In a country where loneliness is fast becoming the silent epidemic among young people, a growing number of them are turning to digital communities not just for entertainment, but for connection, self-expression, and belongingness. One such story is that of Shreesai, a 22-year-old from Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. Raised by his grandparents after losing his mother at a young age and growing up largely without his father's presence, Shreesai often felt isolated while pursuing dreams that few around him fully understood. Passionate about lyrics writing, editing, content creation, and storytelling, he aspired to build a career in the Telugu film industry. But balancing those ambitions with family expectations left him navigating a path that often felt lonely and uncertain.
A turning point came when he discovered FRND, India's first avatar-based audio social discovery platform. Initially joining the app in search of companionship during a difficult phase of his life, Shreesai soon found something he had been missing for years, a community where people genuinely wanted to listen. He made very close friends on the platform that stood by him through thick and thin.
What began as a search for friendship quickly evolved into a creative opportunity.
Drawing on his talent for mimicry, Shreesai became a FRND RJ and started hosting group audio rooms (FRND Radio) using the voice of Doraemon, one of India's most loved cartoon characters. A FRND RJ is a person who hosts live audio rooms, they keep the conversation going, welcome new people who join, ask questions, keep things fun and light, and make sure the vibe stays warm and inclusive. Through his shows, ‘Talk with Doraemon’ and ‘Dance with Doraemon’, Shreesai transformed a childhood character into a medium for entertainment, interaction, and connection.
His sessions feature games, storytelling, music, audience discussions, and light-hearted conversations that encourage people to participate and express themselves. Over time, hundreds of users began joining regularly, drawn not only by the unique Doraemon voice but also by the welcoming atmosphere he created, his most popular radio room saw participation of nearly 600 users.
Each session, he leads a live room of listeners, some just tuning in to hear his Doraemon mimicry and singalongs, others joining a waitlist for a chance to grab the mic and speak. Hundreds show up for his radio room alone, turning what started as one man's escape into a stage for everyone else's. While a few get a chance to speak and perform, hundreds join in
the conversation by sending live text messages. Over the past three months since Shreesai joined FRND, he has been able to reach nearly 7000 unique listeners. Rooms like this are part of a much larger wave, FRND hosts over 135,000 radio rooms every month across ten Indic languages.
For Shreesai, the goal extends beyond entertainment. Having experienced loneliness himself, he wanted his audio rooms to become a space where people could unwind, share their thoughts, and feel less alone. Many participants are young individuals navigating career pressures, relationship challenges, and personal struggles. The familiar voice of Doraemon often becomes an easy, comforting entry point into meaningful conversations.
His journey also reflects the growing creator economy emerging from India's Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. FRND gave him a stage to showcase his talent, build an audience, and strengthen the creative skills he hopes to take into the Telugu film industry one day. Today, he continues to write stories, create content, and grow a community around his shows while pursuing his larger creative ambitions.
Stories like Shreesai's highlight how platforms such as FRND are becoming more than social networks. By prioritising voice, personality, and conversation over appearances, they are creating spaces where people can form authentic connections, discover hidden talents, and find encouragement during difficult times.
For Shreesai, FRND has become a place where he found his voice and through that voice, he now helps hundreds of others feel heard, connected, and hopeful, one conversation at a time.