From films to audio: Chetan Bhagat on finding new audiences in new mediums

Indian author Chetan Bhagat needs no introduction. From a well established author who has several bestselling books to his credit to a columnist who is often poached for his insights on various topics, he keeps himself busy with multiple things. With the release of an audio show based on his book The Girl in Room 105, Chetan is now dabbling with different mediums – audio being one.

Chetan Bhagat spoke to WION exclusively about the process of making audiobooks, audio dramas, venturing into a new territory and finding new audiences for his work.

Here are the edited excerpts of our conversation:

Q: What can you tell us about your experience with Audible in lieu of audio adaptation of your bookThe Girl in Room 105?

A: This book came out in 2018 so it's been a while. Audible and I have had quite an involved relationship – They have done a podcast, audiobooks, and various audio dramas with me including this one now. It was all their idea. They wanted to make interesting content in audio format and I feel audio dramas are a fantastic way of listening to a story in audio form and they're quite different from audiobooks.

Audiobooks are simply someone narrating and reading out the book, but here, it's almost like a movie in audio form because there is casting, there are characters,actors who play various voices,sound effects, mixing, and much more.

Written word more powerful thanaudio medium?

Q: How does the audio adaptation of abook enhance or alter the audience's perception of the characters and their relationships compared to the written version?

A: When you hear the voices of various characters talking, it makes the experience very real. Also, there are sound effects andmusic, which enhances everything. At the same time, there are no visuals, which, in a way, also involves your imagination. If there's a young girl being described, you will imagine her in your head.

So, it's a hybrid, where your imagination/mind becomes the projector, and the soundtrack/audio comes from the Audible app. I think that makes a very interesting and enriching kind of experience. You must try to believe it.

Q: As an author what advantages do you see in having your work adapted into an audio format?

A: It just has more reach! We must realise that we are storytellers and we are not just in the business of ink and paper. So, we are not just about books. What does a storyteller want? That their story reaches people, gives them a new experience and becomes a part of a new technology. I've had my books adapted into movies and this is just another way of adapting them.

Telling a story through audio medium

Q: How does the audio show capture the essence of the setting and atmosphere depicted in the book?

A: You have to create that mood and setting and that's where the art comes in, of the sound designers, who create not only the right voices but also get the right sound mix, they get the right background score, the soundtrack, the tunes, and everything else.

For this you need well-cast characters because their voices have to match the characters in the story. It is the same casting process as that of a movie but here it's more about the voice and not so much about the face.

Q: Can you discuss any themes ormessages in the novel that you believe are particularly well suited to the audio format?

A: Well, it is a murder mystery, and murder mysteries are about tension. Tension can be communicated nicely through proper sound effects.It is a love story at the end of the day—about a boy who is trying to solve his ex-girlfriend's case—so, to have a female and a male voice just creates a better love story experience, really, as compared to reading a book which is written in first person in the main narrative's voice.

The Girl in Room 105 to get film adaptation?

Q: Since your books have been made into successfully adapted films, can we expect this to be made into a film too?

A: I would love to, but you know a lot of things have to come together for that. Let's see the response to this (audio drama). Having this helps because I can just tell the filmmakers to listen to this and see if they want to make it into a film or a web series.

Q: What is your next body of work? Is it a book you're writing next?

A: I have done a book which came out just two months back. Itis calledEleven Rules for Life.It's non-fiction and I'm busy promoting that at the moment. I am also recording the audiobook for Eleven Rules for Life. Having an audiobook version is very important since it's such a great format.