Results and Next Steps for India’s Biggest Writing Contest 2024

At Mugafi, storytelling is at the heart of everything we do. Through initiatives likeIndia’s Biggest Writing Contest, we aim to inspire creativity, celebrate diverse narratives, and open doors for writers to bring their stories to life in ground-breaking ways.

First, we want to express our gratitude to all participants for their efforts in reimagining the legend of Sheshnaag. Your passion and creativity have truly inspired us. Over the past month, our team has carefully reviewed each submission, searching for stories with the potential to be developed into timeless adaptations.

After much deliberation, we’ve made the difficult decision not to select a clear winner this time. While the submissions showed immense effort and originality, many did not fully align with our vision. Here’s why:

Depth in Storytelling: Crafting an adaptable narrative requires layered complexity and nuanced world-building necessary for scalability and adaptation—well-rounded characters, intricate plots, and emotional resonance. Some entries lacked this depth, presenting ideas that felt more like early drafts.
Integration of Sheshnaag: In several entries, the mythological character felt more like an add-on rather than an integral part of the story, diminishing the mythological essence and intrigue we sought.
Engaging Premises: Strong hooks are essential for capturing audience interest. Several submissions felt too overt or predictable, missing the subtlety and originality that drive compelling storytelling, needed to resonate with a global audience.

This decision wasn’t easy, but we believe in being honest with our writers and ourselves. It’s not just about awarding a prize—it’s about ensuring that stories selected for adaptation uphold the highest creative standards and truly reflect the richness of Indian mythology.

Celebrating Standout Submissions

While we didn’t find a clear winner, two entries stood out for their unique ideas and potential:

Raktaabh by Sumit Singh Dixit
Abide by Devang Pathak

These submissions showed promise, and though they require further development, we see immense potential in their narratives. To honor their efforts, we’ll be extending personalized feedback and rewards to these writers to help them refine their stories.

A Commitment to Empower Writers

Our mission remains steadfast: to empower writers to tell stories that inspire, captivate, and endure. We want to cultivate narratives that break free from stereotypes, move beyond tropes, and reflect bold, imaginative thinking.

To support this mission, we’re reopening the contest with a renewed call for entries—inviting you to dive deeper, dream bigger, and push the boundaries of creativity.

What’s Next?

This is not the end but a new beginning. We’re excited to launch the next round of India’s Biggest Writing Contest, inviting even more compelling entries. Stay tuned for details!

Note: All of the participants can re-submit their stories in the second round of contest at no extra cost.

To our participants, thank you for your passion and creativity. We value your trust in Mugafi and remain committed to creating opportunities for writers to shine.

Together, let’s craft stories that leave a lasting legacy.