Netflix India’s Waves Panels Showcase Creator-auience Synergy
Heavyweight panels on Mumbai’s inaugural World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (Waves) saw Entertainment Power Pokes come together to explore the developing relationship between content makers and the public in the digital streaming era.
Netflix India’s VP or Content Monika Shergill investigated how deep personal stories can become worldwide phenomena. “The audience always tells us something-they want to stories their lives, reflect their ambitions and sometimes offer a nice escape,” noted Shergill, pointing to the international success of historic drama “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar” as a good example of local risen content that achieves global attraction.
SLB Productions CEO Prerna Singh revealed that ‘Heeramandi’, who eventually resonated in more than 43 countries, was initially interpreted as a film before developing to a series format. “We poured everything into it – the cinematic grandeur, the Shahi Mahal and the undisted story of freedom that deserved his place in history,” Singh said.
Applaus Entertainment MD Sameer Nair, who produced Netflix’s “Black Warrant”, starring Zahan Kapoor, offered a philosophical view: “Everyone is a storyteller. But what storytellers need his storylinners. And the bigger your group of stories you get a storyteller.”
The event contained with stars contained Shefali Shah (Emmy winner “Delhi Crime”), who admitted that her process remains powered by fear and authenticity: “If it does not affect me, I know it will not connect to someone on the other side of the screen.”
Aditi Rao Hydari thought about the international recognition of her ‘Heeramandi’ character and told that he was recognized as ‘Bibbojaan’ while traveling through Cannes, Italy and London. “That is the power of a good that is told well – it travels, connects and stays with people,” the actor said.
Rising Star Kapoor shared his experience with unconventional stories: “When we made ‘Black Warrant’, we knew that it was not the most obvious or glamorous story – it takes place in the Tihar prison in the 80s, told from the point of view of a prison guard.
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-Windding Netflix film “Yannykix” Aranyak “Netflix Series,” Netflix Series, “Netflix Series,” Netflix Series, “Netflix Series,” Netflix Series, “Netflix Series,” Netflix Series, “Netflix Series,” Netflix Series, “Netflix Series,” Netflix Series, “Netflix Series,” Netflix Series, “Netflix Seranyies,” Netflix Seranyies, “Netflix’s Seranyies,” Netflix’s Seranyies, “Netflix’s Seranyies. Ballet ”), Focused on Reinventing Storytelling for a digital-first audience.
“Telling great stories is our only playbook. They are not formulas or trends that make a story successful,” said Bami, while Kapoor Sheikh added, “in the heart of each film is a feeling – it is the memory you wear after the credits rolls.”
Filmmaker Michael Lehmann (“Dexter: Original Sin”) said that despite technological changes, the human connection remains first: “In the digital age, the public has access to the entire history of the cinema within reach – but what still matters is the most time with real people on the screen.”
Monga Kapoor defended authenticity, especially in documentaries: “For me, telling stories is deep personal – if it moves me, it can move the world. Documentaries are the purest expression of that truth: real people, real commitment, no scripts.”
Roy Kapur expressed optimism about the global potential of Indian Content, while Annapurna Studios CEO Supriya Yarlagadda emphasized the evolution in the powerful southern industry of India: “In the south we have always been demanded for Cinema-but the Digital Border has opened a new border.”
