Ever get that warm, fuzzy feeling when you step into a bookstore, inhaling the comforting scent of aged paper and leather? It's a nostalgia trip to simpler times. But what if that feeling – that story – could be captured in a format perfect for our fast-paced, scroll-happy world? That's precisely what Madan Kumar of Flying Dose Films is attempting with his Instagram micro-series, 'In Between the Lines.'
Flying Dose Films, as Madan puts it, aims to serve gari gari kathegalu – crisp stories. And 'In Between the Lines' is his experiment in delivering light-hearted, relatable narratives in bite-sized, visually engaging chunks.
Madan explains that the micro-series format, short vertical videos typically under two minutes, is already popular in places like China and the United States. "I wanted to try it here as well," he says, noting a few similar ventures in Telugu and Hindi. These micro-dramas are tailor-made for those of us who love scrolling through social media reels.
But here's where it gets controversial... Can you really tell a meaningful story in just two minutes? Madan himself acknowledges the challenge. He points out that it's far easier to put out low-quality content than to craft something truly worthwhile within such a tight timeframe. It's a constant battle against the endless stream of fleeting content vying for our attention.
He also touches on the economics of content creation. While YouTube is a viable platform, Madan finds it costly and difficult to gain visibility there. Instagram, with its built-in community and easier discoverability, offers a more fertile ground for growth.
Abhiraj Dethe, the director of 'In Between the Lines,' echoes this sentiment. "It is tricky," he admits, "but when the story is good, it holds." And this is the part most people miss... The key, according to Abhiraj, is to create a story so compelling that even if someone jumps in mid-series (say, at Episode 6 or 9), they're instantly hooked and compelled to go back to the beginning.
So far, the social media response to 'In Between the Lines' has been positive. The series cleverly blends English and Kannada, reflecting the cosmopolitan setting of the story. Initially, some viewers felt there was too much English, but Madan felt it was necessary to accurately portray the urban landscape.
Now, let's talk about the irony... Madan is using a micro-series to promote reading. Think about that for a second. Is it a brilliant strategy to reach a new generation, or is it contributing to the very short attention spans it's trying to combat?
The series is set in Bookworm, a real bookstore on Bengaluru's Church Street. It showcases the bookstore as a hub of activity, filled with people browsing, exchanging books, and engaging in conversations, all set to a backdrop of classic songs. Madan, who also worked as the creative director for a documentary about Bookworm and its owner, Krishna Gowda, wanted to highlight the importance of these spaces. He believes bookstores are more than just places to buy books; they're places to connect, engage, and build a community.
Abhiraj puts it beautifully: "We wanted to bring back that feeling of finding connection between pages instead of profiles." The series aims to recapture that magic of discovering something profound within the pages of a book, a feeling that can easily get lost in the digital world.
'In Between the Lines' centers on Dhruva (played by Aashith) and Tara (played by Teju Belawadi), who meet at Bookworm. Dhruva, a 25-year-old, represents the younger generation who has never picked up a book. Tara, slightly older and an avid reader, acts as a bridge between the old and the new, sparking Dhruva's interest in the world of books. Madan describes the series as "a breezy, light-hearted story" that blends the structure of an advertisement with the emotional depth of a web series.
Aashith, familiar with the world of Instagram reels, finds it fascinating to portray a character's entire arc within this short format. He believes this type of content has a wider reach and finds it exciting to keep the audience waiting for the next episode amidst the constant stream of Instagram content.
Teju, known for her roles in feature films like 'Gantumoote' and 'Laughing Buddha,' as well as the epic play 'Parva,' found the format both exciting and demanding. She valued the opportunity to be fully utilized every second of the shoot.
Since the series began airing, Krishna, the owner of Bookworm, has noticed a new wave of customers, some even curious about the series' plot. It seems the micro-series is indeed driving foot traffic to the bookstore.
Madan plans to continue exploring complex relationships through this format, emphasizing that 'In Between the Lines' is more of a trailer than a complete story. He dreams of adapting works like Poornachandra Tejaswi's 'Parisarada Kathe' or RK Narayan's 'Malgudi Days' into micro-series. He sees a book as capturing the author's original thought, while a micro-drama is an evolution of that project, bringing the story to life in a new and accessible way.
The first 22 episodes of 'In Between the Lines' are currently available on Flying Dose's Instagram page, with six more episodes scheduled for release in the coming weeks.
You can watch 'In Between the Lines' here: https://www.instagram.com/flying.dose.films/?hl=en
So, what do you think? Can micro-series like 'In Between the Lines' effectively promote reading in a digital age? Or are they simply another fleeting form of entertainment? And is it possible to truly capture the essence of a book in a two-minute video? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Let's get a conversation going!
