Netflix announces first original series from India

American on-demand streaming website Netflix has announced its first original series from India. It is based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling novel "Sacred Games" by Indian author Vikram Chandra.

Shot on location in India, this Hindi-English series will be produced in partnership with Phantom Films, one of India's leading production houses. It will be available to Netflix members globally upon completion, a statement said.

Set in Mumbai, "Sacred Games" delves into the city's intricate web of organised crime, corruption, politics and espionage that lie beneath India's economic renaissance.

Chandra shared: "Over the last few years, I've watched with great excitement and pleasure as Netflix has transformed narrative television with its ground-breaking, genre-bending shows.

"I'm confident that all the colour and vitality and music of the fictional world I've lived with for so long will come fully alive on the large-scale canvas provided by Netflix. I'm thrilled to be working with Netflix and Phantom Films."

Madhu Mantena of Phantom Films is also upbeat about starting "this journey with Netflix by producing Vikram's outstanding story, set in Mumbai".

Mantena is confident that together, they "will create some exciting and groundbreaking television content".

Erik Barmack, Vice President of international original series at Netflix, said: "'Sacred Games' reinforces our commitment to bring the authenticity of local stories to Netflix members across 190 countries worldwide."