Actor, RJ, and audio writer-producer Mantra Mugdh’s journey into the world of audio dramas began long before platforms like Audible and Spotify arrived in India. Growing up in Indore, Mugdh’s early exposure to radio dramas like Hawa Mahal on Vividh Bharati and tapes of The Twilight Zone shaped his imagination. “It’s like blind man’s TV,” he fondly describes, emphasizing how radio allows listeners to create their own vivid mental pictures.

After two decades in radio, mostly with Fever FM, Mugdh co-founded MnM Talkies with Shimona Mathur, pioneering original audio programming in India. Their lineup includes popular titles like the detective series Bhaskar Bose, the longest-running Hindi show on Spotify, and Virus 2062, featuring Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, among others. Recently, they released Batman: Ek Chakravyuh, all available on Spotify.

Mugdh has witnessed the audio industry evolve since launching MnM in 2016. Securing actors for audio dramas is now easier, reflecting growing acceptance and interest in the medium. “A lot of my friends used to ask, ‘What’s an audio drama? Make an OTT series instead,’” he recalls. “Now, they’re asking, ‘How about casting us?’”