Vinay L Varanasi

Vinay L Varanasi is a storyteller and artist who has dedicated himself to bringing to life cultural stories from India’s rich heritage. Vinay speaks on stories that are drawn from the Puranas, Itihasas, temple legends, regional literature and local histories. His storytelling sessions are marked with a fundamental reverence to the core subject coupled with the curiousness of a seeker. He believes that these stories are worlds in themselves, containing nuggets of wisdom that are relevant across times. Across India and countries such as Malaysia, Australia, UAE, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and more, Vinay’s storytelling has enthralled audiences across diverse age groups. His programs are received with overwhelming enthusiasm, which he believes is a reflection of our civilization’s inherent love for bhagavath katha—the stories of the divine.
Vinay has set up an organization called Shuka, which aims to bring these immortal stories to life through productions involving storytelling, classical and devotional music, dance and visual arts. By adopting this integrated approach to his presentations, Vinay reaffirms his core belief: stories, when presented aesthetically, have something to offer everyone—the spiritual seeker, the art connoisseur, the cultural enthusiast, or simply put, anyone at all.
Vinay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s degree in Design. When he is not engrossed in scriptural readings, Vinay can be found dabbling with watercolours, preparing for a marathon, or in more recent times, writing this book.