Photo of Sarah Thomas
Photo of Sarah Thomas
Photo of Sarah Thomas

SARAH THOMAS

SARAH THOMAS

SARAH THOMAS

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Sarah Thomas (also credited as Cera 𓂀) is an award-winning filmmaker and director whose body of work spans over 300 commercials for some of the world’s leading brands. She has won a National Award and earned over 50 international nominations and awards across more than 25 countries, including two IDSFFK nominations, Kerala State Organized Awards for her films. Semifinalist for Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2022) and featured in Deccan Herald’s, Young & Successful Entrepreneurs (2019), Sarah brings a rare blend of creative vision and production expertise to every project she leads.

Sarah began her career as a documentary filmmaker and editor before founding STOM Productions. STOM is now recognised as one of India’s top ad film production houses. Over the years, she has built a reputation for delivering commercials with cinematic storytelling, emotional resonance, and global appeal. While her commercial work is celebrated for its visual craft and emotional depth, Sarah’s deepest passion lies in developing and directing original content for the big screen. Her film Scarred, only the second in India to address acid attacks, garnered international media attention for its unflinching portrayal of survival and resilience. The Unsung, her latest documentary on a vanishing tribe in Karnataka, continues to tour globally, earning multiple international awards. Another documentary she wrote the script for, 'Autumn of Life' won the National Students’ Film Award.

While Sarah Thomas is the established name, Cera 𓂀 is her creative alter ego—dedicated to high-concept, visually disruptive commercial work. The Eye of Horus (𓂀) in the Cera identity represents vision beyond the obvious, reframing the ordinary, and pushing the limits of style and narrative in advertising.

With a holistic command over both the creative and financial dimensions of filmmaking, Sarah ensures every story she directs resonates long after the final frame.

Photo of Sarah Thomas
Photo of Sarah Thomas
Photo of Sarah Thomas

MAHESH KARUNAKARA

CREATIVE PRODUCER & WRITER

Mahesh has steered some of the most ambitious and high-stakes productions at STOM, delivering work that has earned multiple national and international accolades. A former national-level wrestler and basketball player, he began his career in the banking sector before finding his true calling in film, quickly becoming a driving force behind campaigns that challenge limits and set new benchmarks.

From orchestrating adventurous productions with over 10 teams across multiple locations in India, to leading international campaigns filmed across multiple countries, to delivering high-end productions where the stakes are at their peak—Mahesh approaches every project with unwavering composure, creative vision, and problem-solving mastery. Beyond production, he also conceptualises and writes for brands. Among the many campaigns he has written for, his idea for Break The Silence, a domestic abuse awareness campaign, earned global recognition, including top honours at the International Public Advertisement Film Festival in Korea, and continues to screen at festivals worldwide.

Known for his calm, solution-driven leadership, Mahesh is the producer brands count on when it matters most—earning him the nickname “The Calm at STOM.” He also heads STOM Studios, the company’s digital wing, where he has overseen the creation of over 500 assets in just two years, delivering with speed, vision, and creative consistency.

Mahesh is currently developing a Tamil feature film, expanding his storytelling from commercials to cinema.

Photo of Sarah Thomas

MAHESH KARUNAKARA

CREATIVE PRODUCER & WRITER

Mahesh has steered some of the most ambitious and high-stakes productions at STOM, delivering work that has earned multiple national and international accolades. A former national-level wrestler and basketball player, he began his career in the banking sector before finding his true calling in film, quickly becoming a driving force behind campaigns that challenge limits and set new benchmarks.

From orchestrating adventurous productions with over 10 teams across multiple locations in India, to leading international campaigns filmed across multiple countries, to delivering high-end productions where the stakes are at their peak—Mahesh approaches every project with unwavering composure, creative vision, and problem-solving mastery. Beyond production, he also conceptualises and writes for brands. Among the many campaigns he has written for, his idea for Break The Silence, a domestic abuse awareness campaign, earned global recognition, including top honours at the International Public Advertisement Film Festival in Korea, and continues to screen at festivals worldwide.

Known for his calm, solution-driven leadership, Mahesh is the producer brands count on when it matters most—earning him the nickname “The Calm at STOM.” He also heads STOM Studios, the company’s digital wing, where he has overseen the creation of over 500 assets in just two years, delivering with speed, vision, and creative consistency.

Mahesh is currently developing a Tamil feature film, expanding his storytelling from commercials to cinema.

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