Kuku FM’s Exclusive Chacha Chaudhary Audiobook: Reviving an Iconic Hero for a New Generation @KukuFMOfficial @lcbisu

Kuku FM is a premier audio content platform in India, providing a diverse range of audiobooks, stories, summaries, courses, and more across 20+ genres in over 7 languages. Committed to transforming the way Bharat experiences audio content, Kuku FM has emerged as a top choice for audio enthusiasts, with over 49 million downloads and 2.7 million paid subscribers. To learn more, visit Kuku FM.

“Another childhood favourite now comes alive in the audio format as our latest release! The imagination behind Chacha Chaudhary’s world lies in its ability to create a uniquely Indian universe that combines the mundane with the fantastic, the traditional with the modern, and the local with the global. This rich, multifaceted imaginary world has allowed generations to explore, dream, and learn – proving that intelligence and wit are timeless heroes in their own right.”

– Kunj Sanghvi, VP of Content at Kuku FM

“My heartiest congratulations to the Kuku FM team for producing a great show based on one of our most popular IPs, Chacha Chaudhary. The stories are packed with excitement and full of adventure, where Chacha Chaudhary uses his intelligence to solve problems when people are in trouble. I am sure everyone will enjoy listening to this thriller story based in supernatural settings. Looking forward to having more such series.”

– Nikhil Pran, Director of Pran’s Features LLP

“This partnership with Pran’s Features is a testament to our ongoing commitment to diversify and enrich our content library. India is all set to be a global content powerhouse, and it’s time for Indian stories to get the recognition they deserve.”

– Lal Chand Bisu, Co-Founder and CEO of Kuku FM

Q. What motivated Kuku FM to acquire the exclusive rights to Chacha Chaudhary for an audiobook series? Can you share more about the decision-making process and what makes Chacha Chaudhary a significant addition to your platform? What role do you see iconic Indian characters like Chacha Chaudhary playing in Kuku FM’s broader content strategy? How does this tie into your vision of diversifying and enriching the content library? How does this collaboration align with Kuku FM’s mission to revolutionize the way Bharat consumes audio content? What other iconic characters or stories can listeners look forward to in the future? With the growing popularity of audiobooks in India, how do you see the future of this medium evolving? Where do you see Kuku FM positioning itself in this evolving landscape?

Kuku FM is on the fast track to become the go-to entertainment library for everyone – whatever entertainment means to them. For that, we are bringing stories from India that resonate universally. The entire streaming industry is now realising what we have been working towards since our inception – the impact of cultural narratives, of resurrecting our childhood heroes for the new generation.

Chacha Chaudhary was an obvious choice in that regard, as for many, Chacha Chaudhary is more than just a character; he is a symbol of wit, intelligence, and the everyday heroism that resonated with readers across generations. We also loved his universality- he is a frail-looking but wise old man from a quaint Indian village, defying the traditional ‘hero’ archetype with his sharp intellect and resourcefulness. His unique adventures underscore the timeless lesson of ‘brains over brawn’—an idea that remains profoundly relevant even today.

This audio series joins our library alongside inspiring heroes from our actual or fictional history like Chanakya, Shivaji Maharaj, Kalki, Sherlock & more, and classics like Poniyyin Selvan, Chandrakanta, and The Shiva Trilogy. We will also have the literary world of Jeffrey Archer reimagined in audio storytelling very soon on Kuku FM.

Kuku FM is rapidly expanding its footprint in the audio entertainment space following other landmark content partnerships with the likes of Storytel, Jeffrey Archer, Rupa Publications, Harper Collins and more, apart from Apart from Pran’s Features LLP. We’re also soon announcing our exclusive and exciting partnerships with a legacy literary giant, and a full-sized audio show (after the 15-min Byte version) with Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) – arguably the most popular mobile gaming sensation nationwide.

This strategic move strengthens Kuku FM’s multilingual and multi-genre content offerings, providing listeners access to global entertainers and further cementing its position as a leader in India’s booming audio market.
As India’s digital landscape continues to evolve, Kuku FM stands at the forefront, amplifying the voices and aspirations of millions. It is not just building a successful company, but nurturing a more informed, empowered, and thoroughly entertained world.

Q. How did the partnership with Pran’s Features LLP come about? What were the key factors that led to this collaboration, and how did both parties envision bringing Chacha Chaudhary back to life through audio?

As detailed above, adaptations, Spin-offs and revival of popular IPs are widely being done across the industry. Our strategy has been to continuously acquire IPs that resonate with our audience, have enjoyed mass popularity & inspired cult fandoms, and to give them a novel, distinct twist.

Pran’s Features LLP shared that vision with us. They too wanted to reintroduce Chacha Chaudhary to a new generation. They also loved that Kuku FM wanted to give it a Noir/Dark theme and make it contemporary for the 18-35 age group, breaking away from the ‘Kids only’ tag they have always had. With this opportunity, they not only sought a new medium for Chacha, but a new avatar.

Q. Can you walk us through the creative process behind the “Chacha Chaudhary: Returns” audio series? How did you ensure that the essence of the iconic character was preserved in this new format? How do you plan to engage both older fans and a new generation of listeners with Chacha Chaudhary? Are there any specific strategies in place to bridge the gap between different generations of audiences?
We have always imagined Chacha Chaudhary as being of a light-hearted, playful nature, but we at Kuku FM were tickled with the idea of bringing him back in a fresh, bold way. Our goal was to create a version of Chacha Chaudhary that felt like it had grown up alongside its fans.
Armed with our known expertise with original crime mystery & thriller storytelling in audio, we set out to reimagine Chacha Chaudhary in a more intense, action-packed tonality. Our past success in giving the iconic Sherlock a darker, supernatural theme also aided our confidence that this will surely stick.

The most critical aspects of the production process were – a) preserving the iconic character in a modern story, and b) this being audio, the voice over & VFX quality. We ensured that the team working on this project were passionate Chacha fans who truly understood the assignment when it comes down to character work. Our Creative Producer Pranav Shashank partnered with the writer Nitin Mishra, a known pen in the Indian comic book landscape and delivered the magic to us.
Nikhil Pran, Director of Pran’s Features LLP, was kept in the loop every step of the way to ensure that we honour & celebrate Chacha’s legacy and the unique position he holds in Indian pop culture.

Q. What challenges did Kuku FM face in adapting such a visually-driven comic character into an audio format? Were there any specific elements from the comics that were particularly difficult to translate into audio?
We understand that translating characters that people have always visualised to create a unique auditory experience that don’t lose out on their essence is one of the most compelling challenges one faces as an audio entertainment platform. However, we also understand our listeners very well, and now know that it’s a matter of shifting the creative focus – which we have done successfully many times before.

From a production standpoint, a big pressure point for us was Chacha’s voice. With the TV series starring the legendary Raghubir Yadav, we do have a sense of the tonal quality audiences might associate with Chacha. Taking cues from that and knowing that Chacha if he lived in our times would probably have a different way and manner of saying things, we wanted a duality in his voice. Commanding, intimidating when addressing perps or villains, and soft, caring when dealing with his loved ones. Those nuances and tiny mannerisms had to be captured in his voice, and that for us, was elemental to creative success.

Q. Can you share any insights into the response from your listeners to the introduction of Chacha Chaudhary on Kuku FM? Have there been any notable trends or feedback from your audience that you can share?

The response from our esteemed listeners has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans, especially those who grew up with Chacha Chaudhary in the 90s, have expressed their appreciation for this bold, more mature reboot of the character. And they want more!
They were pleasantly surprised by the daring dialogues and intense action scenes, which have resonated well with both new listeners and long-time followers of the comic series. The feedback we’ve received from these die-hard fans is particularly gratifying, as it validates our efforts to bring something new to a beloved classic.

Q. Finally, what are your expectations for the success of “Chacha Chaudhary: Returns,” and how will you measure it? Are there any specific metrics or milestones that you are aiming for with this release?
While all our audio shows & series are meticulously tracked when it comes to the number of listens overall, number of minutes listened, episode completion, page visits, etc – this audio series was brought on the platform for just one purpose – to delight our listeners, and the only metric we are employing is qualitative feedback. Our expectation from this show was that anyone who listens feels the same wonder and excitement as they did when they were kids. We wanted to make them feel like Chacha has journeyed with them from childhood to adulthood, has learnt the lingo of the times – but can still take them back to that railway station comic book stand or the school book fair where they first met him. From the responses that we’re getting from our survey calls to the listeners and the reviews, we know we are hitting that mark, and have successfully modelled a new style of storytelling with an iconic character. At the end of the day, this series is a humble love letter to Chacha from Kuku FM.

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