The Indian web series space has exploded over the years. As an audience, we have taken to consuming web content like never before, thus in turn spurring creators to come up with more and more content that is desi, original and relatable. Last year too, there was one such web series that we all absolutely fell in love with – Rise by Ultra Shorts. Now we’ve just learnt that this awesome four-part web series has been shortlisted for the prestigious Los Angeles Web Fest (LAWEBFEST) 2018 and we couldn’t have been happier.
For the uninitiated, LAWEBFEST is to web series what Sundance is to films. It’s the oldest, largest and most influential web series festival in the world. The best part is that Rise is the only one from India to make it to the hallowed shortlist comprising 65 web series from over 6500 entries across 38 countries. And this is no mean feat!
Rise is set to be screened at Sony Studios, Hollywood next month. It has also been nominated for ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama’ and ‘Outstanding Cinematography in a Drama’. While this is certainly exciting news for Indian creators, it also bodes well for the Indian web content scene as a whole. With this international recognition for Rise, it wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Indian web content has truly arrived and how.
Rise features the very talented Vikrant Massey as Shrey, a 20-something IT professional, who just got laid off even as he was celebrating his latest acquisition – a bike worth Rs 8 lakhs. Shrey meets his perfect foil in 55-year-old Sharmaji, played by Atul Srivastava. What brings this rather unlikely duo together is a life-changing road trip. Rise is most watchable because of the amazing chemistry between Shrey and Sharmaji. Their worlds and worldviews are poles apart and that’s what makes their road trip banters all the more delightful. For those who’re yet to watch this little gem, catch the first episode here and we’re sure you will be hooked:
In the meanwhile, even as we wait for more exciting news to trickle in from Los Angeles once Rise is screened at the fest, you can subscribe to the youth-centric entertainment channel Cheers on YouTube and watch other amazing web series such as Born Free and Half Ticket along with Rise. In fact, at the recently concluded Talentrack Awards, Born Free won in the ‘Best Digital Content – Long Format’ category, Half Ticket won in the ‘Best Digital Content – Branded Content’ category and Vikrant Massey took home the Best Actor (Male) award for Rise. So much good content on just one channel. Hit the subscribe button now!
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