Creating Waves Through Stories: Lavanya Prasad, an Electrical Engineer turned Storyteller

Lavanya is a dreamer with a highly imaginative mind. An electrical engineer turned professional storyteller, “I am really happy that I make deep and long-lasting connections with stories rather than electrical wires”, she says. Lavanya Prasad, the storyteller, founder Tale' scope   BV: Did you always consider yourself an artist? What was your inspiration behind turning a storyteller and creating Tale’scope? Lavanya: Very much. Art has always been a part of me in some form or the other. In my initial years, I was inclined towards music and dance and it really helped that I was a drama queen too. Now, I have combined all these aspects into storytelling. Life has strange ways of bringing about inspiration. And for me, honestly, a failed interview led me to my dream job of being a teacher. It is where I found stories as a wonderful medium and tool to connect. And that's how Tale'scope was born.   BV: What is your preferred genre of storytelling and why have you chosen it? Also, who’s your target audience? Lavanya: Folklore and mythology are my favorites. For a country as diverse as India, a rich repertoire of folklores and folktales is found in every region. These folklores provide an insight into the life of our ancestors. And mythology intrigued me as it attempted to explain the unknown. I think the how, what, when, why, where and the who questions in my head had their answers in these genres and they appealed to me the most. This is why I am able to build an instant rapport and connection with the audience when I narrate these stories. Lavanya Prasad, the storyteller BV: Given the present scenario, what challenges are the artistes facing? Lavanya: Well to some of us this is our bread and butter. And it definitely is a huge hit in terms of outstation gigs and even the regular school and corporate sessions. Moreover, we are expected to do things for free. Well to some extent it is good but not always.   BV: In your opinion, how beneficial/different are online LIVE sessions from that of a live audience? Lavanya: Zoom, Google hangouts, and other webinars are a boon at this time of distress. I am definitely grateful that we are able to see faces and connect virtually to share and learn but yes, I miss the face to face connect, the live reactions to something that you say, the laughter and giggles that make the experience unique and memorable.   BV:  How do you think the online LIVE sessions are impacting the audience in these turbulent times? Lavanya: Well, many find it interesting and informative. With extra time on their hands, all the traffic signal hours are put to great use. Even regular working people get ample time to invest in learning something new that interests them, which otherwise might not have happened. These are testing times without any doubt but it is also a time that urges someone to look into what they actually want in life. Don't you agree?   BV:  Any word of advice for upcoming storytellers? Lavanya: The universe has a place for everyone and the stories have found you. Every storyteller has something new and different to offer. Make the storytelling experience your own by giving it your unique touch and style and you will see wonders happening. Happy stories to you all. Love and light. For more such updates, follow us on Facebook and  Instagram. Download our magazine Spunky Indian for exclusive stories.