Re-conceptualizing transmedia storytelling: a theoretical model for Indian narratives

The concept of transmedia storytelling delves into how stories travel beyond the media boundaries. The most popular theoretical framework to categorize a work as a transmedia story is based on Jenkins’ definition which is based on media-franchise. According to this model, each medium offers an extension of the storyworld. However, the franchise-based theoretical model of transmedia storytelling restricts its comprehension as a global concept. On that note, this research paper aims to develop a working model of transmedia storytelling for Indian narratives which exhibit the form of a banzome, a neologism derived from the combination of Deleuze and Guattari’s rhizome juxtaposed with banyan tree, which is popularly known as the Indian tree of knowledge. Additionally, different media representations of Panchatantra are used as an example to illustrate the banzomic transmedia storytelling model as observed in the Indian narratives.