WAVES Summit | Making Indian Shows Authentic And Taking Them To The World
Vikramaditya Motwane believes that streaming services have opened up new avenues for storytelling, allowing creators to craft rich characters and complex narratives.
The Indian entertainment industry has witnessed a significant shift in recent years, thanks to the emergence of streaming services. Filmmakers and creators are now enjoying the freedom to experiment with diverse stories, formats and genres, moving beyond the traditional two-hour movie format.
Vikramaditya Motwane, creator and director of the popular series Jubilee, believes that streaming services have opened up new avenues for storytelling, allowing creators to craft rich characters and complex narratives.
"Because of streaming services, there is freedom to think beyond two-hour movie and make a crime series with 10 episodes with rich characters. There is so much freedom to tell stories," he said during a panel discussion moderated by NDTV at the WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai.
"We are at a stage where filmmakers are discovering this freedom but not where we can take the fullest advantage. The next stage is to take these stories to the international platform to say this is the next generation of Indian storytelling. The diversity of stories and format will break the stereotype that Indian content is just Bollywood," Motwane added.
Gaurav Gandhi, vice president of Amazon Prime Video for Asia-Pacific and Middle East-North Africa, echoes Motwane's sentiments. He believes that the lack of premium pay TV and limited theater penetration hindered the growth of high-quality storytelling in India.
"Our filmmakers did amazing movies, but we did not have shows of that nature. Now we are trying to work on big ideas and themes instead of just chasing particular genres," he said.
Nikhil Madhok, head of originals at Prime Video India, emphasises the platform's focus on discovering new talent and stories that are true to the Indian soil and reflects the passion of creators. The success of shows like Dupahiya, a comedy about a crime-free village tackling issues like racism and dowry, demonstrates the appetite for diverse and authentic storytelling.
Creators Shubh Shivdasani and Salona Bains Joshi are pushing the boundaries of Indian storytelling, crafting narratives that appeal to both urban and rural audiences.
"Dupahiya was shown in an accessible manner and a tone that the masses enjoy and entertain," said Shivdasani. Joshi said they wanted to create a story that appeals to both urban and rural audiences.
The future looks bright, with opportunities for creators to showcase their work on a global platform. As Motwane aptly puts it, the next generation of Indian storytelling is all about diversity, freshness and authenticity. With streaming services leading the charge, Indian content is poised to break free from stereotypes and reach audiences worldwide.
