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Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchatantra turn into audiobooks: Audible teams up with Amar Chitra Katha to retell timeless tales

Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchatantra turn into audiobooks: Audible teams up with Amar Chitra Katha to retell timeless tales

Indian Express14 hours ago
Audio storytelling platform Audible has partnered with iconic comic book publisher Amar Chitra Katha to release a series of audiobooks featuring epics and heritage stories from the latter's vast catalogue.
Founded in 1967 by Anant Pai, Amar Chitra Katha is one of India's oldest comic book companies, widely credited with opening a window into a world where gods, kings, and heroes come alive through colourful illustrations and compelling storytelling.
Today, the publisher boasts a library of over 600 titles in 20 languages, covering mythology, history, fables, folklore, and classical Indian literature — and sells over five million copies annually.
The English-language audiobook collection, now available on Audible, features 111 epics and folktales based on some of Amar Chitra Katha's most beloved titles. Highlights include the Ramayana series, a riveting retelling of Lord Rama's exile, Sita's abduction, and the climactic war against Ravana, and the Mahabharata series, which narrates the story of the Kurukshetra war through the lives of Krishna, Arjuna, Draupadi, Bhishma, Karna, and more.
The popular Panchatantra series, which features timeless fables offering life lessons through stories of kings, sages, and animals, has also been adapted into engaging audio narratives.
Just in time for Shravan, Audible has also released the Mahadeva series, which explores mystical tales of Lord Shiva and his divine family, including Parvati and Ganesha.
'For decades, Amar Chitra Katha has brought Indian stories to life through art and text. Through this collaboration with Audible, we're taking that legacy into a new dimension where voice, sound, and emotion add a rich new layer to these tales,' said Reena Puri, executive editor of Amar Chitra Katha.
'Listening to these stories is like returning to the roots of Indian storytelling, when tales were passed down orally through generations.'
Actor Rana Daggubati, who is also an investor in Amar Chitra Katha, echoed the sentiment: 'This creative alliance with Audible brings them to life through voice in languages children grow up with, think in, and carry in their hearts. Through audio, we're not just sharing tales, but creating moments of wonder, comfort, and cultural belonging that children can return to anytime, anywhere.'
While the audiobooks are currently available in English, Hindi versions are slated for release in September 2025, followed by editions in Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu in 2026.
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