India's Co-Production Boom Faces Execution Gap

India is experiencing a significant moment on the global stage, particularly with the upcoming Cannes 2026. The country's OTT audience has surpassed 601.2 million users, and the CTV base has grown by 85% in just one year, according to The Ormax OTT Audience Report 2025. This growth has led to increased ambition and deal-making in the industry. However, the question remains: what does execution require to bridge the gap between ambition and reality?

To answer this question, we spoke with Charvee Pandya, a producer with extensive experience in international film production. Pandya has worked on films that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has built production infrastructure for complex, multi-country shoots. She has also led the development of a streaming platform's first Hindi original and integrated isolated departments into a single ecosystem for a film festival.

Pandya's experience has given her a unique perspective on the challenges facing India's co-production boom. She notes that while South Asian cinema is gaining international recognition, it often struggles with technical ambition running ahead of story clarity. As a juror at WorldFest-Houston, Pandya has evaluated work from over 20 countries and found that submissions that worked were emotionally legible within the first few minutes, regardless of budget.

The Ormax OTT Audience Report 2025 highlights the growth of India's OTT audience and CTV base, but it also underscores the need for execution to match ambition. The report notes that the CTV base grew by 85% in a single year, indicating a significant increase in demand for content. However, this growth also presents challenges, such as the need for high-quality content that resonates with international audiences.

Pandya's experience in building production infrastructure and leading teams has given her insight into the importance of execution in the film industry. She notes that technical ambition is not enough; story clarity and emotional legibility are essential for a film to resonate with audiences. This is particularly important for South Asian cinema, which is still finding its footing on the international stage.

The Indian film industry has made significant strides in recent years, with many films gaining international recognition. However, the industry still faces challenges, such as the need for more diverse storytelling and better representation. Pandya's work has focused on building infrastructure and supporting diverse voices, and her experience has given her a unique perspective on the challenges facing the industry.

In conclusion, India's co-production boom faces an execution gap, and bridging this gap will require a focus on story clarity, emotional legibility, and technical expertise. Pandya's experience and insights offer a valuable perspective on the challenges facing the industry, and her work has demonstrated the importance of execution in achieving success in the film industry.

The growth of India's OTT audience and CTV base presents significant opportunities for the film industry, but it also underscores the need for high-quality content that resonates with international audiences. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be essential to prioritize execution and support diverse voices to achieve success on the global stage.

The significance of India's co-production boom extends beyond the film industry, as it has the potential to promote cultural exchange and understanding between India and the rest of the world. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, it will be essential to prioritize execution and support diverse voices to achieve success and promote cultural exchange.

In the end, the success of India's co-production boom will depend on the industry's ability to bridge the execution gap and produce high-quality content that resonates with international audiences. With the right focus on story clarity, emotional legibility, and technical expertise, the industry can achieve success and promote cultural exchange on the global stage.