Abi Varghese turned an immigrant story into a phenomenon in Kerala and parlayed that momentum into directing for Netflix and Eros Now. He didn’t wait for backing or permission; he built his own audience and carried them with him. That path has become the foundation for his banner, Infamous Coconuts, which is now pushing regional Indian stories onto a global stage.

In this episode of Chai with Champs, Abi reveals how indie creators can actually move from YouTube to streaming platforms, the unspoken realities of financing and distribution, and the trade-offs every filmmaker faces when selling to platforms versus holding the rights. He also breaks down what makes international co-productions succeed, why cross-regional collaborations within India are long overdue, and the next steps South Asian cinema must take to compete on a global level.

Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll

[00:00] - Welcome to the Episode!
[01:00] - Meet Abi Varghese: From Sitcoms to Feature Films
[02:46] - 3 Years at Unilever → How Corporate Life Made Him a Better Filmmaker
[06:00] - Cracking YouTube Virality for a Global Audience
[09:35] - Skipping Film School: How Strategy Beats Tradition
[13:00] - The Untold Truth: Funding Films, Pitching to Netflix & Selling Your Vision
[22:30] - How to Find Your Audience & Build an Unstoppable Brand
[27:00] - Red Flags to Watch Out for When Working Internationally
[31:56] - Why This Is a Rough Time for Indie & Hollywood — And What Artists Should Do
[35:00] - Beyond South Asian Audiences: How to Reach the Masses & Attach Big Names
[38:38] - Spill the Chai | Rapid-Fire with Abi
[44:13] - Advice to His Younger Self & The Legacy He’s Building
[46:00] - Bringing South Asian Cinema to the Global Stage