Qisse Kahaniyaan
Qisse Kahaniyaan is a Hindi-language storytelling podcast hosted by Alif, a cinematographer who grew up listening to folklore told by elders on long evenings. Each episode turns nostalgic memories — first love, childhood festivals, a song from the 90s, the smell of the first monsoon rain — into richly told stories. The show blends personal recollection with sound design, aiming to make every story feel wrapped in words and dressed in sound. It is produced by The Quint and distributed through the Bingepods (Ideabrew Studios) network.
Episodes
From Outlaw to Icon: Phoolan Devi’s Story | Qisse Kahaniyaan Podcast
She was born into oppression. She rose in defiance. Phoolan Devi was not just a woman—she was a storm. Branded a criminal, hailed as a warrior, she walked the razor’s edge between vengeance and justice, fear and reverence.
From a child bride to a feared dacoit, from a prison cell to the Indian Parliament—Phoolan’s life was a tale of survival, rebellion, and an unbreakable will. They called her th
Safdar Hashmi: Art, Activism, and a Lasting Legacy | Qisse Kahaniyaan Podcast
Some artists perform. Safdar Hashmi provoked. A playwright, poet, and activist, he didn’t just tell stories—he fought battles with them. As the founder of Jana Natya Manch (JANAM), he wielded theatre as a weapon, crafting bold, politically charged performances that laid bare corruption, inequality, and exploitation during Indira Gandhi's era.
His art was defiant. And on January 1, 1989, he paid t
SHIV KUMAR BATALVI: The Poet Who Lived His Verses | Qisse Kahaniyaan Podcast
In this dramatised episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan, Shiv Kumar Batalvi returns through the voice of an artist, narrating his own life. Blending poetic melancholy with an anchor’s narration, the episode takes you on a journey through his celebrated yet turbulent existence. A rebellious spirit, he defied societal norms, challenging conventions with his impassioned and often controversial themes. But beh
M. F. HUSAIN: BEYOND THE CANVAS | Qisse Kahaniyaan Podcast
Few artists have shaped modern Indian art like Maqbool Fida Husain (M.F. Husain)—a painter whose bold strokes told stories of beauty, culture, and controversy. Known as the ‘Picasso of India’, Husain’s life was a canvas filled with triumphs and trials, adored by some and criticised by others.
In this dramatised episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan, we bring Husain’s voice to life through a skilled artist,
Saadat Hasan Manto: Between The Lines | Qisse Kahaniyaan Podcast
Step into the world of Saadat Hasan Manto, the literary genius whose stories stirred hearts and sparked debates. In this episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan, Manto, brought to life by a talented voice artist, narrates his own story—his rise to fame, the controversies that defined his life, and the legacy that endures.
Alternating between Manto’s evocative voice and the anchor’s compelling narration, this
Aayinaa Part 3: A Time Capsule of Forgotten Stories
This is the story of an antique mirror that has lived through historical times.
Crafted by Ustaad Azhar Ali in Shahjahanabad, the mirror finds itself in royal possession when it's gifted by his creator to the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.
But the glory of living in a Mughal court was short-lived.
In 1857, as Bahadur Shah Zafar's forces clashed with the British Army, the mirror
Aayinaa Part 2: A Slice of History Preserved in Memory
Ustaad Azhar Ali, a talented craftsman of Shahjahanabad, wants to make a mirror – a masterpiece worthy enough to be presented before the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar during Shaan-e-Hindustan, an annual festival that is held in the city of Shahjahanabad.
In this episode, the mirror that now lies in the dusty corner of an antique shop in modern Delhi, narrates the story of how it found its n
Aayinaa Part 1: Reflections of The Time Bygone
An old mirror lies in a dusty corner of an antique shop in New Delhi's Janpath Market.
Over the years it has passed through many hands and although the mirror has lost its sheen now, it has seen a lot of history.
In this episode, the mirror tells us the story of its maker Azhar Ali — a skilled but poor carpenter who used to reside in the city of Shahjahanabad.
Tune in!
About the Podcas
Candyman: Temptations and Curiosity of a School Boy
Pappu, a 9-year-old boy, is intrigued by a man who he sees distributing candies to children outside his school.
Even though he resists his temptations, his curiosity grows. While he is skeptical of approaching a stranger, he also wonders why this man is giving away free candies to all his friends?
Will he make a move for it, or will he remember the 'stranger danger' rule?
Tune in to this
Librarian Part 2: When the Lines of Partition Cut Across Books
As the subcontinent is set to be divided in two separate nations – Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan, Amarjeet, a librarian in the small town of Amritsar gets a notice that his library will also be partitioned much like every other thing.
The task of separating the books becomes an emotionally taxing situation for him personally, for he must choose which book will go to which c
Librarian Part 1: Of Books, Freedom and Partition
It is the year 1947. The prolonged colonial occupation has finally ended but the subcontinent will be divided in two separate nations — Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.
In a small town of Amritsar, a library will be partitioned as well. Amarjeet, the librarian is caught between the whirlwind of emotions when he finds out that the library's books will also be divided between tw
Panna Lal Panauti Part 2: Breaking The Jinx
Misfortunes refuse to leave Panna Lal alone, they keep tailing him like a shadow. His rotten luck is such that it has earned him the nickname of 'Panauti'.
Now, Panna Lal has fallen in love with Jhilmil, a girl in his college, but he has not dared to express his love to her. He doesn't want to lose her because of his 'panauti' (unlucky or bad omen).
All he wants to do now is to prove to the
Panna Lal Panauti Part 1: A Life Full of Misadventures
They say life is full of ups and downs but for Panna Lal, it's a never-ending trail of misadventures.
The poor chap's life is a tragicomedy where misfortune have been following him like a shadow since the very moment of his birth.
Now Panna Lal wants to prove to the world that he is not a panauti and he is ready to do whatever it takes. Will he be able to get rid off his jinx and prove that
Baarishein Part 2 - Facing The Past to Cope With The Present
Sahil, an ambitious man from a small town has made it big in Mumbai. He has managed to accomplish the dreams that he's been chasing after but not without paying a heavy price.
He's been estranged from his family for the last seven years away and none of his achievements have been able to fill that void.
In the second episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan 2, we find Sahil at a crossroads.
His daughter A
'Baarishein Part 1' — When Chasing Dreams Comes at a Cost
Qisse Kahaniyaan by Alif is back and in the first episode of season 2, Alif narrates the story of Sahil, who pays the price of chasing his dreams with a personal loss. What should he do to leave behind the shadow of his past and move on with his life? It's a question he must answer before it's too late. Tune in to know what is it that can bring Sahil some closure and peace.
Tune in.
Learn more a
S2: Qisse Kahaniyaan is Coming Back This January, Submit Your Best Fiction Stories!
Stories are at the core of our living — we all love to hear stories but we also take refuge in the world of stories through the characters that we hear about, read and watch.
We laugh when they laugh, feel their pain when they are sad and their first love...well, that reminds us of our own.
My name is Alif and I am a storyteller. This new year, I promise to bring you new characters and new
'Gul aur Gulshan': A Love Story With No Ending
All of us have read passionate stories about tragic lovers like Laila-Majnu, Heer-Ranja, or Soni-Mahiwal who stood with each other in the face of adversities.
This episode of Qisse Kahaniya is based on one such story. It is the tale of Gul aur Gulshan from Gulistan — a small hamlet in Kashmir. These two lovers are madly in love with each other when the rivalry between their families is equally bi
'Mere Kuch Sawaal': In Search of Answers and Longing for Lost Love
Life is filled with questions, many of them are answered but many others remain unanswered. The unease of not knowing why things happened to us when they happened to us gets deeper with the passage of time.
Mere Kuch Sawaal is a story where a protagonist is struggling with his unanswered questions. Despite everything else in his life, he feels the void of his lost love spanned over 10 years.
'Meri Maa ki Shaadi' – Of Divorce, Remarriage, and All Things Fate (Part 2)
In 'Meri Maa ki Shaadi', a daughter takes us on a journey of her mother's possible remarriage. Will the daughter be able to play cupid for her mother and bring two hearts closer to each other?
In continuation of episode 8, we follow the story of Dr Tamanna, who is a divorcee and mother saves the life of 33 yr old Vaid. During the treatment, vaid falls for Dr Tamanna.
What will happen next in
'Meri Maa ki Shaadi' – Of Divorce , Remarriage, and All Things Fate (Part 1)
Our society still finds difficult to readily accept remarriage of a divorced person. It is shrouded in taboo and shame. And what's considered even more unacceptable and outrageous is remarrying someone much younger than you.
What happens when a 33-year-old guy falls in love with a 40-year-old divorcee mother? Will she listen to her heart and go with her feelings?
In 'Meri Maa ki Shaadi', a daugh
'Zara Muskuraiye, Aap Lucknow Mein Hain' – A Tale of Comedy in Tragedy
All journeys memorable aren't really pleasant, some of them baffle you so much that they are hard to forget.
In this week's story, two men hit the road from Delhi to Lucknow for a business meeting. The journey throws all sorts of surprises at them to make it an ordeal. How and when will they reach their destination? Find out in this tragicomic episode.
The biggest of the tragedies being their d
'Adhoori Kahani' – A Story Without an End
All journeys don't necessarily culminate in the destination – some journeys exist without an end.
Much like these journeys, some stories remain unfinished, and not all stories have a happily ever after. 'Adhoori Kahani' is one such story of lingering.
In this episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan, tune in to listen to Alif recite the story of a once-successful writer who finds it hard to put his storie
'Red Colour Ke Jootey': When a Pair of Shoes is Your Only Wish
What is the biggest thing you can wish for in life? There is no end to what the heart desires. But it's a lot different for a kid who is caught in a whirlwind of life's troubles. For him, all of the world's problems seem nothing before something that is the world to him – a new pair of shoes.
The simple wish of having a new pair of shoes is what can provide him all the happiness and comfort.
24 Khat: Letters That Were Never Posted
Rains always makes people nostalgic and many memories come fleeting down the memory lane.
In this week's story, each year, the rain reminds a father of his daughter who is away from him. For some reason, he is not able to see or communicate with her. So, he writes her a letter every year. 24 Khat is the story of a father who writes one letter every year to his daughter. A distance of 24 years a
'Khwahishon ki Khidki' – A Window, a Secret, and a Wishful Heart
Mumbai is the city of possibilities, and many people are drawn to this maya nagri to change their life for the better. This city is inhabited by thousands of people and the dreams they carry – each of them having a story and a wishful heart.
Like many of them, Billo, too, wanted to have a better life.
Billo, a bar dancer in Mumbai, lives in a small 10x10 feet room that opens to the city thr
'Purana Ghar' – Of Lost Childhood & Longing For Home
'Home', people say, is simply where you belong. A belonging that blooms from familiarity. But for those who have been uprooted all their lives, home is a capricious space. It is constantly on the move bundled with first toys, family photos, and the playfulness of childhood until one day we long for the memories that we have lost and the stories that we've left behind.
In this week's story, will t
'Tuition Centre' – Reminiscing the Magic and Innocence of First Love
In the first episode of The Quint's new podcast series Qisse Kahaniyaan, Alif narrates a story about the magic and innocence of first love. It is set in a time when romance meant copying homework and sending handwritten notes on ruled sheets. It is a story about growing up and growing apart as years come between two innocent hearts in the snow-clad Valley – until, in a twist of fate, they meet aga
Teaser: Qisse Kahaniyaan
First love, the sweetness of festivals as a kid, a favourite song from the 90s — relive these colourful memories with Alif on 'Qisse Kahaniyaan', a new podcast series from The Quint. Stay tuned!
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