Mumbai, May 2nd, 2025: The second day of WAVES Summit featured a panel on how digital platforms are reshaping storytelling. Industry leaders from Netflix India and the film world discussed how streaming has unlocked new creative opportunities.
Breaking Storytelling Boundaries
Tanya Bami, Series Head at Netflix India, emphasized that great storytelling matters more than trends. “We empower fresh voices, believing that local stories have universal appeal,” she shared.
The Power of Emotional Storytelling
Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director of Original Films at Netflix India, highlighted that cinema’s true currency is the emotion it leaves behind. “We push boundaries with stories that reflect India’s diverse realities,” she said.
Personal Storytelling
Producer Guneet Monga Kapoor spoke about the emotional core of documentaries. “If a story moves me, it can move the world,” she said, noting Netflix’s platform has empowered documentary filmmaking in India.
Character Over Action
Michael Lehmann, international director and screenwriter, stressed the importance of character. “Great storytelling is about human connection, not trends,” he said.
Indian Stories on the Global Stage
Siddharth Roy Kapur, Founder of Roy Kapur Films, expressed excitement about Indian content going global. “With platforms like Netflix, distribution is no longer a barrier,” he said.
The Southern Cinema Revolution
Supriya Yarlagadda, CEO of Annapurna Studios, discussed how digital platforms are transforming Southern Indian cinema. “It’s not about stars but about characters and storytelling in our own languages,” she added.
Trust and Risk-Taking in India’s Streaming Revolution
The panel concluded that India’s streaming revolution is about more than scale—it’s about trust, risk-taking, and letting stories lead the way. Indian creators are embracing innovative storytelling that resonates globally.
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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