India’s Applause takes Hostages

The original version of Hostages

MIPTV: Indian studio Applause Entertainment has picked up format rights to Armoza Formats’ hit crime thriller Hostages.

Hostages (22×60’) follows a surgeon whose family is seized by masked men after she is selected to operate on the president.

Created by Omri Givon and Rotem Shamir, the drama was originally produced by Chaim Sharir for Israel’s Channel 10. A second season was produced for Channel 10 by Yetzira Ivrit together with France’s Federation Entertainment, with Armoza Formats and Federation Entertainment distributing.

The finished version has sold widely internationally, while the format has previously been adapted by Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros Television for the US.

Applause Entertainment’s deal with Armoza also includes format rights to two comedies. La Famiglia (30×30’), from prodco United Studios of Israel, follows a typical suburban family living in the divorce capital of the country who wind up in therapy in order to cope with daily life.

Honey Badgers (12×30’), meanwhile, was initially produced by Naor Zion for Reshet and follows four small-town friends who change their identities to get jobs at one of the world’s top financial firms.

“I have been a big fan of Israeli content as our countries have a close cultural affinity, and I believe stories like Hostages, La Famiglia and Honey Badgers are incredibly universal,” said Sameer Nair, CEO of Applause Entertainment, which is owned by Aditya Birla Group.

Nair added that writing, casting and production on all three shows was already underway, with filming expected to start soon.