Whether you love him or can’t quite decide what to make of him, Munawar Faruqui is rewriting the rules of what works on India’s OTT platforms. His latest project The Society is more than just a show it is a phenomenon that reflects the power of personality-driven content in the age of streaming. Released on July 21 on JioHotstar’s Sparks vertical, the reality game show has rapidly crossed over 27 lakh views in its first four days, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
The significance of this success becomes even clearer when viewed against the backdrop of critical reception. Reviewers have largely been unimpressed by the format and execution of the show. Yet, audiences have voted with their clicks, their reels, and their constant buzz across social platforms. Munawar’s influence is the real engine behind this viewership surge. Despite being one of the most polarising figures in the Indian entertainment ecosystem, his ability to capture attention and hold it is unlike anyone else in the current digital landscape.
According to early estimates, The Society is expected to comfortably cross the 1 crore view milestone in the coming days. This places it in direct competition with some of the biggest hits on the platform, including Hafta Vasooli, Faruqui’s previous success story, which has racked up over 1.1 crore views. It also eyes the top spot currently held by 7 Days Live, the Anubhav Singh Bassi-led show that boasts over 1.6 crore views. For a show that entered the platform amid mixed buzz and divided expectations, The Society is punching far above its weight.
But this is not just about numbers. It is about the conversation. Everywhere from Reddit threads to Instagram stories, The Society is being dissected, praised, trolled, and memed. The internet is buzzing with fan theories, emotional takedowns, humorous breakdowns, and celebratory edits. That kind of online engagement is something money cannot always buy. It only happens when the audience feels personally involved when the show becomes more than entertainment and morphs into an event, a moment, a statement.
Faruqui’s strategy, whether intentional or instinctive, plays to his biggest strength his connection with his audience. He does not just perform for them. He performs with them. He speaks their language, shares their jokes, and taps into their mood. This relatability has proven stronger than any critical analysis. In a space where high-budget shows sometimes fail to strike a chord, Munawar’s presence alone is turning modest formats into massive hits.
For JioHotstar, The Society is also a strategic win. The Sparks vertical is still growing and searching for its breakout title. With The Society, they now have a banner property that is driving traffic and expanding their audience base. This kind of success is crucial for platforms looking to differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded streaming market.
As the show races toward the 1 crore benchmark, one thing is certain Munawar Faruqui is not a passing trend. He is a permanent fixture in the evolving OTT landscape. Whether he follows this up with a new show or shifts focus to a completely different genre, the spotlight is not leaving him anytime soon.
The Society may not check every box for traditional critics, but it is setting a new bar for fan-driven, personality-powered content. And as long as audiences keep showing up the way they are right now, Munawar’s reign over OTT is only going to get louder.
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