"We really aimed for a killer pilot": Vikramaditya Motwane on Sacred Games

Motwane opens up about the execution of Netflix's first show in India.

By Netflix's own admission, Sacred Games (Netflix's first Indian Original) was the platform's most-watched show in India. The web series literally set the 'series' ball rolling in the country. Till then, Indians were used to watching full length feature films or long-winded soap operas on TV. This year at vdonxt asia, afaqs!' flagship digital video convention, we had Applause Entertainment's Sameer Nair and director, producer and screenwriter Vikramaditya Motwane deconstruct the challenge of creating premium dramas.

While the candid conversation started with how it all began, it touched upon several tricks of trade leading all the way to where it stands today. Motwane was the showrunner and co-director of Sacred Games.

We picked highlights from the interview and carved out Nair's questions alongside Motwane's responses. We have also included the video of the complete session at the end of this article.

Edited Excerpts:

(This interview was conducted in Mumbai on January 29, 2020, at the 4th edition of vdonxt asia, an annual convention on the business of online video, organised by afaqs!.)