Aha (streaming service)#Original programming
{{Short description|Indian streaming service}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Aha
| logo = Aha (streaming service.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_caption =
| screenshot = Aha OTT Screenshot.jpeg
| caption = aha website screenshot on 8 April 2021
| collapsible = yes
| owner = {{plainlist|
| founder = {{Unbulleted_list|Allu Aravind|Jupally Rameswar Rao}}
| parent = Arha Media and Broadcasting Pvt. Ltd.
| headquarters = Hyderabad, Telangana
| country = India
| website_type = {{plainlist|
| company_type = Streaming media
| language = {{plainlist|
| founded = {{Start date and age|2020|02|08|df=yes}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirchi9.com/movienews/aha-turns-one-year-a-surprise-ott-blockbuster/|title = Aha Turns One Year - a Surprise OTT Blockbuster!|date = 8 February 2021}}
| commercial = Yes
| registration = Required
| users = {{increase}} 2.5 Million (paid; as of March 2023){{cite news |title=Aha moment for Telugu, Tamil content: will the OTT platform's hyperlocal bet work globally? |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/prime/consumer/aha-moment-for-telugu-tamil-content-will-the-ott-platforms-hyperlocal-bet-work-globally/primearticleshow/98525857.cms?from=mdr |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=3 March 2024 | last1=Panjari | first1=Swagata }}
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2020|03|25|df=yes}}
| industry = {{plainlist|
| products = {{Bulleted_list|
| services = On-demand video streaming
| president = Allu Aravind
| country_of_origin = India
| area_served = Worldwide
| current_status = Active
| website = {{URL|https://www.aha.video/}}
}}
Aha (stylised as aha) is an Indian over-the-top streaming service which offers Telugu and Tamil-language content. It is owned by Arha Media & Broadcasting Private Limited, a joint venture between Geetha Arts and My Home Group.{{Cite web | url=https://tv9telugu.com/ramu-rao-jupally-and-allu-aravind-lunches-aha-ott-digital-platform-197777.html/amp |title = Ramu Rao Jupally and Allu Aravind Lunches Aha OTT digital Platform- మై హోం సంస్థ, అల్లు అరవింద్ల 'ఆహా'|date = 2020-02-08}}{{Cite web | url=https://telugu.samayam.com/tech/news/allu-aravinds-ott-service-aha-launched-full-details/articleshow/73631509.cms | title=Allu Arjun: Amazon Primeకు అల్లు వారి షాక్.. కొత్త ఓటీటీ సర్వీస్ అందుబాటులోకి! - allu aravind's ott service aha launched full details}} The service was soft launched on 25 January 2020 and launched officially on 25 March 2020,{{Cite web |date=9 February 2020 |title=Allu Aravind enters digital space |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/allu-aravind-enters-digital-space-603862 |website=The Hans India}} coinciding with Ugadi, the Telugu New Year.{{Cite web |last=Kavirayani |first=Suresh |date=11 February 2020 |title=Aha! A new OTT channel to watch out for |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/110220/aha-a-new-ott-channel-to-watch-out-for.html |website=Deccan Chronicle}}
History
Allu Aravind revealed that he was enamoured with the digital environment and developed a habit of binge-watching. Soon he came up with the idea of starting a streaming platform for hosting solely Telugu content. He then discussed the idea with his family, who encouraged him and which led to talks with Jupally Rameswar Rao, who joined as a partner in the venture, Allu Aravind and Jupally Ramu Rao are active promoters who run the business, while Meghana Gorukanti Jupally is the Head of marketing advisory committee and Ravikant Sabnavis heads the platform as CEO.
Market and expansion
After opting for a soft launch on 8 February 2020 an event named aha Preview was conducted, where all the filmmakers who worked on
In August 2021, aha launched aha kids, a sub-brand focusing on children's programming. It is scheduled to launch on 10 September, coinciding with Vinayaka Chavithi.{{Cite web|last=Jha|first=Lata|date=2021-08-25|title=aha Video forays into kids content|url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/aha-video-forays-into-kids-content-11629866324794.html|website=livemint}} aha 2.0 was launched{{cite news|title=aha over the top with premier Telugu user engagement|url=}} in November 2021 on a cloud-native platform from Firstlight Media.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-21|title=Aha Tamil Bags Digital Rights of Pa. Ranjith's Writer, Film to Stream Soon|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/aha-tamil-bags-digital-rights-of-pa-ranjiths-writer-film-to-stream-soon-4683752.html|access-date=2022-02-11|website=News18|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2022-02-01|title=Aha Tamil Upcoming Movies 2022 List - OTT STOP|url=https://ottstop.com/aha-tamil-upcoming-movies/|access-date=2022-02-11|language=en-US|archive-date=19 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319005836/https://ottstop.com/aha-tamil-upcoming-movies/|url-status=dead}}
The Tamil language version of Aha was launched in February 2022.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-14|title=Allu Aravind Launches Tamil Version of Aha OTT in Chennai|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/allu-aravind-launches-tamil-version-of-aha-ott-in-chennai-4771733.html|website=News18}}
Aha was launched for streaming on Tata Play in April 2023.{{Cite web |date= April 2023|title=Aha was launched for streaming on Tata Play Binge |url=https://www.tataplay.com/dth/press-releases/aha-joins-league-apps-tata-play-binge|website=www.tataplaybinge.com}}
Original programming
The service began its operation by acquiring digital rights of films such as Arjun Suravaram, Kaithi (Telugu dubbed version) and Choosi Choodangaane.
= Television shows =
The original scripted content which debuted on the service during the soft launch was Kotha Poradu, Shithappens and Geetha Subhramanyam 2020.{{Citation|title=Geetha Subramanyam Review: Geetha Subramanyam ticks all the required boxes for a feel-good series|newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/telugu/geetha-subramanyam/seasonreview/76104221.cms|access-date=2021-07-13}} Masti's created by Krish debuted on 8 February 2020. For the first year, the scripted original content included 25 original shows.{{Cite web | url=https://telugu.asianetnews.com/entertainment-news/allu-aravind-warns-parents-over-aha-ott-q5fm3b |title = బోల్డ్ కంటెంట్ ఉంటుంది.. చిన్న పిల్లలకు చూపించొద్దు: అల్లు అరవింద్}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/mastis-trailer-is-filled-with-all-emotions-603821 | title=Masti's Trailer is Filled with All Emotions}} Talk show Sam Jam with Samantha as its host premiered on aha on 13 November 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-06|title=Samantha Akkineni turns talk show host with Sam Jam Samantha|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/samantha-akkineni-turns-talk-show-host-with-sam-jam-samantha-6980856/|access-date=2020-11-22|website=The Indian Express|language=en}} [https://www.tataplaybinge.com/partner/aha/30 Aha] has planned to offer over 50 original shows for the year 2021.{{Cite web|last=Farooqui|first=Maryam|date=11 November 2020|title=Telugu OTT 'aha' is betting on originals to gain steam in the video-streaming space|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/telugu-ott-aha-is-betting-on-originals-to-gain-steam-in-the-video-streaming-space-6098001.html|access-date=2020-11-22|website=Moneycontrol}} Unstoppable with Nandamuri Balakrishna ranked 5th on IMDb among the top 10 reality shows.{{Cite web|last=K|first=S.|date=2022-01-07|title=Unstoppable show With NBK in top 10 reality TV list on IMDb|url=https://crazymovieupdates.com/unstoppable-show-with-nbk-in-top-10-reality-tv-list-on-imdb/|access-date=2022-01-10|language=en-US}}
= Films =
Exclusive distribution programming
These products, even though listed as Aha Originals, are programs that Aha has bought exclusive distribution rights to stream them.
= Television shows =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;" |
| Title
! Premiere !Genre ! Seasons !Language !Status |
|---|
| No. 1 Yaari with Rana
|14 March 2021 |1 season, 10 episodes | rowspan="3" |Telugu |Ended |
= Films =
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|www.aha.video}}
{{Video digital distribution platforms}}{{VOD services}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aha, OTT}}
Category:Indian entertainment websites
Category:Subscription video on demand services
Category:Internet television streaming services