SonyLIV has done something few platforms manage to do consistently. It has built a library that is bold, intelligent, and refreshingly original. Shows like Scam 1992, Rocket Boys, and now The Hunt have proven that Indian storytelling can be sharp, cinematic, and deeply rooted in history. But despite this incredible content, the platform’s technical issues are beginning to take center stage. And not for the right reasons.
The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case is a show that had everything going for it. A powerful subject, a layered narrative, and a tone that blends political history with thriller elements. It is multilingual, with much of the dialogue in Tamil. And right there lies the challenge. For a show that’s clearly meant to reach a pan-India audience, subtitle support isn’t a bonus feature, it’s a basic requirement. But viewers watching on Airtel Xstream have found themselves without subtitles, leaving them completely lost in translation.
This isn’t just an unfortunate bug. It’s a missed opportunity. Because a series like The Hunt doesn’t come around often. And audiences who were genuinely curious about its story are now abandoning it mid-way, not because it failed them narratively, but because the platform did.
SonyLIV has been here before. From buffering issues to playback syncing delays, users have often pointed out that while the stories are top-tier, the viewing experience doesn’t match up. This disjoint between what’s being told and how it’s being served is gradually becoming a major reason why people hesitate to click play.
The real tragedy is this. A show like The Hunt could have sparked conversations across India. It had the potential to be the next big talking point in political drama. But in a digital space where audiences have a dozen alternatives just one click away, even a small glitch becomes a deal-breaker. Especially when it blocks access to the very tool, subtitles that makes stories accessible.
If SonyLIV wants to scale the impact of its shows and match the ambition of its creators, it needs to fix the tech that delivers the content. Because in the end, no matter how gripping your show is, if your audience cannot follow what’s being said, they won’t stay. And they definitely won’t come back.
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