Kazakhstan's First Novel-Audiofilm Tandyr – Destiny Redefines Storytelling

Yerlan Kokeev has released Kazakhstan’s first novel-audiofilm, Tandyr – Destiny. The work is available in both Kazakh and Russian. It represents a new multigenre format, combining a printed book with an audio adaptation. The story centres on Balarama, a world-renowned Indian musician on a journey to uncover his true identity. His quest takes a turn when he hears the traditional Kazakh kui 'Saryarka' and realises he is Kazakh, with roots in Kazakhstan. Kokeev drew inspiration from his own vision of a man searching for belonging.

The audiofilm includes Kokeev’s own performance of the song Find Me, Mama. The Kazakh version was voiced by actor Isbek Abilmazhanov, who also translated the text into Kazakh. Kokeev narrated the Russian-language edition himself.

The project was supported by Amanat, a nonprofit organisation focused on copyright protection. While the characters are fictional, the events, cities, and names in the book are based on real life. The novel is structured as a trilogy, with three interconnected parts forming a single narrative. The novel-audiofilm Tandyr – Destiny marks a first for Kazakhstan in blending literature and audio storytelling. It offers readers and listeners a unique way to experience a tale of identity and discovery. The work is now available in print and audio formats in two languages.