At the panel discussion on India’s Evolving Role in the Global Film and Streaming Economy, industry heavyweights Vikram Tanna, Shibasish Sarkar, Shalini Govil Pai, and Ektaa R Kapoor gathered to explore India’s growing presence on the global content stage. The session highlighted how India’s cinematic and streaming potential is poised for a global leap, with speakers emphasizing the need for deeper, more universally resonant storytelling.
Ektaa R Kapoor made a strong case for moving beyond language as a barrier, asserting that the global audience now engages with content based on emotion and relatability rather than native tongue. “There is no answer to how you create global storytelling,” she said. “It has to have a strong connect. Global platforms have proved people do not take language as a barrier.” Kapoor pointed to the international success of Korean, Turkish, Spanish, and Indian shows as evidence that well-dubbed, well-told stories can thrive across borders.
She also emphasized that Indian content has long possessed rich narrative legacies, and that storytelling has always been one of India’s strongest cultural currencies. However, logistical challenges, she noted, had previously slowed the global reach of Indian films and series. With technological and distribution advancements, those barriers are fading, placing India on the cusp of a global storytelling breakthrough.
Kapoor concluded with a compelling call to action, urging creators to evolve beyond ethnic-specific narratives and lean into universally human themes. “We are at the tipping point,” she said, stressing that Indian storytellers must now shift toward narratives that resonate across cultures and identities. The panel served as both a reflection on India’s streaming journey so far and a roadmap for what lies ahead in global content influence.