Strap: Award-winning documentary “Fanatics”, streaming on DocuBay makes history. Bags the Best Documentary in the OTT Category
Noida, December 5, 2025:TV9 Network’s in-house production unit, Studio9, has made history by delivering India its first-ever win in the OTT documentary programme category at the prestigious 30th Asian Television Awards 2025 in Singapore.
Fanatics, commissioned by OTT platform DocuBay, is a compelling documentary that explores the intense and often obsessive fan culture surrounding South Indian cinema. It delves into the emotional depths and societal impact of the unwavering loyalty fans have for their favourite actors, portraying fandom as more than just admiration—sometimes verging on reverence and worship.
Fanatics beat six other nominees to bag the award. These were: Bitter Sweet Ballad, Echoes of Life, and Life on the Millennial Old Grand Canal (entries from China); Polar Alarm (Taiwan), and Kargil 1999 and Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli (from India).
The 55-minute documentary, Fanatics, features candid conversations with leading South Indian stars like Kichcha Sudeep, Allu Arjun, and Vijay Sethupathi, as well as industry observers, mental health experts, and film historians. It highlights the cultural phenomenon where fans create temples for their idols, adorn their bodies with tattoos of their stars, and engage in passionate celebrations during film releases and birthdays.
“Receiving this honour at the 30th Asian Television Awards is a defining moment not just for DocuBay, but for India’s growing presence in global nonfiction storytelling. 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. At The EPIC Company, we are committed to creating stories that travel beyond borders, and this recognition is a testament to that vision,” said Aditya Pittie, Managing Director, The EPIC Company
“We knew we had a winner on our hands from the word go. The subject was unique, its appeal universal, and the stories in it both gripping and insightful. I thank DocuBay for giving Studio9 the opportunity to produce it,” said Barun Das, MD & CEO of TV9 Network
