Kavi Media is preparing to launch a subscription-based Telugu audio streaming platform on Aug. 27, targeting listeners in the United States and India with a catalog of podcasts, audiobooks, audio shows and short-form content.
The platform, called Kavi, combines original productions with licensed programming and will focus exclusively on Telugu-language audio. The company said its content will be produced by a curated network of storytellers, artists and subject matter experts, with much of it offered exclusively on the platform or released there ahead of wider distribution.
“Our goal is to make Telugu audio as visible, as respected, and as commercially viable as Telugu video has become and to show that the future of regional storytelling is not just multilingual, but multi-format,” said Srihith Pallamreddy, founder and CEO of Kavi.
Kavi will operate on a subscription model with both ad-supported and ad-free premium plans. The company said it plans to prioritize exclusive programming and invest in original productions as the platform expands.
The launch comes as demand for regional language audio continues to grow. According to the company, India’s podcast market is expanding rapidly, while a growing Telugu diaspora has created demand for more native-language content. Although Telugu streaming services have gained traction in the video space, dedicated audio platforms remain relatively limited.
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Kavi said it will place an emphasis on editorial oversight rather than allowing unrestricted uploads. The company said creators featured on the platform will be selected through a curation process, with programming developed to maintain consistent production quality.
Medha Prasad, Kavi’s chief marketing officer, said the platform was also shaped by her own experience as a second-generation Indian American.
“My grandparents came to the U.S. in the 1960s, and like many second-generation Indian Americans, I grew up feeling disconnected from India and from being ‘Telugu enough.’ Now, I’m proud to build Kavi for our community,” Prasad said. “From day one, my focus has been to reach Telugu audiences in a way I never could before and to give creators the support and platform they deserve, while helping listeners feel proud to be Telugu.”