Kuku has announced the launch of two nationwide creator partnership initiatives, the Kuku Kalakaar Program on Kuku FM and the Kuku TV Creators’ Program on Kuku TV, to discover and collaborate with writers, authors, actors, directors, publishers, reel creators and production houses across India. The programmes are now open for applications and will operate throughout the year, inviting creators working in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada to partner with the platform across audio, video and written storytelling formats. Applications for the Kuku Kalakaar Program can be submitted through kalakaar.kukufm.com, while applications for the Kuku TV Creators’ Program are open at creators.kukutv.app.
The simultaneous launch marks Kuku’s largest open invitation to India’s creator community and reflects the company’s broader strategic vision to become the home for Indian storytellers across audio, video and beyond. According to the company, the initiatives are designed to build long-term partnerships with creators at every stage of their careers, from first-time storytellers to established production houses, while addressing the financial vulnerability that has historically prevented many creators from fully committing to their craft.
Under the Kuku Kalakaar Program, creators working across audio, video and written formats can collaborate with Kuku FM and earn up to ₹10 lakh through audiobooks, original fiction and non-fiction audio content, vertical video series and marketing reels. The programme is open to reel creators producing one-to-three-minute short-form videos, digital creators developing original long-form and serialised vertical video content, writers creating original fiction and non-fiction audio content, authors interested in publishing their books as audiobooks, production houses looking to collaborate on fiction and non-fiction content across multiple formats, and publishing houses seeking to expand their catalogue through professionally produced audiobooks. According to the company, the programme aims to bring together creators, writers, authors, publishers and production houses under a single platform, creating a collaborative ecosystem where original ideas can flourish and reach millions of listeners across the country.
The Kuku TV Creators’ Program invites writers, actors, directors and production houses to collaborate directly with the Kuku TV team on original premium microdrama projects. The programme is open to scriptwriters and storytellers creating original fiction and non-fiction for India’s mobile-first microdrama audience, actors looking to perform in premium microdramas, directors developing short-form vertical video narratives, and production houses interested in delivering original shows. Kuku said the initiative is intended to strengthen India’s growing creator economy by bringing creative talent together on a single platform where original ideas can reach millions of audiences across the country.
Ankit Saraswat, Head of Kuku FM, said, “India’s creator economy is booming, but the traditional chase for views and likes often leaves incredible talent behind. At Kuku FM, we are shifting the paradigm. The Kuku
Kalakaar Program isn’t just about giving creators a platform; it’s about providing financial stability and a definitive career path from Day 1. We are building an ecosystem where writers, authors, and storytellers can bypass the algorithms, focus purely on their craft, earn a sustainable livelihood, and connect their stories with millions of listeners.”
Sachin Singh, Head of Kuku TV, said, “For too long, India’s most gifted storytellers have lived on the edge, chasing views, praying to algorithms, and wondering if their passion can sustain their livelihood. That uncertainty ends today. The Kuku TV Creators’ Program is our promise that no writer, actor, director, or storyteller should have to choose between their craft and their career. We offer creators what they have always deserved: financial stability, a real path forward, and the freedom to focus purely on their art. If you have a story inside you, Kuku TV is where it finds its audience and where you find your home.”
Founded in 2018 by IIT Jodhpur alumni and Forbes 30 Under 30 honourees Lal Chand Bisu (CEO), Vinod Kumar Meena (COO) and Vikas Goyal (CTO), Kuku operates Kuku FM for audio storytelling and audiobooks, Kuku TV for premium microdramas, and Guru for edutainment. The company says its platforms have crossed 400 million installs and more than 10 million paid subscribers, with an active presence in over 1,000 cities. Kuku works with more than 50,000 creators annually, and its AI stack, recognised by Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, supports the content lifecycle from ideation to screen. The company is backed by Granite Asia, Fundamentum Partnership (Nandan Nilekani), Krafton, Vertex Ventures SEA & India, IFC (World Bank Group), and MS Dhoni, who also serves as Brand Ambassador for Kuku TV.
