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PHOTO: SHAJU JOHN

MUSIC BINDS, WORDS GRIP Stories on CDs transport children to a magical world

Gone are the days when you could tell bedtime stories to your children. Such things, though politically correct, are passé, for, time and patience are at a premium. These days, it’s all about getting an audio CD, fitting the microphones on the child’s ears and letting it learn a thing or two on its own. In a way, this is a throwback to the ancient oral tradition, which was a word-of-mouth process.

It cannot be denied that Karadi Tales is one of the best-known names floating around when it comes to CD-storytelling. They produce books to accompany the CDs as well.

“Imagine a magical world of classic stories that combine fun, culture, music and traditional values; storytellers who connect and bond with your children instantly,” they offer enthusiastically. “When your children enter this world, they are transported to a different time and age, where wisdom abounds, music binds and words grip.”

Karadi Tales has a good many well-known names to its credit: Naseeruddin Shah, Shobana, Girish Karnad, Nandita Das and Shekar Kapoor... The titles that have been transformed into audio form aren’t to be sneezed at, either.

“Wings of Fire”, “My Experiments with Truth” etc. make an impressive display for adults and young adults. Their titles for children include old, but not quite so well-known tales from the Jataka or Panchatantra collections, such as “The Four Friends” and “The Monkey King”. The need for new talent and creativity is ever present. “Artistes are enthusiastic about lending us their voices,” says Rajalakshmi, Administrative Manager, Karadi Tales. “Anyone with a talent for voice modulation and expressive speech, and who can emote well has a place with us. We’re constantly looking for new voices and artistes, as we outsource them for all our ventures. All you need to do is drop in a mail to us.”

“As a growing voice-over artiste, I find the arena very challenging,” says Sujatha Jaishankar, formerly a part of the Headstart school, who now produces audio CDs.

“Working on songs and stories for children can be fascinating. But it cannot be denied that a big name sells,” she admits. “It’s the parents who buy the CDs, not the children — and even before looking for the right content for children, the first thing they do is search for a familiar, well-known artiste. Perseverance, right bent of mind and networking are biggest tools here.”

Sherley J Singh, CEO of Kangabeats, part of the Kangaroo Kids group in Mumbai, disagrees. “When a mother and son are travelling by car to school, you can’t really depend on video CDs to teach the child,” she says. “Children might be attracted to the visuals, but you’ll find that they imbibe the words, and their retention power is more when they listen to songs and verses.” Having been in the business for three years, she says there’s a great demand for teachers with creative aptitude, lyricists, and music composers. “Our field is a dynamic one. There’s lots of space for growth.”

“You need to have the right groove,” declares Janaki Sabesh, who is well-known in the voice-over/dubbing industry and has worked with everyone from BSNL to Kriya Kreative Tales. Having herself released two audio CDs for children, she understands the way the industry works. “Opportunities are aplenty. Studios like Kalpana Arts Recording and Surang are constantly on the look-out for new voices and materials, so an amateur has to approach them with a voice sample. If it fits their requirement, a voice-over artiste can work from there.” Remuneration depends on the artiste’s experience, the length of the assignment and the budget. “While some artistes charge around Rs. 500 per page, there are some who receive even Rs. 1,000 per line.” Janaki insists that the artistes must be willing to work along the director’s instructions. “If you create an empathetic response in the listener, your work is accomplished.” The best combination, all feel, is a collection of simple music, catchy lyrics, together with a thread that connects the speaker and listener.

“There are lots of times when you need to spend time with your children, but don’t really want to do a movie or the park,” says Sherley. “An audio CD is your best bet.”

Listening, for these people, is clearly the order of the day.

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