Sonder
(n)
the realisation that each person is living a life as vivid and complex as our own.
That idea sits at the heart of how we make films.
Started documenting organisations and communities working across social change.
Began a long-term documentation of survivor leadership and anti-trafficking work.
Experimented with documentary profiles as part of programme selection and leadership journeys.
Documented education, technology and youth leadership across Odisha and Jharkhand.
Stories took us across Southeast Asia, following migration, labour and belonging.
Studio Sonder takes shape.
A decade of documentary practice becomes a studio built specifically around storytelling for social impact.
Why organisations choose Studio Sonder
We understand both filmmaking and the social sector.
Over the past decade, we have worked alongside grassroots organisations, national nonprofits, international foundations, CSR initiatives, research institutions, and community-led movements across India and Southeast Asia.
This experience allows us to move comfortably between classrooms, artisan workshops, public health programmes, survivor collectives, migrant communities, and boardrooms—creating stories that are emotionally resonant while remaining strategically useful.
We don't see communication as the final stage of a project. We see it as part of the work itself.
Beyond Films
Our role often extends beyond directing documentaries.
We help organisations think about how stories are discovered, how they travel, and how they continue creating value long after production ends.
This may include narrative strategy, field documentation, photography, campaign assets, visual archives, exhibition content, or dissemination plans that ensure stories reach the people they were made for.
Because the life of a story begins after it's finished.
Trusted by
Insia Dariwala
Trauma-Informed Executive Leader | Founder | TEDx Speaker | Filmmaker | Author
"I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Studio Sonder across a range of deeply sensitive and complex projects, and his work as a cinematographer and editor has always stood out for its thoughtfulness and integrity.
On projects dealing with issues such as child sexual abuse, female genital cutting, and palliative care awareness, Studio Sonder brings a rare balance of technical skill and emotional intelligence. They understands the weight of these subjects and approaches them with great care, ensuring that the storytelling remains respectful, nuanced, and grounded in dignity.
I would strongly recommend Studio Sonder for any work that requires both creative excellence and a responsible, human-centered approach to storytelling."
Uma Chatterjee
Founder & CEO | Sanjog
Co- founder | Change Mantras
Co- Founder | Torii International
"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Studio Sonder on multiple projects, and what consistently stands out is their ability to bring depth and sensitivity to storytelling.
Studio Sonder approaches filmmaking with a rare combination of creative clarity and empathy. Whether working with communities, young people, or institutional stakeholders, he creates an environment of trust that allows authentic stories to emerge. Their strength lies not just in visual storytelling, but in truly listening- something that reflects in the honesty and nuance of their films.
They are highly collaborative, open to feedback, and deeply committed to the purpose of the work. From conceptualisation to execution, Studio Sonder brings thoughtfulness, rigour, and a strong sense of design to everything they do."
Roop Sen
Co-Founder | Torii, Change Mantras, Sanjog,
Nyaypath | System's Coach
"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Studio Sonder on multiple projects, and what consistently stands out is their ability to bring depth and sensitivity to storytelling.
Studio Sonder approaches filmmaking with a rare combination of creative clarity and empathy. Whether working with communities, young people, or institutional stakeholders, he creates an environment of trust that allows authentic stories to emerge. Their strength lies not just in visual storytelling, but in truly listening- something that reflects in the honesty and nuance of their films.
They are highly collaborative, open to feedback, and deeply committed to the purpose of the work. From conceptualisation to execution, Studio Sonder brings thoughtfulness, rigour, and a strong sense of design to everything they do."
We listen before we frame.
Raj Shekhar
Founder / Filmmaker
Raj has spent over a decade making films within the social sector — working across education, livelihoods, migration, gender, health, climate, youth leadership and human rights.
Studio Sonder grew from that practice: from years spent listening in classrooms, homes, farms, workshops and community spaces before deciding where to put the camera.
