Heavyweight panels at Mumbai’s inaugural World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) saw entertainment powerhouses converge to explore the evolving relationship between content creators and audiences in the digital streaming era.
Netflix India’s VP of Content Monika Shergill examined how deeply personal stories can become global phenomena. “The audience is always telling us something – they want stories that reflect their lives, their aspirations, and sometimes, offer a beautiful escape,” Shergill noted, pointing to the international success of period drama “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar” as a prime example of locally-rooted content achieving worldwide appeal.
SLB Productions CEO Prerna Singh revealed that “Heeramandi,” which eventually resonated in over 43 countries, was initially conceived as a film before evolving into a series format. “We poured everything into it – the cinematic grandeur, the Shahi Mahal, and the untold story of freedom that deserved its place in history,” Singh said.
Applause Entertainment MD Sameer Nair, who produced Netflix’s “Black Warrant,” starring Zahan Kapoor, offered a philosophical take: “Everyone’s a storyteller. But what storytellers need the most are story listeners. And the larger your group of story listeners, the more successful a storyteller you become.”
The star-studded event featured Shefali Shah (Emmy winner “Delhi Crime”), who admitted her process remains driven by fear and authenticity: “If it doesn’t strike a chord with me, I know it won’t connect with anyone on the other side of the screen.”
Aditi Rao Hydari reflected on her “Heeramandi” character’s international recognition, recounting being recognized as “Bibbojaan” while traveling through Cannes, Italy, and London. “That’s the power of a story well told – it travels, connects, and stays with people,” the actor said.
Rising star Kapoor shared his experience with unconventional storytelling: “When we were making ‘Black Warrant,’ we knew it wasn’t the most obvious or glamorous story – it’s set in Tihar Jail in the ’80s, told from a jailer’s point of view. But from the first screening, Netflix just got it.”
A second panel featuring Netflix’s series head Tanya Bami, director of original Films Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, and acclaimed producers including Guneet Monga Kapoor (Oscar-winning Netflix film “The Elephant Whisperers”) and Siddharth Roy Kapur (Netfllix series “Aranyak,” Netflix film “Yeh Ballet”), focused on reinventing storytelling for a digital-first audience.
“Great storytelling is our only playbook. It’s not formulas or trends that make a story successful,” said Bami, while Kapoor Sheikh added, “At the heart of every film is a feeling – it’s the memory you carry after the credits roll.”
Filmmaker Michael Lehmann (“Dexter: Original Sin”) said that despite technological changes, human connection remains paramount: “In the digital age, audiences can access the entire history of cinema at their fingertips – yet what still matters most is spending time with real people on screen.”
Monga Kapoor championed authenticity, particularly in documentaries: “For me, storytelling is deeply personal – if it moves me, it can move the world. Documentaries are the purest expression of that truth: real people, real stakes, no scripts.”
Roy Kapur expressed optimism about Indian content’s global potential, while Annapurna Studios CEO Supriya Yarlagadda highlighted evolution in India’s powerful southern industries: “In the South, we’ve always aspired for cinema – but the digital era has opened a new frontier. Long-format storytelling demands a different craft, and we’re finally embracing it.”
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