Mantra Mugdh & Mithila Gupta on the making of ‘Desi Down Under’

Audible, a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, has released a new Audible Original, ‘Desi Down Under’. Packed with adventure, romance and comedy, ‘Desi Down Under’ follows three young Mangaloreans, who take their first trip abroad, training as lifesavers at the stunning Coogee beach in Sydney, Australia. This immersive 9-episode series features Prajakta Koli, Taaruk Raina and Adarsh Gourav.

‘Desi Down Under’ is directed by the multi-talented, award-winning RJ, actor and director Mantra Mugdh. The series has been written by Indian-Aussie Mithila Gupta, who has written for several renowned shows and films in Australia such as ‘Home & Away’. The series is created in a way that fuels Indian audiences’ wanderlust and encourages Indian youth to chase their dreams. The series is produced with 3D audio to make listeners feel like they too are on the adventure of their lives.

In conversation with Adgully, Mantra Mugdh and Mithila Gupta speak at length about the audio series ‘Desi Down Under’, the inspiration behind the series, how creators from India and Australia came together for this series, and more.

What was the idea that inspired you to write ‘Desi Down Under’?

Mithila Gupta: It started when Mala Sujan, the producer, approached me with an article about Partha Varanashi, a real-life hero who saved lives and arrived in Coogee to learn life saving techniques. His goal was to establish clubs and enhance safety infrastructure on the South Indian coast. Recognising the potential of the story to beautifully capture the culture clash and fusion of my two homes, I got inspired to work on this coming-of-age story of three misfits who find themselves on unfamiliar Australian shores.

What were some of the aspects you had in mind for this, which in turn helped you decide on the cast of ‘Desi Down Under’?

Mantra Mugdh: We were looking for voices of young India while casting for ‘Desi Down Under’. The three protagonists of the show are Meenu, Devan, and Rahul, who imbibe the resilience of the Indian youth, who want to take control of their lives and not be driven around by the norms of the society. And we found the perfect fit in Prajakta, Adarsh and Taaruk. Our Australian cast, on the other hand, was representing Sydney in all its glory. Thanks to our casting director in Sydney, Jyotsna Sharma, we found the most amazing bunch of Aussies who have brought the show alive.

Mithila Gupta: The main goal was to find a cast who will connect with the audience. I wanted to give people a chance to travel to Australia with people they can relate to, but also people that they admire.

What was your experience working with the fan-favourite creator Prajakta Koli and actors Taaruk Raina and Adarsh Gourav, who are loved by India’s youth?

Mantra Mugdh: Prajakta is a darling and a wonderful actor. I was pleasantly surprised by her prowess behind the microphone. Taaruk is my kid brother, we have worked on many projects together in the past and his charm is irresistible. My experience with Adarsh was very fulfilling for me as a director, because I couldn’t have asked for a more committed actor who lived the character every minute like it was the only thing he wanted to do.

Mithila Gupta: Since they recorded in India and I live in Sydney, I could not be a part of their creative process in-person. However, I did have multiple chats with them on Zoom, and with the support of our director, Mantra and Audible, I think all of them did a fantastic job!

Working with so many actors with great fan following, what made you switch to an audio format rather than a video?

Mantra Mugdh: Audio has always been my medium of expression. I have been associated with radio/ audio for over 2 decades now and I find an audio studio to be my haven. I call this medium a blind man’s television. While I am enjoying my stint as a performer on video and stage, audio will always be a place where I will be most comfortable.

Mithila Gupta: When I got the opportunity to pitch my slate to Audible, we spoke about ‘Desi Down Under’. Although I had always imagined it as a TV series, I was convinced that we had to adapt it as an audio series after my conversation with them. It is such an immersive experience because Mantra flew all the way to Australia to capture the essence of the country in his binaural microphone, elevating the experience so much so that when the characters are drowning, we feel like we are.

What makes ‘Desi Down Under’ different from the other podcasts?

Mantra Mugdh: ‘Desi Down Under’ is the first ever Inter-Continent audio series. Creators from two countries have come together and brought alive this amazing series. I have travelled to Sydney to record the sounds and ambience of the city. Never before has an audio series been produced with such an extensive production value. The story by Mithila Gupta, the performances by our wonderful actors, and the sound design by team MnM make ‘Desi Down Under’ a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Mithila Gupta: It’s a lot of work putting a podcast together – massive respect to all the creators out there! For me, our point of difference is that ‘Desi Down Under’ is culturally very specific – and authentic. It looks at a real fusion of Indian and Australian characters told by someone who has lived amongst, and identifies as both. It’s the first such podcast collaboration between the two countries, which I am so proud of!

Where do you think the podcast industry is headed?

Mantra Mugdh: It’s a great time to be a Podcaster. I am enjoying creating some of the most loved shows in the audio industry and I have a feeling in the coming years, podcasts and audio shows will become a part of people’s daily lifestyle.