fan obsession—fierce rivalries, psychological strain, and emotional consequences. The win marks a new chapter for TV9 Network’s Studio9, reaffirming India’s growing strength in global OTT documentary storytelling.
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