The 15th of November has special significance in all our lives. International Men’s Day is just around the corner! A moment to cherish the amazing gents we know and admire, what better occasion to delve into the stories of men, from men and by men? Let’s take a deep dive into the fascinating world of male storytellers.
In India, male storytellers have the distinct ability to craft stories that stand the test of time and leave a profound impact on our culture. There could be no better example for this than the great R.K. Narayan. The maestro behind the unforgettable Malgudi Days, the acclaimed novelist had an incredible knack for blending nostalgic emotions and relatable tales with a pinch of endearing everyday humor.
When it comes to cinema, the ethereal charm of Gulzar stands tall even amidst changing times. The iconic writer, lyricist, poet and author is responsible for some of the most memorable tunes in movies as well as some of the most powerful lines put to paper. Who can forget the bittersweet and moving dialogues from Anand, or the simple and soulful lyrics of the legendary track Musafir Hoon Yaaron?
At the same time, no conversation about storytellers is complete without the mention of Javed Akhtar. The decorated writer, lyricist and poet was part of historic films like Sholay, Haathi Mere Saathi and Deewar amongst others. His hand is perfectly placed on the pulse of youngsters too, with much-loved movies like Lakshya and Don: The Chase Begins created under his wings. Modern writing maestros such as Jaideep Sahni of Chak De India and Khosla Ka Ghosla fame, as well as Niren Bhatt of Stree, Stree 2 and Munjya fame, are also keeping the flame of storytelling alive on the big screen.
If our history is filled with stellar male artists who enthralled us with classic stories, the digital era is also rich with audio storytellers who win countless hearts. Neelesh Misra, the multi-talented journalist and writer, has built a coveted place for himself amongst the online generation for his knack of telling stories in a fresh way.
There are many more emerging male talents who are carving their own identity in the world of audio storytelling through platforms like PocketFM and Pocket Novel. Young and passionate artists like Lavlesh Kumar aka “Lav”, Orayan, and Ajit Kumar are just some of the names at Pocket Novel who have redefined how a gripping novel can be consumed digitally and read online.
Talking about his craft and the art of creating stories, Lavesh Kumar, writer of ‘A Great Battle of Love’, said, “Stories are stories, at the end of the day, good stories thrive in any medium, visual or audio. Having said that, a few years ago, being a novel writer in the digital realm in India was not as appealing as it is today, and a major part of that growth is due to a platform like Pocket Novel.”
Sharing his thoughts on the process, Ajit Kumar, writer of ‘The Planet Mushroom’, said, “As a writer I can attest that novels are a tougher nut to crack than video because you have to unravel a listener’s imagination without any illustrative visuals, but that is where a writer’s true creativity thrives, and I’m very thankful for such an opportunity. Moreover, what is truly liberating is how Pocket Novel gives us a freehand to explore our creative potential without any barriers”.