Indian storytelling is transforming, and Velvet is leading the charge, a new-age audio OTT platform that aims to take the country’s rich oral traditions global. Founded in 2024 by:
- Actor and dialogue coach Vikas Kumar
- Akshat Saxena
- Varad Bhatnagar
- Sharib Khan
Velvet is set to revolutionize the way audiences experience stories through immersive audio formats.
Bringing Indian Stories to the Global Stage
Velvet aims to portray Indian classical tales, folklore, and modern stories in an audio format that is exciting and of the highest quality. The platform collaborates with Actors, Writers, and voice artists.
The goal is to create unique stories that provide an experience similar to a prime-time movie, but only with sound. Because of this, the entire Velvet cover felt like a home away from home for all Indians, bringing them back to the depths of their deeply ingrained cultural history.
As the OTT audio market continues to evolve, Velvet is positioning itself as a pioneering platform that:
- Entertains
- Fosters a deeper connection to India’s storytelling traditions
- Brings the magic of Indian stories to audiences worldwide
Pankaj Tripathi Joins Velvet as Cofounder
In a significant boost for the startup, well-known Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi has joined Velvet as a co-founder. Tripathi, recognized for golden performances and having an understanding of storytelling, perceives Velvet as an avenue to lift Indian narratives into an immersive experience for audiences worldwide.
Tripathi shared:
“Storytelling is deeply rooted in our culture. From folk tales to epics, our stories have always had the power to inspire, educate, and entertain. With this audio platform, we wanted to elevate this tradition into a cinematic experience for the ears—something that transports listeners into a world of imagination while deeply rooted in our cultural ethos.”
Expansion Plans and Market Presence
Currently, Velvet’s app is available on:
The company is very eager to expand its operation beyond the Indian subcontinent. Akshat Saxena, one of the founders, informed Velvet’s preparations for the USA, concentrating on the Indian subcontinent diaspora.
Several stories narrated by Vikas Kumar, such as Karam Kand with episodes named Kala Tripaal, Choodi, Ghungroo, and Apsara Cinema, are grabbing audiences and gaining widespread attention. It will be interesting to see whether, in the era of short videos and reels, the Indian audience appreciates quality audio stories or not. Especially when the ‘The Radio Industry is on Its Last Frequency.’
Cofounder Vikas Kumar added:
“At Velvet, our vision is to preserve India’s rich tradition of oral storytelling while nurturing storytellers and actors from across the country, giving them a global platform.”
Funding and the Growing OTT Market
Despite the ambiguity regarding funding, the startup is entering a fast-growing but highly competitive space. The Indian OTT market has been growing exponentially, aided by:
- Increased smartphone penetration
- Rising internet accessibility
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Key industry statistics:
- In 2023, India had over 707 million internet users engaging with OTT audio and video services.
- In November 2024, public broadcaster Prasar Bharati launched its OTT platform, WAVES, which crossed 1 million downloads within a month.
- Regional OTT platform STAGE recently secured INR 84.61 crore in funding from investors.
A Distinctive Approach to Audio Content
This was Velvet’s unique contribution- a commitment to very high-quality productions. Each will be skillfully designed to provide an experience comparable to cinematic journeys achieved purely through sound.
Building on the talented founders and collaborators, Velvet aspires to be more than audio storytelling: an immersive world where culture and heritage are evoked through voice and sound design.
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