In a move set to reshape India’s entertainment and content creation landscape, Microsoft and Collective Artists Network, the country’s leading talent and media powerhouse, have announced a strategic partnership to advance AI-driven filmmaking and storytelling. The collaboration will integrate Microsoft Azure’s advanced AI and cloud capabilities through Collective’s tech studio Galleri5, enabling next-generation experiences across films, episodic content, and advertising.
According to a report by The Economic Times, Galleri5 has chosen Microsoft Azure AI Foundry as its foundational platform for innovation. The integration of Azure’s AI ecosystem with Collective’s creative production infrastructure is designed to enhance scalability, security, and creativity within the entertainment sector. The partnership signals a leap forward in how India’s film and content industry will harness artificial intelligence to power storytelling.
Collective Artists Network is already developing a slate of AI-powered projects, including the highly anticipated “Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal,” scheduled for a global theatrical release in 2026. The company also plans to launch over 40 AI-enabled micro-dramas across major TV and OTT platforms, and is working on ‘Mahabharat: Ek Dharmayudh,’ an AI-led episodic series for television and digital audiences.
Through Galleri5 AI, Collective is also creating mythology and culture-based datasets that reinterpret India’s timeless stories using AI. With Microsoft Azure’s infrastructure supporting these initiatives, the collaboration aims to simplify production workflows while ensuring scalable, high-quality output across content formats—from short-form advertising to feature-length cinema.
Earlier this year, Collective Artists Network made waves by introducing Trilok, India’s first AI-powered band, alongside virtual influencers Kavya, Radhika, and Kabir, each with distinct digital personalities. These ventures highlight the company’s growing focus on blending technology, creativity, and culture to redefine the boundaries of entertainment.
“AI will not just assist filmmaking, it will empower creators with new tools. With Microsoft Azure’s AI capabilities powering Galleri5, we are creating datasets, pipelines, and productions that will support future AI makers – from directors to technicians to actors – from a global content viewpoint,” said Vijay Subramaniam, Founder and Group CEO of Collective Artists Network.
Adding to this, Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, said, “As Collective Artists Network advances AI-driven filmmaking and advertising, Microsoft Azure provides Galleri5 with the AI and cloud foundation required to explore new possibilities in creativity and storytelling. This collaboration demonstrates how technology can help shape new forms of cultural and creative expression powered by AI.”
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