In this special Industry Spotlight, a WAVES Film Bazaar 2025 feature,, producer Aishwarya Sonar and writer-producer Shuchi Dwivedi  joined Lohita Sujith, Sr. Director, Copyright & Digital Economy, Motion Picture Association where they reflected on the paths that led them into filmmaking and to their collaboration as Lambe Log. Sonar shared how starting at Purple Pebble Pictures, working first as an AD and then as an actor on two very different films helped her discover her voice as a producer. Dwivedi described law as a temporary detour from a lifelong creative pull, noting that the discipline and resilience she gained there gave her the confidence to leap into film.

Despite international recognition from Palm Springs and Red Sea to being shortlisted at the Cannes W Scripted Competition, and IFLA, both said WAVES Film Bazaar remained essential. With Teacher’s Pet rooted in Dwivedi’s boarding-school experiences, they wanted to meet Indian audiences and collaborators, and Waves offered exactly that. They highlighted how the co-production market brought them in contact with financiers, distributors, and partners they wouldn’t have reached otherwise.

Speaking about bridging India and the US, Sonar said her exposure to both cinemas made moving between the two worlds intuitive, while Dwivedi noted that growing up on Western TV and Indian storytelling made cross-cultural work feel natural. Strong human stories, they said, translate anywhere.

Looking ahead, they described WAVES as a creatively charged week, full of long days, late-night conversations, and the sense of community that creatives often miss in cities like Mumbai and LA. Sonar emphasized what makes WAVES unique: Goa’s openness and egalitarian energy. They added that WAVES Film Bazaar directly pushed their project forward, connecting them with early champions and international partners and strengthening momentum for making Teacher’s Pet in India next year.