The ParrotHouse Podcast

Let this peculiar folktale from one of the many temple towns of Tamil Nadu carry you across the veil of time, from murmurs of the living to the wispy whispers of the dead and long forgotten. Contemplate upon remnants of life that linger in death, as we reflect on how the dead breathe through the living.CreditsDirector: Nikhita SinghWriter: Aashika PrabhakarCast: Aditya Kashyap, Chanakya Mukherjee, Kartik Gopalkrishnan, Madhumoy Satpathy, Satyam Sai, Shivna Mishra, Shreya Sharma, Swara Vaishnav Sound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan BaldiwalaMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaRecording Studio: Space Cat Studio Poster & Social Media Design: Sanika KannawarSocial Media Planning: Jasmin Thakar & Ranjana SarkarCCF Support Team: Aashika Prabhakar, Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Ranjana SarkarIndian Sign Language (ISL): Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Casting & Direction: Payal Bose ISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank KumarCommissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana ProductionHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgCheck out our website for moreSupport our work- Donate here

In this episode of Parrot House (तोता घर), the timeless Punjabi folktale of Sohni and Mahiwal — a tale of forbidden love, longing, and fate is revived to life. Sohni, a gifted potter’s daughter, falls for Izzat Baig, a trader from Bukhara. Bound in an unwanted marriage, she secretly crosses the Chenab each night to meet him, defying her family and village. But betrayal shatters their escape, and the river that once carried their love claims their lives. Told through poetic narration, haunting music, and a chorus, this episode captures how their love transcended death to live on in song and memory.Director: Nikhita SinghWriter: , Archie JoshiCast: Divya Sundrani, Kartik Gopalkrishnan, Jasmin Thakar, Madhumoy Satpathy, Nikhita Singh, Shivna Mishra, Shreya Sharma, Swara Vaishnav Sound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan BaldiwalaMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaRecording Studio: Space Cat Studio Poster & Social Media Design:  Sanika KannawarSocial Media Planning: Jasmin Thakar & Ranjana SarkarCCF Support Team: , Aashika Prabhakar, Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Ranjana SarkarIndian Sign Language (ISL): Video Production:  Vivid SutraISL Casting & Direction: Payal Bose ISL Expert (Deaf):  Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Cinematography & Editing:  Mayank KumarCommissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana ProductionHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgCheck out our website for moreSupport our work- Donate here

Is there any way a secret can stay within its boundary of listeners? In this story, the King’s hidden truth reveals itself and finds a voice, questioning the dynamics between power and silence. Narrated through the eyes of nature (a tree), this tale makes you wonder if a secret or the truth is ever safe. CreditsDirector: Nikhita SinghWriter: Jasmin Thakar Cast: Ananya Ramchandran, Chanakya Mukherjee, Jasmin Thakar, Satyam Sai, Shivam Khurana, Shreya SharmaSound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan BaldiwalaMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaRecording Studio: Space Cat Studio Poster & Social Media Design: Sanika KannawarSocial Media Planning: Jasmin Thakar & Ranjana SarkarCCF Support Team: Aashika Prabhakar, Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Ranjana SarkarIndian Sign Language (ISL): Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Casting & Direction: Payal Bose ISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank KumarCommissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana ProductionHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgCheck out our website for moreSupport our work- Donate here

In this retelling of the folktale, a spoilt, grief-stricken King refuses to move on with his life after the passing of his vain, beautiful Queen. But when the Boddhisatta turns his curious eye towards the head-scratching Kingdom in abrupt standstill, the Boddhisatta makes the grieving King meet his Queen once again. Although now, she is in her latest form as a dung beetle. Would you love your soulmate if it were a dung-rolling, stink-collecting beetle? But more importantly, would it love you back, human? CreditsDirector: Nikhita SinghWriter: Ashmeen BainsCast: Aditya Kashyap, Divya Sundrani, Kartik Gopalkrishnan, Madhumoy Satpathy, Shivam Khurana, Shivna Mishra, Shreya Sharma, Swara Vaishnav Sound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan BaldiwalaMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaRecording Studio: Space Cat Studio Poster & Social Media Design: Sanika KannawarSocial Media Planning: Jasmin Thakar & Ranjana SarkarCCF Support Team: Aashika Prabhakar, Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Ranjana SarkarIndian Sign Language (ISL): Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Casting & Direction: Payal Bose ISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank KumarCommissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana ProductionHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgCheck out our website for moreSupport our work- Donate here

On the nights when the moon is shining in the sky with all its light, a shadow rabbit appears within it. The tale is one of true altruism, of finding unanticipated eternity in the grandest of places by the smallest of creatures. What begins as an attempt to keep a promise unravels the story of how moonlight, as one knows it today, has carried the memory of kindness and legacy forever. CreditsDirector: Nikhita SinghWriter: Ranjana SarkarCast: Aditya Kashyap, Chanakya Mukherjee, Kartik Gopalkrishnan, Madhumoy Satpathy, Satyam Sai, Shivam Khurana, Shivna MishraSound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan BaldiwalaMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaRecording Studio: Space Cat Studio Poster & Social Media Design: Sanika KannawarSocial Media Planning: Jasmin Thakar & Ranjana SarkarCCF Support Team: Aashika Prabhakar, Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Ranjana SarkarIndian Sign Language (ISL): Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Casting & Direction: Payal Bose ISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank KumarCommissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana ProductionHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgCheck out our website for more Support our work- Donate here

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a village thrives in harmony with nature - until neglect severs the bond. When a young man disappears, the community is forced to reckon with what they’ve forgotten. A story of loss, remembrance, and the unseen forces that remind us to honor the world around us.CreditsDirector: Nikhita SinghWriter: Pauline Awungshi Cast: Aathira Gopi, Gokul Krishnan, Harshad Sambamurthy, Isha Tyagi, Omkar Phatak, Ruchi Chadha, Dr Smriti PahwaSound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan Baldiwala and Aman ArakhMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaCreative Producer: Pauline Awungshi Sound Engineer: Raman KakkarRecording Studio: Humming Pixels StudioPoster & Social Media Design: Manan AgarwalAnimation: Jeet Das
Social Media Planning: Pauline AwungshiCCF Support Team: Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Akarsh Sharma, Stephy Anthony, Vedanti Hindurao, Priyanandana A N, Ranjana Sarkar, Aashika PrabhakarIndian Sign Language (ISL) Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Casting & Direction: Payal BoseISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank Kumar Commissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana Theatre ProductionPowered by Hyundai Foundation's Art for Hope 2025 GrantHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgClick here to read this story or check out our website for moreSupport our work- Donate here

In the depths of Manipur’s jungle, a jackal’s chance discovery - a gleaming coin - sets off a chain of events that captivates the entire forest. Whispers of magic, power, and ambition spread like wildfire. But the jungle has its own rules. Can the jackal bend fate to his will, or is he chasing an illusion?CreditsDirector: Nikhita SinghWriter: Pauline Awungshi Cast: Aathira Gopi, Akarsh Sharma, Divyansh Thada, Gokul Krishnan, Pauline Awungshi, Ruchi Chadha, Dr Smriti PahwaSound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan Baldiwala and Aman ArakhMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaCreative Producer: Pauline Awungshi Sound Engineer: Raman KakkarRecording Studio: Humming Pixels StudioPoster & Social Media Design: Manan AgarwalAnimation: Jeet Das
Social Media Planning: Pauline AwungshiCCF Support Team: Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Akarsh Sharma, Stephy Anthony, Vedanti Hindurao, Priyanandana A N, Ranjana Sarkar, Aashika PrabhakarIndian Sign Language (ISL) Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Casting & Direction: Payal BoseISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank Kumar Commissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana Theatre ProductionPowered by Hyundai Foundation's Art for Hope 2025 GrantHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgClick here to read this story or check out our website for moreSupport our work- Donate here

How do we truly understand courage? Is it in the roar of a lion, or the quiet determination of someone who leads without fanfare? In this episode, we bring you a tale from the vibrant heart of Punjab that raises thought-provoking questions about the meaning of true leadership, the fragility of borrowed identities, and the perils of judging strength by appearances.CreditsDirector: Nikhita SinghWriter: Pauline Awungshi Cast: Akarsh Sharma, Divyansh Thada, Harshad Sambamurthy, Isha Tyagi, Omkar Phatak, Ruchi Chadha, Vikas KumarSound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan Baldiwala and Aman ArakhMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaCreative Producer: Pauline Awungshi Sound Engineer: Raman KakkarRecording Studio: Humming Pixels StudioPoster & Social Media Design: Manan AgarwalAnimation: Jeet Das
Social Media Planning: Pauline AwungshiCCF Support Team: Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Akarsh Sharma, Stephy Anthony, Vedanti Hindurao, Priyanandana A N, Ranjana Sarkar, Aashika PrabhakarIndian Sign Language (ISL) Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Casting & Direction: Payal BoseISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank Kumar Commissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana Theatre ProductionPowered by Hyundai Foundation's Art for Hope 2025 GrantHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgClick here to read this story or check out our website for more.Support our work- Donate here

The southern regions of our country have been familiar with the ocean since time immemorial. This is why we think we know the ocean quite well. But what if there's something more out there? What mysteries lurk right on our shores? And what happens when we come face to face with them?CreditsDirector: Nikhita SinghWriter: Akarsh Sharma Cast: Gokul Krishnan, Harshad Sambamurthy, Isha Tyagi, Omkar Phatak, Dr Smriti PahwaSound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan Baldiwala and Aman ArakhMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaCreative Producer: Pauline AwungshiSound Engineer: Raman KakkarRecording Studio: Humming Pixels StudioPoster & Social Media Design: Manan AgarwalAnimation: Jeet Das
Social Media Planning: Pauline AwungshiCCF Support Team: Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Akarsh Sharma, Stephy Anthony, Vedanti Hindurao, Priyanandana A N, Ranjana Sarkar, Aashika PrabhakarIndian Sign Language (ISL) Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Casting & Direction: Payal BoseISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank Kumar Commissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana Theatre ProductionPowered by Hyundai Foundation's Art for Hope 2025 GrantHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgClick here to read this story or check out our website for moreSupport our work- Donate here

Have you ever held onto something so tightly that it found its own way out? In this first episode of ParrotHouse, we unravel the tale of a housewife whose untold story and unsung song take on a life of their own. A story of magic, longing, and the need to express what’s buried within. Tune in and find out why some stories simply can’t stay silent…CreditsWriter-Director: Nikhita SinghCast: Aathira Gopi, Gokul Krishnan, Harshad Sambamurthy, Nikhita Singh, Omkar Phatak, Dr Smriti PahwaSound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan Baldiwala and Aman ArakhMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaCreative Producer: Pauline AwungshiSound Engineer: Raman KakkarRecording Studio: Humming Pixels StudioPoster & Social Media Design: Manan AgarwalAnimation: Jeet Das
Social Media Planning: Pauline AwungshiCCF Support Team: Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Akarsh Sharma, Stephy Anthony, Vedanti Hindurao, Priyanandana A N, Ranjana Sarkar, Aashika PrabhakarIndian Sign Language (ISL) Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Casting & Direction: Payal BoseISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank Kumar Commissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana Theatre ProductionPowered by Hyundai Foundation's Art for Hope 2025 GrantHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgClick here to read this story or check out our website for moreSupport our work- Donate here

The ParrotHouse Podcast is where stories, songs, and their tellers and singers gather. We attempt to dive into India’s rich landscape of folklore, and take you on journeys to different parts of the country — to tell you more about the life and times, the myths and magic of this vast land. Through this podcast, we aim to celebrate Indian folklore and make it accessible and engaging for a contemporary audience. We are choosing to amplify underrepresented narratives by bringing forward diverse and overlooked stories. By highlighting the historical and cultural contexts of each tale, we hope these stories will entertain, educate, and inspire, as they were traditionally meant to!CreditsWriters: Nikhita Singh, Archie Joshi, Akarsh Sharma, Pauline Awungshi Cast: Aathira Gopi, Akarsh Sharma, Divyansh Thada, Gokul Krishnan, Harshad Sambamurthy, Isha Tyagi, Nikhita Singh, Omkar Phatak, Pauline Awungshi , Ruchi Chadha, Dr Smriti Pahwa, Vikas KumarSound Designer & Editor: hashparker Music Composer: Hasan Baldiwala and Aman ArakhMusic Producer: Aman ArakhExecutive Producer: Divyansh ThadaCreative Producer: Pauline AwungshiSound Engineer: Raman KakkarRecording Studio: Humming Pixels StudioPoster & Social Media Design: Manan AgarwalAnimation: Jeet Das
Social Media Planning: Pauline AwungshiCCF Support Team: Ashmeen Bains, Archie Joshi, Akarsh Sharma, Stephy Anthony, Vedanti Hindurao, Priyanandana A N, Ranjana Sarkar, Aashika PrabhakarIndian Sign Language (ISL) Video Production: Vivid SutraISL Expert (Deaf): Sameer YadavISL Interpreter: Stuti KumariISL Casting & Direction: Payal BoseISL Cinematography & Editing: Mayank Kumar Commissioning Producer: Dheeraj DubeyA CCF x Parwana Theatre ProductionPowered by Hyundai Foundation's Art for Hope 2025 GrantHave a story to share? Email us at contact@centreforcontemporaryfolklore.orgSupport our work- Donate here