PlanetRead and the team behind it are an inspiration to me - a brilliantly simple idea well executed through tenacity, intelligence and good old-fashioned hard work. Theirs is a story of sticking with something they believed in, often in the face of great challenges, eventually coming through and inspiring the reading skills of literally millions of young children in India. I've been so impressed with their model and approach that they've been featured in both of my social innovation books - and because of that, I know their story resonates with many other people, too. One of my favourite NGOs, period.
I have commissioned PlanetRead for some work and had the pleasure of working with them. I found the team very competent and sending regular weekly updates on the project. The quality of their stories with subtitles is very good and it has shown to improve learning outcomes in other studies. I look forward to integrating their work into our personalised adaptive learning software - Mindspark.

PlanetRead 10/23/2020
Thanks Pranav, it's been a pleasure working with you and the EI team. We admire the work you're all doing at Mindspark and look forward to providing reading to possibly millions of children in India.
As a translator and reviewer ,I have been associated with Planet Read for quite sometime now. Working with the team which is proactive, open to suggestions, thoroughly professional and very polite in its approach, has been a pleasure.Looking forward to work.more with them

PlanetRead 10/23/2020
Thanks Nandini, it's been a pleasure working with you too. We're lucky to have you on our roster of experts!
PlanetRead is doing fantastic work. This organization not only improves literacy but also adds values in the life of kids. Their stories support teachers and parents in inculcating the values such as Selfcare, Kindness, etc,

PlanetRead 10/23/2020
Dear Hyder, thank you very much for the kind words! It's been great working with you and we look forward to having a long term collaboration.
PlanetRead is doing very good job. It is an organisation which is constantly trying to increase the literacy rate so that children/people of our country can read and write. There are thousands of direct beneficiaries who got reading practices with the help of animated stories from this organisation. Videos for children are really great and demonstrate the good quality of their work. It is truly changing the lives and bringing them on good path. Best wishes.

PlanetRead 10/23/2020
Dear Harsh, Thank you so much for this beautiful review. Your support has been invaluable to us. You've been kind and helpful while guiding us to create good quality content. We look forward to a long term association with you.

PlanetRead 10/23/2020
Dear Harsh, Thank you so much for this beautiful review. Your support has been invaluable to us. You've been kind and helpful while guiding us to create good quality content. We look forward to a long term association with you.
PlanetRead is doing excellent job for the development of literacy and I had good experience working with them. The work they are doing is commendable and is surely making a difference in the life of semi-literates.

PlanetRead 10/23/2020
Dear Hazrath, Thank you very much for all the support and kind words! Our work will be incomplete without experts like you.
Planet Read's great to learn languages. The story are simple and fun to listen (and read) to. They are particularly attractive to little children in the age group of 3-9 who are just learning to read.

PlanetRead 10/08/2020
Thank you very much, Sabareesh!
Planet Read is doing a wonderful Job on spreading the joy of learning Languages among various people in the country. Their stories are really simple to understand and very enticing for whoever wants to learn a new Language. Good Job team and do keep up the work of spreading the Language Learning initiative for all.
Nestor Mascarenhas

PlanetRead 10/08/2020
Thank you so much, Nestor :) We wouldn't be able to do all this work without the support of people like you!
“The one who teaches the written word is God incarnate” – is a Tamil saying.
Bringing the joy of reading to millions is an ambitious idea. If it is ably supported by strong belief in achieving the target in a viable, simple and enjoyable manner then sky is the limit. PlanetRead with its innovative SLS - Same Language Subtitling, employing karaoke methods capture the essence of their philosophy to make reading easy for people. At a time when pedagogical methods have come under serious scrutiny due to falling standards in the reading and comprehending abilities of children, PlanetRead’s AniBooks that use animated stories with SLS are simply a boon. As a board member, I am proud to be associated with an NGO that continues to make a real difference in the lives of millions of Indians, young and old alike. Kudos to the team at PlanetRead. Your work is invaluable.

PlanetRead 10/02/2020
Thank you so much, Chitra, we're truly honored to have you on our board!
Since I know about this incredible idea of translation stories to a multiple language.l love to work with them they have Dedication and Accuracy to work
And the most important thing that they spend a lot of time to translate stories to children to improve they reading and hearing new languages skills

PlanetRead 09/25/2020
Thank you Sabrin, for the kind words!
Planet Read is doing a visionary work in bringing the joy and honour of reading to masses who have been away from it. The power of words and wisdom of stories are the best gift that can be given and nurtured in a generation that has long been deprived of it. It has the power to transform lives and takes away the shackles of illiteracy. If a child can read he can learn anything. This is a transformational work and my support and well wishes are with them.

PlanetRead 08/18/2020
Thanks Neha, for this lovely review! We're lucky and grateful to have people like you in our journey.
Planet Read Makes a good participation in many profiles. Non Profit objective is appreciated that too in multi language developments. I am aware of their participation for many years. Children stories and stories about iconic leaders and legends and also SLS are their few areas which I am aware. I wish that it should grow in many folds and set as an example

PlanetRead 05/28/2019
Thank you Sivakumar, we're happy to have you with us in this journey as we bring reading to millions of children and adults.
(English translation below)
Trabajar con ellos ha sido extraordinario. Siempre profesionales y amables, me envían la información y me apoyan con cualquier duda que tenga.
El español es uno de los idiomas más hablados del mundo, en tantos países, y es un privilegio poder motivar a los niños a leer y escucharlo, además de poder promoverlo con adultos que quizás también estén interesados en aprender el idioma.
¡Qué maravilla poder crear material didáctico gratuito internacionalmente para que los niños puedan leer multiples idiomas! Gracias Bookbox
English
Working with them has always been extraordinary. Always professional and kind, they send me the information and help me with any questions I might have.
Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world, and in many countries, and its a privilege to motivate children to read and listen to it, as well as be able to promote it with adults that might be interested in learning the language.
How wonderful is it to be able to create international free didactic material so that children can learn to read in multiple languages! Thank you Bookbox.

PlanetRead 05/28/2019
Thank you so much, Leslie, our work would not be complete without the support of people like you :)
They have a professional team, videos for children are really great and demostrate the good quality of their work

PlanetRead 05/27/2019
Thank you, Asha!
We've been working with PlanetRead's Pondicherry office now for more than 15 years. They're a dedicated team, a pleasure to work with, and they produce wonderful learning content for children!
Michael, Avitra - Auroville international translators

PlanetRead 05/27/2019
Thanks Michael, for the kind words. Avitra is one of the most professional agencies we have worked with :)
It was indeed great working with PlanetRead. A simple idea of subtitles yet in an innovative way, Same Language Subtitling is helping many by improving their reading skills and by further moving us towards a better India.

PlanetRead 05/24/2019
Thank you Divyabala, for the kind words. It was great working with you too.
I have been following the work done at PlanetRead for over 10 years now, and yet it feels just like yesterday that they started the ground-breaking work which they do. The progress and the repository of material that they have created in these years is a benchmark that each educational organization should strive for.
I cannot think of a better way to bring technology and learning to the masses at a low cost- what an idea and what professional and dedicated service from the entire team- kudos.
The philosophy runs top down into each member of the staff, and I wish the team many more years and projects to continue the wonderful work.
We, an NGO based out of Pondicherry, have also used Bookbox and PlanetRead material for our street and slum children and the results were incredibly encouraging-not only do the children enjoy a reading session- learning happens on the side of fun through fun!
I would recommend their content for individuals, families as well as larger organisations- the entire process from email to implementation of the stories in our centres was effortless.
Good going team Planetread!

PlanetRead 05/21/2019
Thank you so much Vandana, for such a beautiful review of our work. We are truly lucky to have friends like you. Wishing you the best, as always :)
I'm really happy to see a professional team that empowers the literacy and education of thousands of Indian children.

PlanetRead 05/21/2019
Thank you Krishna and likewise :)
The team is doing a great job. Their content is relevant and contextual for the children in our country. We have received positive feedback from the schools and teachers we are working with. Keep up the good work!

PlanetRead 05/21/2019
So happy to hear that, Komal, thanks for the kind words. It's great to work with people like you :)
Working with Planetread has been a profound and great knowledge sharing experience. We at Design Therapy Now, designed their website and it was a thoughtful and purposeful exercise to offer a variety of stories in multiple languages across the world. The team was high on motivation to deliver an exceptional experience to their readers and I appreciate their patience and openness to learn in terms of design and experiences. Looking forward to your stories!

PlanetRead 05/21/2019
Thank you for the kind words Snighdha, it was great working with you too. Your design expertise has been invaluable! Look forward to being in touch for future collaboration.
Planetread is just doing an amazing job. Excellent!!!!

PlanetRead 05/20/2019
Thank you Arindra, that's kind of you.
My cooperation with Bookbox team and PlanetRead started this year and they have been working on the language, that has no Roman Alphabet. This is Georgian Language, represented with an animated story ,,The First Christmas".
The team consists of proffesionals attentive to details.
I hope we'll work side by side as long as this project lasts.

PlanetRead 05/12/2019
Thank you Anna, we're excited to work with you create educational content in rare languages like Georgian. We look forward doing many more AniBooks :)
It's always a great joy working for bookbox. So refreshing and heartening to know that you help our children better read and care for the earth. These stories are rooted in the present and give hope for the future!
Continue and spread the good work. I look forward to voice again my deep appreciation....
Cristof Award Pitoeff

PlanetRead 05/10/2019
Thank you so much Cristof, you've played an important in our journey :)
Hi! I am Edzard, born in Germany but working in the International Project of Auroville. India, since 43 years. Thru

PlanetRead 05/13/2019
Thanks Edzard, it's great to have you in our journey to bring reading to millions of children and adults. Can you please re-post your review... it seems to be cut abruptly.
What if your child can watch cartoons/animations and learn to read too!
With increasing exposure to smartphones, tablets and TV throwing so much colour and animation, the lacklustre backboards and books have jaded out in keeping the already short attention span of new learners engaged. PlanetRead’s Same Language Subtitling (SLS) of film songs on TV and AniBooks with animated stories is a simple yet brilliant idea to help new learners and semi-literates acquire reading skills.
Eye-tracking studies in Europe and Rajasthan confirm that the reading of subtitles is automatic and inescapable. One tends to also read while listening to the song or story. It is indeed a win-win case for both parents/teachers and children alike. So go ahead parents, let the child have his cake and (you) eat it too!
Have been working with PlanetRead for a year now. They work tirelessly towards making the 'Reading' easy. Commendable work, keep it up team!!
I've been engaged as a volunteer with PlanetRead for almost 5 years, and have thoroughly enjoyed my association and interactions with their several team members during this time. Furthermore, through co-managing probono consulting projects with PlanetRead, I know that other student and professional volunteers from universities and corporations in the US and India have equally appreciated PlanetRead's work.
I am proud to be connected with PlanetRead, and will continue to be an advocate of the great work they are doing in progressing the field of education!
I have been a volunteer with PlanetRead since 2013- initially based in India and now as a remote volunteer. PlanetRead is among the most professional nonprofits I have worked with, and has an incredibly dedicated staff which shows through in all of their work. Their concept leverages an innovative idea that is evidence-backed, and the organization is a role model for how to turn a creative idea into action. I look forward to continuing to serve as a volunteer with PlanetRead and to supporting their important work.
Want to improve your language skills? PlanetRead would be the name which I'll immediately suggest to anyone. This organization helps in developing an individual's reading skills with the concept of 'Same Language Subtitling'. These people are rendering a wonderful service which is essential & much needed for a society to improve its literacy rate. My best wishes & support will always be there for this team. Keep growing PlanetRead! And lit your global light for literacy.
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Am really surprised & happy that this concept of 'Same Language Subtitling' creates wonders in increasing the literacy rate across the globe. PlanetRead helps in enhancing the language & reading skills of an individual through this effective & innovative technique. Am happy to support this organization for their wonderful service. You people deserve appreciation. Way to GO !
Planetread is doing wonderful work that really helps thousands of thousand children to access literacy and education in India and the world. The team is very professional and hard working. Wish them all the very best! Keep the momentum going on!
I worked for Planet Read during 6 month. All the team is involved and so welcoming. It was a pleasure to participate to this project.
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I have been working as a volunteer in 2012. It was a positive and lovely experience. All the team loves Planet Read concept and works hardly to develop tools and videos.
Reading is an essential life skill. Thanks to Planet Read, learning how to read become easier, simple and funny. Reading is like a game. So, let' play ;-)
PlanetRead's work using same-language subtitles for literacy has progressed immensely to encompass not just SLS for film songs on television but also SLS for animated books in an early-grade reading initiative. This unique idea has made a huge difference for people of all ages struggling to become proficient readers in a world that demands literacy.
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I have been a volunteer with PlanetRead and their sister organization BookBox for some years and It's the simplicity of the idea that has always amazed me. The simple idea of promoting literacy through Bollywood is inspiring and a novel way of introducing education through a very tangible medium. It's brilliant and has had an incredible impact on literacy levels around India. The team at PlanetRead and BookBox are amazingly dedicated, smart and creative, and as committed as anyone I have met to their cause.
We have an extremely cordial and pleasant working relationship with PlanetRead. The team is helpful, professional, passionate and hard working. It is encouraging to see the concept of SLS being implemented in government schools of Delhi. We are hopeful that this will prove to be very beneficial for the children and help in improving their reading outcomes. I would like to wish the team all the very best for all their future endeavors.
PlanetRead has been working tirelessly for years to share the evidence that same-language subtitling really makes an impact on reading ability and to raise awareness of the need to add SLS to all media content in all languages. More and more people know about their work, and I hope that the word continues to spread. Thanks for your simple, scalable literacy efforts, PlanetRead!
Previous Stories
PlanetRead's work using same-language subtitles for literacy has expanded greatly in the past year to encompass not just SLS for film songs on television but also SLS for animated books in an early-grade reading initiative. This simple idea can make such a big difference for people of all ages struggling to become competent readers in a world that demands literacy. I'm thrilled to support the work of this great nonprofit!
Had a great time working with Planetread! They are doing wonderful work to help spread literacy across India and the world. Very proud of the progress they are making.
An incredible organization that has made so much impact on so many people. PlanetRead's simple idea of Same Language Subtitles has greatly improved India and has the potential to improve the rest of the world. Keep up the great work, PlanetRead!
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Writing a scientific paper about illiteracy in India, I found an article about PlanetRead. PlanetRead became an important part of that paper as it is simple and very effective.
I glad to have got to know such an great work! You all do a great job! Thank you!
PlaneTRead is doing fantastic work to improve access to literacy and education among otherwise underserved populations. Very excited to see its progress from here out as well!
This organization is doing a wonderful job that really helps hundreds of thousand people/children. I'm privileged to be a part of this amazing team. My job is to create music/sounds for children stories which is an interesting one and truly satisfying.
Having been with this team for past 2 years, i have seen them growing, improving lives of so many children and their interest in making full literacy. I've had immense joy working with them and will continue to work with them. My Best Wishes.
I am a freelancer from a small village from India. Same language subtitling started on regional channels on tv when I was in school. And when you have very limited resources at your native place to practice, initiatives like same language subtitling can turn your idiot box in a smart learning center. It helped me and my siblings in reading.
Today I am preparing for a PhD in computer engineering. And I wish to work directly with PlanetRead.
For a starters I have started adding same language subtitles to different videos on YouTube.
I have used their videos and techniques to teach the children from night schools in Mumbai and using it now to teach my nephew.
With steady exposure to these songs with karaoke style subtitles, a person can improve their reading skills. Kudos to PlanetRead for showing us a simple and an effective way to improve literacy.
Around the globe, people and companies work with different processes to improve the literacy of millions of people. PlanetRead is one such company, named after its goal.
The unique thing about PlanetRead is that it takes a very simple idea and with that it is able to provide improvement of literacy across millions of people in India.This is achieved through subtitling popular film songs loved by people. Superb...
PlanetRead is an organization that is truly changing lives through their passion for literacy and innovative methods of product distribution. I had the privilege of interning for PlanetRead over the summer of 2016. My job included researching the effectiveness of eye tracking and helping expand the reach of PlanetRead's children's stories.
Working with PlanetRead I was afforded the pure joy of watching children's faces while practicing their reading skills, and simultaneously, of seeing the pride on the faces of their illiterate parents, knowing their children were being given access to a brighter future. The hard work that this organization does not only helps improve the literacy of its current recipients, but it also helps carve the path for a future toward full literacy and increased well-being of an ever growing nation . PlanetRead is an organization that is actively reshaping lives, what a treat to have been part of that effort.
Activity based learning keeps children engaged in class and learning is joyful. Given the short attention span of the children stories and especially animated stories can keep children engaged. The subtitles in the same language help children read with the help of visuals. This serves as a great support to the teaching / learning process. The quality of the content and the age specific story selection will go a long way in developing literacy skills in areas where there are dearth of quality resources.
Each and every member of Planetread has my highest admiration and pride for the commitment they show in bringing wholesome meaning to literacy in India. The seemingly simplistic solution applying Same Language Subtitling will never lose its significance in people empowerment through literacy.
My experience with Planetread is merely as an onlooker who understands the enormity of their work. My many years in defense took me far and wide across India and gave me the opportunity to experience first hand the low literacy levels of far too many communities of a nation that prides itself of world leading achievements. With SLS proving a success in enriching the lives of children and adults, improving their reading skills through popular media, it is indeed heart-warming to know and applaud.
I wish Planetread finds success in attaining even wider recognition and all the support it seeks to attain its noble goals.
This Organization goes out of its way to promote languages. Always noted for its accuracy and thoroughness.
PlanetRead’s “karaoke” approach to literacy provides automatic and subconscious reading practice. Subtitling famous Bollywood songs is a classic idea to promote literacy among the masses. Good work! Keep going your dedication and service is greatly appreciated.
Same Language Subtitling is a simple yet effect way of helping a semi-literate to improve their language skills unknowingly. PlanetRead has used this concept to subtitle famous Bollywood songs. What better way to learn and read the fun way! Hats off to the volunteers and staff of PlanetRead.
PlanetRead is a very good organisation that helps to increase literacy rate among children, their technique of using subtitling into education is a very innovative and unique way of learning. The organisation is friendly, having a good time working with them.
PlanetRead is an innovative way to improve one's language. With the help of SLS and daily practice we can achieve global literacy.
A simple solution to a alleviate illiteracy around us. PlanetRead has made reading Karaoke like. You watch, you listen, you read along!
Edutainment is Bollywood songs providing literacy and reading. PlanetRead has struck the right chord with the masses.
Planetread is truly an innovative way of teaching literacy. Combining entertainment with valuable skills is a great way to try to change the world for the better. Bravo!
I started following planetread due to voluntary work being done by a friend and I realised that same language subtitling has a significant role to play in enabling native language speakers to read better and thereby understand better. Movies/music is the best way to get people's attention and SLS helps!
What a great idea, and all the research says it works! And who would say no to watching a fun Hindi movie?
PlanetRead's deceptively simple approach is flexible enough to expand literacy in many different contexts (adults and children, speakers of India's local languages as well as Hindi speakers). The work they're doing now takes the concept of same-language subtitling to new audiences as well as to their traditional viewership on televised song programs. With PlanetRead's continuing innovation and dedication, and with financial support from donations and grants, I hope the dream of a fully literate India will come true in my lifetime. I'm happy to do my part!
BookBox is an absolutely fab tool for lg teachers. The stories are so smart with their universal punchlines that I'm using them as a warm-up story for business-related topics. My students love the idea and find it a fun add-on to a regular class.
The simple way to reach a large public is through the forum of entertainment. Planet Read has done this admirably well by basing themselves on popular songs from Bollywood to reach its target audience. The SLS or the Same Language Subtitling is a simple but effective method of educating a semi-literate mass that lends itself to learning to read unknowingly. Congratulations Planet Read for developing such a wonderful program to take the world forward.
I absolutely love PlanetRead, I have even shared the program with all of my friends and BookBox's stories to many homeschoolers, plus, I myself use the program. Same Language Subtitles are a huge benefit when learning a language. As an American living in Tamil Nadu, India I have used the BookBox program to expand my knowledge of Tamil. The stories are interesting and visually appealing-a must!
PlanetRead's SLS innovation for spreading literacy is simple, intuitive and fun. It should be scaled up nationally and internationally and it will help millions become literate. Keep it up!
I personally feel the work and the concept Planetread doing is totally a big turn for people to read and develop the literacy. Giving a proper idea to educate makes the change. Planetread gives the change to develop reading ability by providing an excellent concept SLS (Same Language Subtitling). Concept like this really makes the Planet Read.
PlanetRead is an incredible way to improve reading skills. It combines India's favorite entertainment industry, Bollywood, with same language subtitles to create a fun and easy way to learn to read. What could be better?
Planetread, BookBox, is an awesome tool for learning in general and literacy in particular. I have used the stories and same-language subtitles to help adult learners improve reading as well as using the stories to help myself learn a foreign language. The method of learning is so intuitive and easy, as you learn to read, listen, spell, and, if you choose, learn a foreign language also, and all with meaningful, interesting stories.. I highly recommend Planetread and BookBox.
Same Language Subtitles are simple, yet an incredible tool to learn to read a language. SLS are easy to read and produce; it should be implemented everywhere! PlanetRead and BookBox apply SLS in the right places, too - Bollywood and children's stories - both highly popular now and will be deep in the future. No doubt SLS can prevent illiteracy around the world.