Pankaj Tripathi Joins Cinematic Audio OTT Platform Velvet As Cofounder

Velvet, a cinematic audio stories platform on Wednesday said it has onboarded actor Pankaj Tripathi as a co-founder to help grow its user base with cinematic audio content.

The platform aims to elevate India's rich oral storytelling tradition, according to a press release.

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Founded in 2024, the Mumbai-based Velvet is co-founded by actor and dialogue coach Vikas Kumar, Akshat Saxena, Varad Bhatnagar, Sharib Khan, and Tripathi. It offers oral storytelling, mostly in Hindi, through its app and partners like Josh App in India and Future Today Group in the US, reaching over a million listeners. 

It’s also available on its website and mobile apps, with around 10,000 listeners.

The platform plans to add content in English and other regional languages, while expanding to more regions.

Tripathi, known for films like 'Stree 2', 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi', and the web series 'Mirzapur', said that storytelling is a key part of Indian culture.

 "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 take this tradition and elevate it into a cinematic experience for the ears—something that transports listeners into a world of imagination while being deeply rooted in our cultural ethos," said Pankaj Tripathi, Co-founder of Velvet.

 "What excites me the most is the opportunity to connect with audiences worldwide and share stories that are uniquely Indian yet universally relatable. This platform is not just about entertainment; it’s about preserving and promoting the art of storytelling in a way that resonates with modern listeners. I believe that audio has the power to evoke emotions in a way that’s different from visual mediums. It allows the listener to imagine, to dream, and to connect with the narrative on a personal level. With the collective vision of our team and the passion behind this project, I am confident that Velvet will open new doors for creative expression and inspire countless storytellers across the globe," he added.

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