Matribhumi Samachar English
Kuku FM, Indias leading audio content platform, triumphantly swept the India Audio Summit and Awards (IASA) with four major wins on 4th April, 2024 in Mumbai. These awards underscore Kuku FMs commitment to providing exceptional audio experiences that resonate with Indian audiences.
Celebrating audio excellence! Kuku FM sweeps the India Audio Summit and Awards with four prestigious wins
The IASA jury panel comprises a diverse group of esteemed critics & veterans from the audio industry, as well as marketing leaders of brands that rely on the medium heavily. Kuku FM securing multiple awards in front of this panel signifies a major endorsement.
It highlights that the platforms content meets industry-wide standards of excellence, resonates with audiences and creators across entertainment sectors, and demonstrates Kuku FMs potential to disrupt the Indian entertainment landscape. Furthermore, this recognition from industry leaders provides Kuku FM with strong validation that will be key in attracting further talent and partnerships.
Celebrating Excellence in Audio
The India Audio Summit and Awards recognizes and celebrates the best in Indias audio landscape, including audiobooks, audio dramas, global bestsellers, and exceptional talents within the industry. Kuku FMs remarkable success at IASA is a testament to the platforms dedication to innovation, and culturally relevant audio content.
Kuku FM received 11 nominations across multiple categories, securing 4 prestigious wins at the India Audio Summit and Awards (IASA) for Audiobook of the Year, Audio Drama of the Year, and Voice of the Year – Male & Female. Of these, Kuku FM received an impressive four nominations for Audiobook of the Year, winning in the category with its audiobook titled “12th Fail.” Notably, Kuku FM also received nominations for audiobooks in regional languages, including “Kadamattathu Kathanar” (Malayalam) and “Auto Shankar” (Tamil).
Kuku FM also secured three nominations for Best Audiobook Drama, bringing home a win for “Sherlock“. Additionally, they were recognized with two nominations each for Voice of the Year – Male and Female, resulting in wins for Vrajesh Hirjee (“Ram Katha: Suljhaye Sabki Vyatha“) and Pallavi Bharti (“Heer“) respectively.
The convergence of audio and visual storytelling is highlighted by “12th Fail” winning both Best Film and Best Audiobook this year. This win continues the resurgence of Randeep Hooda, an actor who has charted an independent path after facing challenges in nepotistic Bollywood circles. Hesshowcased his versatility by both directing “Savarkar” and starring as the iconic Sherlock Holmes in Kuku FMs audio drama.
In keeping with traditional Indian narratives and celebrating the Ayodhya Mandir unveiling, Kuku FMs “Ram Katha: Suljhaye Sabki Vyatha” provides a modern take on the Ramleela, resonating with contemporary audiences. Additionally, “Heer” demonstrates Kuku FMs dedication to reviving the romance genre, an area where cinemagoers have been starved for ages. These productions showcase Kuku FMs unique ability to capture the essence of Indian culture through the power of audio.
Kuku FMs Winning Productions:
Audiobook of the Year:12th Fail – This award highlights the captivating power of audiobooks and is further amplified by the titles parallel success as Best Film elsewhere, demonstrating the growing convergence of audio and visual storytelling. The audiobook challenges the limitations of civil services aspirants minds. It presents an unconventional narrative that defies the traditional notion of who these candidates are.
Audio Drama of the Year:Sherlock (Voiced by Randeep Hooda as Sherlock, Karan Grover as Watson) – This win underscores Kuku FMs mastery of the audio drama format and celebrates the iconic pairing of Randeep Hooda and Karan Grovers performances which breathed new life into these beloved literary characters. The story asks if Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson can solve this mystery happening in Bengal during the Bhaskar era. The case is called “Sherlock: The Curse of Bhaskar Villa.” It shows Sherlock dealing with one of his toughest investigations ever.
Best Narrator – Male: Vrajesh Hirjee for Ram Katha: Suljhaye Sabki Vyatha – Vrajesh Hirjees’ masterful narration is recognized for bringing a modern perspective to a timeless epic. This spiritual content coincided with the historic unveiling of the Ayodhya mandir, presenting a fresh version of the beloved Ramayana for todays young audience.
Best Narrator – Female: Pallavi Bharti for Heer – Pallavi Bhartis evocative performance earns recognition for its role in reviving the romance genre and demonstrating the emotional power of well-crafted audio content. Her emotional storytelling brought back the era of romance which took the listeners into a world of classic love. The story revolves around Heer and Anhad, who realize their love for each other when it seems too late.
Kuku FM: Indias Audio Streaming Leader
“These wins affirm the validation of over 6 million listeners who have heard & loved our winners,” said Vinod Kumar Meena, COO & Co-founder, Kuku FM. “From working with distinct voices like Vrajesh Hirjee or bringing the action to life with superior audio engineering in Sherlock, we continue to work towards making the best content accessible to every section of the society, in the language & format they’re comfortable with. And we’re delighted to see that these strategic partnerships & our exceptional talent pool are pulling us ahead of the curve.“
Recently, Kuku FM also inked a content partnership with Stockholm-based e-book and audiobook subscription service Storytel to enhance Kuku FMs capacity to meet evolving audience needs. This recent partnership deal with Storytel also marks Kuku FM’s second major partnership following its exclusive audiobook rights acquisition from Indias largest book publisher, Rupa Publications, which took place last year. Including these content deals, Kuku FM has established itself as Indias leading audio content platform, creating, producing, marketing, and distributing exclusive premium audio content across 20+ genres and 7+ premium content in 7+ languages.
Kuku FMs unwavering focus on creating original content, as well as partnering with Indias leading publishers, positions the platform at the forefront of Indias rapidly expanding audio landscape. With over 49 million downloads, 40 million+ total listeners till date, and more than 2 million paid subscribers, Kuku FM continues to be the go-to destination for engaging audio content in India.
About Kuku FM
Kuku FM is Indias leading audio content platform, offering audiobooks, stories, summaries, courses, and more across 20+ genres and 7+ languages. With a vision to revolutionize the way Bharat consumes audio content, Kuku FM has become a go-to destination for audio enthusiasts, boasting over 49 million downloads and 2.7 million paid subscribers.
For more information, visit kukufm.com.
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