aha.video
In the last few years, streaming movies and TV in India have surged in popularity. This surge is due to Netflix's pivot from DVD rentals to digital streaming. Since Netflix became so large, other companies have introduced their own takes on streaming TV and movies.
But, on the whole, this is an incredibly exciting time to be a movie fan in India.
India's streaming party, in some ways, though, is just getting started. Hey, it is always better late than never, right? The new generation of movie streaming sites coming out of India right now are absolutely incredible! It's as if these companies are making up for lost time, in a big way! ? Well, some of them that is. Of course there will always be certain streaming sites that simply aren't right for you as a viewer. But on the whole this is an incredibly exciting time to be a movie fan in India.
But I don't worry! That's why I write movie streaming site reviews- so that you don't have to waste any time, energy, or money auditioning every new movie streaming site that comes out. My goal is to provide you with a convenient and useful resource to help you both discover and learn everything there is to know about the best movie streaming sites (and, as you may have noticed from the rest of my site, every kind of streaming site there is).
Today, we are going to take a look at one of India's newest movie streaming sites, Aha. Although this site is only a year old, it has generated a lot of buzz and hype. This may be attributed to the fact that Aha was created by one of the most prominent producers in Tollywood, Allu Aravind, who was able to put all of his connections and wealth behind the site. Or maybe Aha's sudden rise to prominence as one of the best movie streaming sites in India can be attributed to something simpler: that it is a high-quality site with a lot of in-demand Telugu films and top-notch original content.
I believe that, when examined more closely, what is lacking from most Indian movie streaming sites are exclusive, original films. This is a practice that Netflix pioneered and which has since become the norm for high-quality, critically acclaimed content produced by streaming platforms. I believe that in order to be successful, original content is a necessity in the highly competitive global movie streaming marketplace.
To compete with the giants of movie streaming, a new streamer must have a good variety of classics, fan favorites, and syndicated films as well as original content. A new streamer cannot rely exclusively on original content to succeed!
HBO Max is a streaming service that HBO offers as an alternative to their main site, HBO. It includes content from other producers and studios, which is why it was necessary to have it when it launched.
And at first glance, it appears as if Aha has both of the critical boxes checked - which means that it definitely has the makings to be deserving of a spot on this list of the best movie streaming sites of all time. However, is Aha the right movie streaming site for you? Well, let's dive in and find out, shall we?
History
It has been reported that Tollywood production extraordinaire, Allu Aravind, developed a binge-watching habit thanks to other streaming sites. This prompted him to want to start a streaming service of his own, one that only broadcasts content in his native tongue, Telugu. Although there are several Telugu movie streaming sites out there on the web, there was not, prior to Aha, what could be rightfully called the Telugu Netflix.
Allu Aravind started Aha as a way of providing Telugu-speaking viewers with their very own dedicated streaming site. The website is currently in its early stages of development but is expected to be quite popular among Telugu-speaking viewers.
No Telugu speaking site offered a comparable amount of choice to the other popular streaming sites out there, leaving Aravind?s Aha! moment all the more satisfying.
At any rate, after floating the idea of a Telugu streaming service to his family, they suggested that he link up with famed businessman, Rameswar Rao Jupally who became a partner in the business. Aha officially launched on January 25th, 2020. Today, Ajit Thakur sits at the helm of Aha, fielding the day-to-day matters of the business.
Design
It seems as if comparisons to Netflix are inevitable with most premium movie streaming sites. And, of course, Aha is not immune. Aiding to the parallel, though, is the fact that Aha's site design, interface, and layout is, essentially, identical to that of Netflixâjust with a slightly different style and flavor.
You will find the site menu bar at the very top of the Aha website. This is where you can browse all of Aha in the broadest terms. You can navigate the site by Movies, Shows, and Genres (dropdown: action, comedy, crime, etc.). This is also where you can switch the language of the site (Telugu and English are currently the only options, surprisingly) or access the search bar in case you want to search for one movie in particular.
As soon as you reach the site's menu bar, a large banner will greet you with recommendations for films and TV shows. This is the streaming site equivalent of going into the movie theater and seeing posters for upcoming films. From there, the rest of the website unfolds in a fairly traditional way - a long series of categories, each with its own horizontal, side-scrolling menu for easy browsing with minimal clicking back and forth into additional pages. The website is very user-friendly and intuitive, if only because it is so familiar.
Content and Features
I have already covered that Aha blends both original movies with popular Telugu favorites ? but this is the main characteristic of Aha's content, that it is all 100% Telugu content. You won't find anything in Hindi, English, Malayalam, etc. This is great for Telugu speakers (there aren't, after all, a long list of movie streaming sites that cater to the language specifically), but it is unfortunate for everyone else in India and abroad. So, if you aren't fluent in Telugu (or, at the very least, learning the language), this may not be the best movie streaming site for you.
Apart from the usual features (ad-free content, the ability to watch videos offline, and the ability to stream simultaneously across several devices), Aha doesn't have anything groundbreaking to offer.
One thing that stands out to me is the fact that, unlike most other premium movie streaming sites, Aha does not have a large selection of free movies. It only has a small selection of free movies that can be viewed without providing an email address. So, if you are considering trying Aha and are not ready to commit to a plan, check out their free movie section for a taste of what to expect.
Mobile and Desktop Experience
Aha has a decent cross-platform list of compatible devices. Mobile streamers will enjoy the service's apps, which are available on both iOS and Android devices - they are every bit as well-designed as the site itself. Plus, Aha is available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV.
Pricings and Plans
Aha is a premium movie streaming site that offers two plans. The first plan costs $7.99 per month, and the second plan costs $34.99 per year. The price difference between the two plans depends only on if you would prefer to pay per month or pay for a year upfront. Aha is one of the most affordable premium movie streaming sites on the market, making it great for budget-conscious consumers.