Storytelling is back with a bang with the launch of Storytel in India. Now, you can susbcribe to listen audiobooks on your mobile device. So whether you are busy in some other activity or on the move, it is now easier to read errrrrr listen to audio books. This means, the book lovers have an alternative to drive their passion in a different and impactful manner. The launch and book listening session was was full of fun and excitement for many at the event. Yogesh Dashrath, Country Head, Storytel India was quite candid while launching the app. Once you register on their website in quite an easy way, it is an unlimited books of manrathon listening. That you can perform on your mobile device through the Storytel app. It can also happen through a podcast kiosk. The subscription process is quite simple and monthly charges are quite nominal.
Photo credit: Bokmässan i Göteborg on Visual hunt / CC BY-NC
The good part about Storytel India is that it is focussing on regional languages. The approach is to facilitate masses of listeners who prefer regional language books. Right now you can find English, Hindi, and Marathi titles on their site. In fact, out of 500+ titles, more than 230 are in Marathi and 115+ are in Hindi. And the count is increasing phenomenally. So it its popularity and subscription. We had quite an interesting reading sessions by eminent voice artists Yunus Khan and Atul Aarya reading excerpts from Gaban and Soorkh Aur Syaah respectively. The voice modulation with a right mix of emotions play a major role in storytelling. It is entirely different from text-to-speech concept that is an emotionless and monotonous flow of speech. This, on the other hand, is strong enough to absorb the context, content, and intent in right tone.
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Yunus Khan is a veteran and one of the most popular voice-over artists. He is also popular for his association with All India Radio for more than a couple of decades. His narration of Munshi Premchand’s Gaban for Storytel is a masterpiece. Similarly, Atul Arya is an Radio Jockey and All India Radio newsreader for more than three decades. He is also a narrator for the National Geographic Channel for many projects. He was there to narrate an excerpt from Soorkh aur Syaah by Stendhal. Top Publications like Rajkamal Prakashan, Penguin Random House, Duckbill Publishing House, Karadi Tales, Harper Collins and Vani Prakashan are already working with Storytel India for coverting print books to audio books. Most of the people expert in this area feel that the readers section is entirely different from people who would love to listen to audio books thus will not impact on the share.
Yogesh Dashrath says “It has been an amazing journey for us thus far. Seeking out popular and memorable regional titles, finding the right voices to bring alive the myriad stories, and presenting it in a format that does justice to the author’s intent – it has been an exciting undertaking. We are confident that Storytel India will be able to take the legendary Indian stories to a larger audience.” As a matter of fact, a Storytel Listening Pod was there at the event for people to experience its beauty and get coversant with the process.
