Shoot it, shrink it, stream it

Speedy meet-cutes. Quickfire revenge dramas. Romances that race through. Fast-fizzling friendships. Micro-dramas are terribly tiny, but so addictive. Here's how they thicken the plots

- Suchin Mehrotra

Expect werewolf professors, women who turn into cats, time travel—and billionaires for the asking—in the newest streaming format: the micro-drama. These are series that play out in episodes that are one to four minutes long. Most are made in China and the U.S., by the platforms on which they stream (ReelShort, DramaBox, WeTV and ShortMax are among those available in India).

There are striking similarities in plotlines and treatment (at the risk of repeating ourselves, billionaire and even "trillionaire" husbands abound). And yet, there are enough twists to keep the viewer hooked.

In one of the most popular micro-dramas, for instance, a wealthy but wicked stepmother and stepsister force a woman to marry a "loser and ex-con," in exchange for the money for her mother's medical bills. She marries the man, love ensues, and he turns out to be a millionaire. Their story plays out over 60 brief episodes.

These are shows designed to be snacky, on-the-go fare. Most are shot in a vertical frame, for easier mobile viewing. Many are small-budget productions with simple sets and a cast of few characters. Stretching over about 60 to 100 episodes each, most only add up to about the length of a feature film.