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#CreatorRewind: The rise of micro dramas and what that means for storytellers

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Smrithi Mohan
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rise of micro dramas

2025 saw a rise in micro-drama storytelling, giving people another reason to be entertained. Scroll down as we revisit what this means to storyteller creators Gaurav Alugh and Sujoy Sawant. 

This year was an amazing time for storytellers, who had the opportunity to experiment and explore the content space through their bite-sized stories. The series that we have come to associate with long episodic seasons has now found space on social media. Creators managed to use their clout to deliver stories that deserve to be told in more than one 1-minute video. Although the reason for the rise in this type of storytelling may be something we already know and Gaurav Alugh and Sujoy Sawant understand that too.

As storyteller creators who focus on sharing deeper stories that are embedded in our reality, starting their own series was not difficult. Gaurav’s series Bombay Housing Kalesh aka BHK, which focuses on the experience of bachelors, struggling to find a home in this city where the rent is shockingly high and the space is barely enough. Meanwhile, Sujoy's series Mard aur Aurat explores emotions, human connection, and everything that may or may not make sense in our existence. These stories could have been made into a long-format video and uploaded to platforms that allow the audience to witness the entire story unfold together. But with the rapid growth of micro-dramas this year and the insane engagement that the platform brings, they decided to share a bite-sized version of the same story. 

For audiences, this rise might seem sudden, but as people who are actively shaping this space, do Gaurav and Sujoy feel the same? According to them, this rise is not but a gradual one that found its inevitable audience since they started gaining popularity in countries like the US and China. Gaurav mentioned that India is finally catching up the same way we embraced live commerce or short-form videos. "It’s just the natural evolution of content - audiences today want value, emotion, and storytelling, not “Hi, I’m this, I do that” videos anymore."

While the growth was steady, Sujoy feels that our films and shows are taking a backseat in terms of giving the audience good content. This has turned the audience to these short-video platforms for stories that take them less binge time than usual. "Hence, creators realised that it's time to get films on vertical. It's a natural progression, I feel. Since creators are evolving and shall break boundaries of storytelling mediums, we'll see more new forms."

So how has the shift toward short-format, high-impact storytelling changed the way these creators ideate, write, or perform stories? Gaurav doesn’t think short-format storytelling radically changes how one ideates or performs, especially since the fundamentals remain the same. "Hooks and cliffhangers feel new because they’re trending on Instagram, but they’ve been part of TV and long-form storytelling forever." What he feels has changed is the intensity. Gaurav points out how every second counts in micro-dramas. "You can’t waste even a frame, so the writing and editing have to be razor-sharp." And even with that pressure, you can’t compromise on honesty in performance or in the emotion - the audience catches that instantly. Sujoy learned a way of storytelling that involves the audience and himself in this creative pool of ideas that may seem non-relatable, but everyone actually relates to them. "It has allowed me to let my mind wander in various forms of media and mix them and make something worthwhile."

This year saw an incredible rise in content creators showcasing their filmmaking skills on Instagram, whether through episodic series or long-form films. The stories not only add comedic relief to the content space but also explore deeper emotions and plots they might not have shared otherwise. They demonstrated their ability to envision not just how they would look visually but also how to frame complex stories that deserve to be told. Gaurav praised creators for their contribution and for adding more value to this industry that has become an elite part of entertainment. “Dolly Singh is definitely one of the frontrunners - three seasons, consistently strong production, and Maltry’s direction have played a huge role in setting that standard. Even newer shows like Grihasthi by Deepak and Ajay have shown how actors, writers, and directors are finding their voice in this space. It’s refreshing to watch.” Sujoy was also able to find his favourite series on social media. "Honestly, there is one called Eavesdropping. It's a fun romcom drama series. And I really like how they shot it. With minimal production, they have been able to pull off a good story. Another one is To Be Decided (which we produced at BhaDiPa), so that's a bias there, but I really feel people should watch it."

Dolly Singh's Worst Date

Nisman and Hardik Banga's Ishq in Office

Sejal Kumar, Aashi Sahni and Isha Yadav's Jee Le Zindagi

Minimalist

Manya Thakur and Gaur Krishna's Thodi Fight, Thodi Feelings

To Be Decided by BhaDiPa

The popularity of Indian social media series is a reminder of how stories always find a way to audiences, no matter the medium. Short-video platforms have, in fact, given creators and viewers the chance to indulge in stories with their easy accessibility. Looking ahead, how do the creators see the micro-drama format evolving in 2026, and what new possibilities or responsibilities does it create for them? While it is impossible to predict what content looks like next year, Gaurav wants micro-dramas to stay a space where more and more artists feel encouraged to find their voice. "You don’t need a big setup - sometimes it’s just you and a few friends who’ve been wanting to tell a story. Go shoot, experiment, rehearse, put yourself out there. There really is an audience for everything."

In many ways, micro-dramas have become a powerful platform for actors and creators waiting for their “big break”, a place to build networks, sharpen their craft, and quietly shape a personal brand. With consistency (and a bit of luck), that effort does open doors. Micro-dramas proved this year that great storytelling doesn’t need scale. With just heart, intention, and creators willing to push the format forward, audiences will get to witness good stories. As we head into 2026, hopefully, this space continues to empower more voices, more experimentation, and more stories waiting to be told.

What other trends did you love this year? Drop them in the comments below!

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Sujoy Sawant rise of micro dramas gaurav alugh