Writer Piyali Kar Opens Up About Leaving a Good Job Position at Colors TV, Venturing into the World of Audio Series with Pocket FM, and Beyond
In a world saturated with visual content, the allure of audio storytelling is a refreshing and deeply personal experience. Piyali Kar, the writer of Pocket FM’s audio series Maseeha Doctor, has not only embraced this medium but also excelled in it. Her journey is a fascinating one, shaped by her diverse upbringing, career transitions, and a deep passion for storytelling.
Piyali recently shared insights into her background, the influence of her upbringing on her narratives, the transition from a career in the GEC space at Colors television channel and video OTT app Voot to audio series at Pocket FM, and the unique challenges and rewards of the medium.
Q1: Can you tell us about your background and upbringing?
Piyali: I was born in Himachal Pradesh, and my father’s Government job led to frequent transfers every two years. Despite being Bengali, I never lived in West Bengal. Instead, I spent my formative years in Chhattisgarh, surrounded by diverse cultures. This upbringing in the heartland of India made me appreciate India’s cultural diversity, influencing my storytelling perspective. I was a small-town girl who adapted to new places and made friends easily.
Q2: Can you briefly describe your educational and career journey before becoming a writer for Pocket FM?
Piyali: I completed my schooling in Himachal Pradesh and pursued a media-related course in Pune, which exposed me to urban life. I worked in Mumbai for about eight years in the entertainment industry, focusing on non-fiction shows at Colors and Voot. In 2019, I made a career shift, moving to Himachal Pradesh, where I explored entrepreneurship by running Open Studios. Writing, a long-time passion, rekindled when I left the entertainment industry and moved to Himachal.
Q3: How has your diverse upbringing influenced your storytelling?
Piyali: Growing up in Chhattisgarh, a Hindi heartland, I was surrounded by diverse regional stories and mythologies. These tales, often linked to religion and folklore, fascinated me. Himachal Pradesh offered real-life experiences blending mythology, modernism, and culture. My storytelling now combines modern elements with inspiration from mythology, culture, and India’s diversity.
Q4: How did you transition from a career in the entertainment industry to becoming a writer for Pocket FM?
Piyali: Becoming a writer for Pocket FM was unexpected but fulfilling. A former colleague from my entertainment days, now at Pocket FM, offered me a chance to write full-time. I had always wanted to write, but I had doubts about long-format writing for audio. Pocket FM gave me the opportunity to try it. I submitted a sample episode, got approval, and slowly adapted to this new storytelling style.
Q5: What are some challenges you faced when transitioning from TV to audio storytelling?
Piyali: Switching from TV to audio storytelling posed unique challenges. Unlike TV, audio lacks visual elements, offering a more imaginative and limitless narrative. TV has budget and practical constraints, while audio offers further creative freedom. Audio storytelling engages the listener’s imagination more actively. With support and guidance from a collaborative team at Pocket FM, this transition has been smooth, and my confidence in audio storytelling has grown over time.
Q6: How did you first learn about the concept of audio series, and what intrigued you about this medium?
Piyali: Audio storytelling brought back nostalgic memories of my childhood exposure to radio. It felt personal, comforting, and seamlessly integrated into daily life. The rise of audio series felt like a return to a cherished medium. It proved addictive, allowing for unique storytelling experiences. The audio format’s versatility, spanning non-fiction, fiction, horror, and mythology, fascinated me. It offered an immersive and imaginative storytelling platform that resonated deeply.
*Q7: In a world filled with visual content, do you experience any visual fatigue? How does audio storytelling offer a refreshing alternative?
Piyali: Visual content saturates our world today, leading to potential visual fatigue. TV, movies, and online streaming are ever-present. Audio series provides a refreshing alternative, seamlessly fitting into daily life. During commutes, walks, or chores, audio content offers a screen-free respite. It engages the listener’s imagination, offering a personalized, immersive experience without disconnecting from the real world.
Q10: How did your family and friends react when you made the switch to audio storytelling? Were they eager to listen to your work?
Piyali: My family and friends were supportive and thrilled about my move to the audio series space. They had a connection to radio and audio content, and my father even took part in radio story competitions. They were happy to see me pursue storytelling in this medium and eagerly looked forward to listening to my work. Our shared nostalgia for audio content made this transition special for them.
Q11: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your audio series “Maseeha Doctor”? Also how do you find inspiration for your characters and their development in your audio series?
Piyali: “Maseeha Doctor” draws inspiration from the diverse cultures and stories I encountered while growing up in Chhattisgarh. It combines elements of mythology, culture, and modern storytelling to create a unique narrative. Inspiration for characters often comes from real-life people, experiences, and the rich cultural diversity of India. I enjoy weaving relatable traits into my characters while adding unique elements to make them stand out.
Q12: What advice would you give to aspiring writers looking to venture into audio storytelling?
Piyali: My advice would be to embrace the medium’s imaginative potential. Trust your storytelling instincts, be open to feedback, and don’t be afraid to take risks in crafting unique and engaging narratives.