Is there such a thing as too many stories? Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur doesn’t think so. He believes that for a country as diverse as India, a slate of rooted stories is a must. That’s why Kapur has joined forces with Pratilipi, a popular digital storytelling platform, to adapt their stories into films and series.
Pratilipi, founded in 2014, is home to innumerable stories across 12 Indian languages. Its co-founder and CEO Ranjeet Pratap Singh, with Kapur’s banner, will jointly identify stories from the platform, develop and produce them for streamers. While they aim to co-produce at least six projects over the next three years, they have zeroed in on their first adaptation — Charitraheen, a courtroom drama.
From Jodhaa Akbar (2008) to Dangal (2016), Kapur has brought many stories, rooted in Indian ethos, to the fore. The new move, he says, is to foster grassroot storytelling. “We’re always on the lookout for compelling narratives that reflect the many realities of India. Pratilipi’s dynamic ecosystem of storytellers presents an opportunity to unearth and shape these voices into stories that entertain and move audiences across the world,” he says.
For Singh, the alliance widens the audience for his platform’s stories. He says, “Powerful stories can come from anywhere. Our goal has been to give these stories a stage. This partnership takes that vision to the screen.”
