Waves 2025: Creators declare: 'Great stories have no rules'

On Day 2 of MIB’s WAVES Summit, a powerful lineup of creators and producers came together to decode how storytelling is being reimagined in a digital-first world. The panel featured Tanya Bami (Series Head, Netflix India), Guneet Monga Kapoor (Producer, Sikhya Entertainment), Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh (Director, Original Films at Netflix India) and Michael Lehmann (International Film & television director, screenwriter, producer), Siddharth Roy Kapur (Founder, Roy Kapur Films), and Supriya Yarlagadda (CEO & Executive Director of Annapurna Studios).
The conversation unpacked how the rise of streaming has enabled stories to break conventional boundaries, with creative voices taking center stage, experimenting with genres, and leaning into specificity to find emotional universality. From slow-burn dramas to genre mashups, the panel explored how Indian storytelling is coming into its own while engaging global audiences.

Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India added “ Great storytelling is our only playbook. It’s not formulas or trends that make a story successful, it’s the stories that burn inside our creators, waiting to be told. We welcome fresh voices and empower them with the support they need to bring their ideas to life. With cultural authenticity at the heart of everything we do, we believe the more locally rooted a story is, the more universally appealing it becomes.”

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Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director, Original Films at Netflix India , added, “At the heart of every film is a feeling—it’s the memory you carry after the credits roll. That’s the real currency of cinema, and at Netflix, that’s what we aim to create. There’s no secret sauce to cultural relevance, there is innovation and then there is deep intention. We’re very aware of the audience we’re speaking to, and we champion stories that reflect the many Indias we live in. Innovation excites us, especially when it’s rooted in purpose. Whether it’s a screenlife thriller shot on iPhones or a genre-defying narrative that breaks every rule, we’re uncomfortably excited by ideas that challenge convention. That’s where the Netflix effect begins.”

Guneet Monga Kapoor, Producer, Sikhya Entertainment, “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. With Netflix, this genre has found a powerful platform in India, and as producers, our job is to nurture that spark with care, craft, and conviction.

Michael Lehmann, International Film & television director, screenwriter, producer said “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. Great storytelling isn’t about relentless action or trends; it’s about character, connection, and the quiet power of human experience”

Siddharth Roy Kapur, Founder, Roy Kapur Films said ”We’re on the cusp of Indian stories breaking out globally like never before. With platforms like Netflix giving us instant reach in over 190 countries, distribution is no longer the barrier—it’s about staying true to the stories we want to tell. If we tell them with honesty and conviction, the world will listen.”

Supriya Yarlagadda, CEO & Executive Director of Annapurna Studios said- “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. It’s not about stars or scale—it’s about characters, conviction, and the courage to tell our stories in our own languages. Now is the time to back writers, not formulas.”

The panel reinforced that India’s streaming revolution is not just about scale—it’s about trust, risk-taking, and building a world where stories lead the way.