The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting have concluded ‘Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaaan’, a skilling-led storytelling initiative developed in collaboration with the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity. Implemented by Graphiti Studios, the programme sits at the intersection of public policy, creative education and brand-backed social storytelling.
The initiative features eight short animated films highlighting Indian start-ups identified by the Office of the PSA for their contribution to socially relevant innovation. These films are available on Netflix India’s YouTube channel, extending their reach beyond institutional audiences to the broader public.
From a communication perspective, the programme positions storytelling as both an outcome and a process. The films were created by students from eight universities, including the National Institute of Design, Chitkara University and the Satyajit Ray Institute of Film and Television. Voiceovers were recorded by participants from Voicebox, a Netflix-led skilling initiative run in partnership with the National Film Development Corporation.
A total of 26 students participated in the programme, with 50% representation from women and several participants drawn from Tier-2 cities. Mentorship was provided by faculty from NID Ahmedabad and professionals from Graphiti Studios, offering hands-on exposure to animation, narrative development and production workflows.
The initiative also incorporated music as a cultural layer, with an original anthem performed by students from the Shankar Mahadevan Academy. This added a performative dimension to the programme, reinforcing its positioning as a creative ecosystem intervention rather than a standalone content exercise.
For Netflix, ‘Inspiring Innovators’ aligns with its broader strategy of investing in talent pipelines and creator enablement in India. Mahima Kaul, director, global affairs, Netflix India, described the initiative as a convergence of skilling, inclusion and storytelling, designed to showcase innovation while strengthening creative capabilities.
Government representatives positioned the programme as a model for future collaborations between policy bodies and creative industries. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, principal scientific adviser to the Government of India, highlighted the initiative’s role in connecting innovation, talent development and real-world application through structured mentorship and creative output.
Dr L. Murugan, minister of state, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, underscored the importance of storytelling in taking Indian innovation to global audiences, while Sanjay Jaju, secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, framed the programme within a broader shift towards creator-led narratives and AI-influenced storytelling.
The culmination event featured screenings of all eight films alongside live performances and addresses by senior stakeholders. From a marketing and communications standpoint, the initiative demonstrates how brand-funded skilling programmes can deliver both social value and long-term ecosystem relevance.
