Emotional Storytelling is Strength of South Entertainment: Netflix’s Monika Shergill

For Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content at Netflix India, that simple observation explains one of the most significant shifts taking place in entertainment today. Stories emerging from South India are no longer confined by geography or language. They are increasingly finding audiences across continents, reshaping perceptions of Indian storytelling and becoming a key pillar of Netflix’s growth strategy.

“What I personally love about South cinema industries is that creators and storytellers are very holistic in their approach,” she says, adding, “They are writers, they are directors, they edit their own stuff. Sometimes they produce, they are doing their own music. You get a very holistic vision from storytellers in the South.”

That ability to move seamlessly across different aspects of filmmaking, she believes, gives South Indian creators a distinctive edge. It also helps explain why stories from Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada cinema have found such resonance beyond their traditional markets.

Monika is careful not to view South India merely as a regional content category.

“I actually don’t want to call it the South Indian slate. The kind of stories that come out of the South cinema, each of its language cinemas, are so rich, so differentiated. They are so superior in the craft and the ambition that they have, that they are loved pan-India and they have become global stories,” she says.

That transformation has been impossible to ignore. Films such as ‘RRR’ and ‘Pushpa’ have travelled far beyond Indian audiences, earning recognition in markets that were once considered difficult to penetrate. But Monika asserts that the appeal of South Indian storytelling goes much deeper than blockbuster success.

“I think global audiences want something very differentiated,” she says. “The more specific we are, the more the stories are being appreciated on streaming globally, because people are very curious now.”

The rise of streaming has fundamentally changed the rules of content consumption. Where language once acted as a barrier, it is increasingly becoming irrelevant. Netflix’s investments in subtitles, dubbing and recommendation technology have made it easier for audiences to discover stories from unfamiliar cultures.

“If you are a lover of a certain genre, there is no barrier. You will be served a Telugu story to an audience sitting in Brazil, an audience sitting in Germany, any part of the world,” she says.

The trend mirrors the global success of Korean dramas and films, which have built loyal fan bases far beyond their home market. Shergill sees Indian content, particularly stories from the South, following a similar trajectory.

“Just like Korean stories are travelling, I think stories from India, particularly South stories, Telugu stories and Tamil stories, are finding so many audiences everywhere. There is a huge appetite for more.”

“That tells you how much people are open and welcoming about experiencing the best stories from around the world,” she says.

While technology has enabled this shift, Monika believes the true strength of South Indian cinema lies in its emotional storytelling.

“The emotional storytelling is the strength of South Indian cinema,” she says. “The family drama, taking social subjects and weaving entertainment around them.”

Whether it is the underdog journey of a character fighting against impossible odds or stories rooted in family dynamics, these narratives tap into emotions that transcend cultural boundaries.

Speaking about films like ‘Pushpa’, she notes that audiences connect with characters who begin with little power or privilege but find ways to transform their circumstances.

“It taps into what a lot of people around the world are feeling. When you see someone do that, it taps into you. You live vicariously through them,” she says.

Family remains another important element that distinguishes Indian storytelling globally. “Family as a unit is something Indian cinema celebrates a lot,” says Monika. And then there is the unmistakable energy that Indian cinema brings.

“I also think that Indian song and dance is very unique and nothing can beat it,” she says.

From viral dance challenges to globally shared reels, Indian film music has become a cultural export in its own right. Shergill recalls seeing dance groups and communities around the world recreating iconic sequences from Indian films.

“The energy of Indian cinema goes far beyond just the plot and the story that you are trying to tell,” she says, adding, “It’s a lot of colour, a lot of chaos, a lot of fun.”

The growing popularity of South Indian content has also influenced Netflix’s approach to commissioning and developing original productions. However, Monika says the company has always believed in the potential of stories emerging from the region.

“We always knew that South India would bring us more unique stories,” she says.

The pandemic accelerated that process by introducing a wider audience to films they may not have otherwise watched in theatres. “Audiences across the country were able to see and experience the craft, the diversity of storytelling, the different emotions it was tapping into and how rooted it was.”

Netflix’s first Telugu original series, ‘Super Subbu’, reflects that evolving strategy. Rather than trying to replicate the spectacle associated with large-scale theatrical releases, the series explores a character-driven world filled with humour, family dynamics and everyday situations.

She believes streaming platforms have opened up storytelling possibilities that did not always exist within traditional theatrical models. Different audiences can now be served different kinds of stories, allowing creators to experiment with genres, themes and formats.

“There are a lot of white spaces for storytelling. You can try different subjects and all of those spaces exist,” she says.

For actors, writers and directors, this means greater creative freedom. For audiences, it means a wider range of stories. And for platforms such as Netflix, it creates opportunities to invest in narratives that might once have been considered too niche.

Yet through all the changes in technology and distribution, Shergill believes one thing remains constant: great stories will always find an audience.

The difference today is that those audiences can be anywhere in the world. What was once considered regional content is increasingly shaping global conversations. And as South Indian creators continue to bring their distinctive voices, ambitious visions and multi-disciplinary skills to the screen, the world is paying attention.

Netflix certainly is.