Chai Shots Brings Back Cult Serials Like ‘Ruturagalu’ with a Modern Digital Twist
Digital entertainment trendsetter Chai Bisket has scored a major success with its recently launched short-series OTT platform Chai Shots. Designed specifically for smartphone audiences, Chai Shots has received an overwhelming response for its unique content format. Taking things a step further, the platform is now set to introduce not only new serials but also iconic Telugu classics. These developments were revealed at the “Chai Shots Kitty Party” press meet.
Speaking at the event, Chai Shots Co-founder Sharath Chandra said:
“Hello everyone. We launched Chai Shots in December, and at that time, we were still exploring how to design the app and what kind of content to deliver. Now, three months later, we’ve gained valuable insights—nearly 70% of our audience is above 35 years of age. At Chai Bisket, we are used to creating content for younger audiences, but when we introduced TV-serial-style content on Chai Shots, the response was phenomenal.
That encouraged us to collaborate with writer Ramani garu to scale this further. We have now produced around a dozen short serials with actors and directors currently working in television. Each episode is about two minutes long, with around 30 episodes per season. So far, we’ve released over 15 short serials, with more in the pipeline.
We’ve also introduced devotional shows and are bringing cult classics like Ruturagalu along with other legendary Telugu shows onto Chai Shots. Our vision is to create a package that blends the essence of TV and OTT. We’ve even recreated nostalgic shows like ‘Pattukunte Pattu Cheera’ with Hariteja garu, which airs daily at 1 PM. While many believe television viewership is declining, our goal is to bring its emotional depth and drama into the digital space.”
Producer Anurag Reddy added:
“During the COVID period, when no one was coming to the office, we started making one-minute videos. Those evolved into micro-dramas. While many platforms dub Chinese and Korean content for Indian audiences, we already have incredible stories of our own. We aim to revive cult Telugu serials like Ruturagalu and present them to today’s viewers.
Our focus is to promote content that reflects our culture. ‘Old is gold’—classic stories can always entertain audiences when presented in a fresh format. Emotions never change; only the way we present them does.”
Writer Balabhadrapatruni Ramani said:
“Sharath has already achieved great success with Chai Bisket, and I believe Chai Shots will take it even further. Our team has been extremely supportive in bringing creative ideas to life. From actors and directors to the technical crew, everyone has done a fantastic job.
Our intention is to deliver quality serials in a short format. We are also offering content suitable for senior citizens, along with devotional programming. With strong stories and talented artists, we aim to deliver meaningful and engaging content.”
Actress Suhasini shared:
“I was very excited when Ramani garu told me about Chai Shots. Completing a series that typically takes two to three years within an hour-long format was a completely new experience. I’m also involved as a producer, and even the acting process felt refreshing. The stories are wonderful, and the content caters to audiences of all age groups.”
Producer Nagababu said:
“I thank Ramani garu for this opportunity. It has been a joyful experience working on this project. As a devotee of Baba, I found great satisfaction in being part of devotional content.”
Producer Bharathi Krishna added:
“Initially, we were a bit hesitant when Ramani garu invited us to work on short serials. But once we began, it turned into an exciting journey. Hats off to the vision of Sharath and Anurag. Launching devotional content is a great move, especially since today’s youth are also showing interest in such content. This trend is only going to grow in the future.”