World Storytelling Day: Even as the origin of storytelling goes back to pre-historic times, it is no less than an irony that the first World Storytelling Day dates back to just over three decades ago. It was reportedly in March 1991 in Sweden that a day was marked to celebrate the art of oral storytelling. The day, perceived more as a movement soon spread to Australia and subsequently other nations across the world. 

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Today, it is celebrated globally as World Storytelling Day, a day when storytellers converge all across or express their gratitude towards the ancient art in one way or the other, across linguistic, geographical or cultural lines.

Growth of storytelling as an art

 

Storytelling is believed to have been in existence since pre-historic times. The first work of storytelling is considered to be drawings on cave walls during the Stone Age. Eventually, as speech, language and other such skills developed among humans, the art of oral storytelling came into being as an intrinsic part of cultures across the world. 

According to storyteller Sudhanshu Rai, stories that are passed on through generations become the true courier of cultural values that otherwise would have been extinct. 

"If we talk about the current times, top storytellers in India and even globally have taken the traditional art to a pinnacle that till a few years ago was unforeseen. It has phenomenally grown into an alternative to films, concerts and other magnanimous forms of entertainment," Sudhanshu Rai added.  

Elements that make live storytelling a wholesome experience

 

Sudhanshu Rai feels that storytelling today has attained a fresh zenith and it is primarily because of the wholesome immersive experience that comes with live storytelling. 

"When an impactful oration, with meticulous voice modulations, dramatic sound effects and apt ambient lighting is presented before the audition, they begin to live a story through unseen imageries and different characters. The audience is transported to unseen worlds of unlimited possibilities, with all their senses wide awake. Instead of one’s imagination being arrested by visuals before the eyes, storytelling allows each member of the audience to create distinct imagery for the same character or situation. Moreover, the audience also has the option of choosing what they wish to listen to. For instance, recently when I was invited by GAIL India for a live storytelling session, there was a consistent demand for horror stories, for the genre gave them the thrill like no other," he said.

"Besides being a storyteller, I also happen to be an actor and filmmaker wherein we bring our stories alive on the screen. Since Chaipatti, Detective Boomrah and Chintaa Mani to our next Bollywood sci-fi psychological thriller, we have reached out to the audience with diverse forms of entertainment. And I can say for sure that the potential of live storytelling will soon resonate with everyone who seeks genuine entertainment," he further said.

How does oral storytelling stand today as a career option?

 

Every storyteller has their own distinct essence and style, which actually makes them the storyteller that they are. 

"As a storyteller, you need to have the art to engage with the audience while making them live different characters at the same time. If we talk about storytelling as a career option, the best suitable scenario is that one narrating the tale should also have conceived and written the same. It is equally important for a storyteller to gauge what their audience expects from them, or for that matter what new they could present before the audience each time. When all these factors come into play, probably then comes the coherence between the concept, characters, plot and oration," Sudhanshu Rai said.

However, more than ticking all the boxes, the passion to weave a story and make your listeners live through it for the moment is something that would determine the course of one’s career.