Zee Music Company is expanding its footprint in the South Indian entertainment market through a string of music rights acquisitions spanning Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada cinema, while also strengthening its presence in regional music-led intellectual properties.
The company's regional strategy gathered pace after securing the music rights for the Malayalam film Balan: The Boy, directed by Chidambaram with music composed by Sushin Shyam.
Among its latest acquisitions is the music rights for the Malayalam action thriller I'm Game, starring Dulquer Salmaan, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Mysskin, Kathir, Antony Varghese and Parth Tiwari. Directed by Nahas Hidayath, the film features a soundtrack by Jakes Bejoy.
In Telugu cinema, Zee Music Company has acquired the music rights to several upcoming releases, including Vikramarka, Pallaburusu, Happy Journey, Mega 158 starring Chiranjeevi with music by Thaman S, NBK 111 featuring Nandamuri Balakrishna, Kajal Aggarwal, Nayanthara and Sanjay Dutt, Kanaka Durga, and VenkyAnil5, starring Venkatesh, Kalyan Ram, Keerthy Suresh and Krithi Shetty, directed by Anil Ravipudi with music by G.V. Prakash Kumar.
Its Malayalam slate has also expanded with the addition of Credit Score, while Kannada acquisitions include Birbal: Case 2, Vibhrama and Mangala Gowri. In Tamil, the company has picked up the music rights for Slumdog: 33 Temple Road, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Tabu, with music by Harshavardhan Rameshwar.
The label has also secured the music rights for Toxic, produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, starring Yash. The acquisition covers the film's soundtrack across Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
Beyond feature films, Zee Music Company has entered the regional music IP space through a partnership with ZEE5 Malayalam's hip-hop reality show Kerala Underground. As part of the collaboration, it has acquired the show's music rights and released its promotional anthem featuring Dabzee, The Imbachi, MC Couper and Parimal Shais.
Commenting on the expansion, Sujal Parekh, chief business officer at Zee Music Company, said the partnership with Wayfarer Films for I'm Game reinforces the company's commitment to the Malayalam market and aligns with its broader pan-India growth strategy. He added that the company looks forward to collaborating with composer Jakes Bejoy and bringing regional music to audiences across languages.
According to the company, the newly acquired catalogue will be released across 2026 and 2027.
