‘The ease of storytelling through an audio medium is so much more,’ says Adarsh Gourav

Prajakta Koli, Adarsh Gourav and Taaruk Raina are a part of a nine-episode 3D audio series called ‘Desi Down Under’ which was released a few days back on Audible. Fans are showering a lot of love on this coming of age audio-series which is based in Sydney and revolves around these three characters. It is a treat for adventure lovers and romantics. The show is directed by Mantra Mugdh. ETimes caught up with these three actors to talk about their show, this new-age format of audio series and much more…

What made you say yes to a format like this?

Adarsh Gourav

: It was a really fun story, full of adventure, full of life, with phenomenal co-actors. I did a show with audible last year, so it was nice to collaborate with them again.

Prajakta Koli:

I have never been a voice actor before, this is the first time I got to do it in a situation like this which is much safer. We have a director, writer who are so good, plus actors who you can lean on. So, it was very good. There was no reason to say no.Taaruk Raina: My primary reason to be a part of this was these two people. I’ve known them in very separate equations. I’ve known Adarsh for years and I’ve seen him become this amazing artist to his craft. Then there was Prajakta. There were three of us who got along so well and then there was Mantra who is so amazing.

Is it a challenge when you have to express emotions just through your voice?

Adarsh:

As someone who is very new to the medium, you feel it’s just voice. But once you go to the studio and realise how much of your body you are using to put it out through your voice. You have to use your body as well, only then it becomes impactful. If someone sees me emoting at the dubbing studio through the glass, they would wonder what am I doing (Laughs)! But it’s a completely new experience than whatever I’ve done on screen.

Prajakta, you being a content creator and now an actor, how was it for you to get into a character in an audio series?

It’s very different to perform characters which you’ve not written. When you collaborate with writers and a director there’s a newer perspective which you get. It throws you out of your comfort zone. Talking of my character here, Meenu, I would want to be her friend. I would want to know her well. I was surfing and doing all the things which I’d probably not do in my real life. It took me some time to figure out who she was. That’s just a journey you take while at it, but overall, it’s quite an experience.

How do you look at this audio medium being explored further from now? Do you think it would revive the art of storytelling?

Adarsh

: The ease of storytelling through an audio medium is so much more. I have spent a lot of time with my grandparents and grown up listening to a lot of stories on the radio. The ambience created around these shows is so much bigger now that you feel you are so into it. There will be so much more integration of tech into it. I wonder how big it will get! I wonder if there would be a smell and feel that would come along with it. It’ll be super cool and so immersive. There’s a bone conduction thing that would make a big difference to it.

Taaruk

: I definitely think it’s a medium which will grow. The kind of content you get to listen to, is amazing because there’s a massive focus on the content sound wise and script wise to make it of the best quality because there’s no visual help