03 April,2020 09:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Dalreen Ramos
The episodes revolve around Benares, Jaipur and Nainital
Having worked as a consultant at a BPO for 12 years on shifts determined by the time in Australia, Rakesh Tiwari was accustomed to returning home in Navi Mumbai only for sound sleep. His mind, though, was dominated with an instinct to travel and so, he says, he began to "Google travel". He would type the name of the place that interested him at a given moment and virtually transport himself to the spot. Over the years, he noticed that there were many like him; those who wanted to explore places but couldn't, for personal or financial reasons. He decided to turn his vivid imagination into a pitch for a podcast in January as part of a pitchfest that the storytelling platform Kommune was hosting in partnership with digital music service Spotify.
"I didn't want to make it a travel show. I wanted to tell a story," Tiwari says, about Qissa Shehron Ka, the podcast that is now available for streaming. Here, the now full-time storyteller traverses through Benares, Nainital, Indore and Jaipur with each episode not exceeding 14 minutes. With a fictionalised narrative, the production quality is excellent, too. It helps familiarise the listener with the places and their intricacies - be it litti chokha or chowmein. Crediting Neelesh Misra of Yaadon Ka IdiotBox fame and author Paulo Coelho as his inspiration, Tiwari, 34, says four to six hours was spent per episode since voice modulation and pacing was key. "Recording a podcast is different from performing on stage. Also, when I speak normally, I tend to rattle off," he reveals.
ALSO READ
'Cortisol face': Medical and fitness experts dissect the new social media trend
After Sweden restricts screen time for kids, Indian experts express their views
With cropped capri pants back in vogue, stylists tell you how to nail the trend
Hindi Diwas: An artistes’ collective will celebrate the Hindi language in Mumbai
This Odia artist uses art to highlight the ecological crisis of Chilika Lake
Tiwari is keen for listeners to realise that everyone has a tale to tell and that you don't have to be a storyteller to do that. Recognising that this is the perfect time to contemplate and listen to a podcast, he says, "We have a habit of creating stories out of nostalgia, imagining what would've happened. And especially during this time, the present generation doesn't need excel sheets; they need stories."
Log on to spotify.com
Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
