Naatak Radio

Send us Fan Mail Naatak Radio presents Munshi Premchand's acclaimed "Jurmana" adapted into a play for stage and radio by Manish Sabu. A poor shopkeeper sells foreign cotton in defiance of Mahatma Gandhi’s swadeshi movement, earning the wrath of the Congress Party, which levies a penalty on him. In response, his dying wife rises to defend him in spectacular fashion, shocking her husband, the Congress Party, and India itself. Jurmana was staged as a part of Naatak's TALES OF RESISTANCE in April...

Send us Fan Mail Naatak Radio presents Munshi Premchand's acclaimed "Namak Ka Daroga" adapted into a play for stage and radio by Manish Sabu. An honest salt inspector is swept into the morally flexible world of a powerful businessman. Will he give in to the temptation or pay the price of his honesty? Namak Ka Daroga was staged as a part of Naatak's TALES OF RESISTANCE in April 2026 at the Starbright Theater in Campbell. The Naatak team got together to specifically stage this radio version of ...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a discussion on the key topics of Naatak Radio's presentation of "Sava Ser Gehun" by Munshi Premchand. Listen to the episode here. This episode analyzes the themes of exploitation and systemic injustice in this story. How did a small debt lead to lifelong bonded labor? Explore the role of social and religious pressure on Shankar. And more importantly, what does "sava ser" really mean? Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, ...

Send us Fan Mail Naatak Radio is back with an all new Season 4! Our parent theater company, Naatak, is staging its 118th production: Munshi Premchand's TALES OF RESISTANCE. Apr 3 - 26, 2026 at the Starbright Theater in Campbell. To celebrate this, we'll present a few of Premchand's classic stories in the next few episodes. In this episode, presenting, SAVA SER GEHUN. This story recounts the tragic downfall of Shankar, a virtuous and simple farmer who falls into a terminal trap of debt s...

Send us Fan Mail Naatak presents SULTANA DAKU Sep 6-28 2025 www.naatak.org Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episodes on our website at naatak.org/naatakradio/ Love the show? Consider supporting the show here.

Send us Fan Mail The moon is looking to upgrade its law enforcement and they reach out to the friendly Indian government who sends its most accomplished officer, Inspector Matadeen. Will Matadeen improve the lunar police efficiency? Performed by Vineet Mishra Background Music: Meditative Mind Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episodes on...

Send us Fan Mail A light-hearted narrative written by Malti Joshi and performed by Priyanka Nimkar talks about a girl and her mother. The mother is in search of prospects for her daughter. The daughter is very choosy. But one day she meets someone special. Listen to the full episode to know what happens after? Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episo...

Send us Fan Mail Apni Apni Bimari by Harishankar Parsai masterfully explores the nuanced landscape of human suffering through the lens of satire. This story unveils the peculiar and often ironic hierarchies of problems people face in life—from those who lament their financial hardships over taxes while living comfortably, to those who struggle for basic needs, and the inescapable burden of small-scale troubles that seem monumental to those bearing them. Parsai's storytelling highlights the re...

Send us Fan Mail This beautiful narrative written by Fahim Azmi ji and performed by Priyanka Nimkar talks about a village separated due to certain events. Listen to the full episode to know, will the distance create differences or will actually bring the people closer than ever. Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episodes on our website at naatak.org...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting the much awaited soundtrack of Naatak's 110th production: Vrindavan! These songs are recorded live during VRINDAVAN's staging in September 2024. VRINDAVAN is a grand musical, juxtaposing the colorful love of Radha and Krishna with the stark existence of Vrindavan widows, told through humor and wit, the bhajans of Meera Bai and the grace of classical Kathak. Inspired by a real life incident. Play Credits: Written and Directed by Sujit Saraf Original lyrics by Suj...

Send us Fan Mail This beautiful narrative written by Anju Sharma and performed by Priyanka Nimkar talks about Naina and Anurag. Takes a trip down memory lane, specially to that 'Chhat Wala Kamra' which witnessed the their relationship. This writer portrays the heartbeat of old relationships, the changes brought about by time. Part 1 : Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/63GcM90ebslBnSl3EqSccY?si=0tg59DQXRCeQ7OnJtiFuVw Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Send us Fan Mail This beautiful narrative written by Anju Sharma and performed by Priyanka Nimkar talks about Naina and Anurag. Takes a trip down memory lane, specially to that 'Chhat Wala Kamra' which witnessed the their relationship. This writer portrays the heartbeat of old relationships, the changes brought about by time. Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to o...

Send us Fan Mail This beautiful narrative written by Anju Mehta and performed by Priyanka Nimkar takes us through the emotional journey of leaving behind not just a house, but an entire life filled with memories. When the protagonist’s family prepares for a new chapter, the heart lingers, tethered to the home they once knew. This episode expresses the quiet strength we find in nature when everything else seems to be changing. Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Ap...

Send us Fan Mail Chasing excellence requires discipline. How can one be a free bird then? In Ghungroos on a Jaipur foot, written and performed by Savitha Samu, we hear a girl's predicament when her impressionable mind gets pulled in different directions when she starts excelling in her passion. Does she dance to the tune of those around her or does she dance only to the beat of her Ghungroos? Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, ...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio presenting a symbolic and satirical short story by Asghar Wajahat. In a tale probably belonging in the Panchtantra style of story-telling, but reminiscent of The Animal Farm, we hear of a jungle where animals willingly enter a lion's open mouth. Why are they doing this? And what happens when someone tries to question this system forms the basis of this short story. What's really impressive in this story is how a really powerful message is delivered...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting the next song from Naatak's VRINDAVAN, our 110th production. In Naee Jaaoon, presented as a Meera Bhajan, a widow pleads to not be asked to leave Vrindavan as she wants to devote herself to her one and only true love. About the Play In 2014, Bollywood’s dream girl Hema Malini became Member of Parliament from Mathura. When visiting a widow-home in Vrindavan, she suggested that Vrindavan widows should remain in Bengal instead of coming to over-crowded Vrindava...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, Anshu Johri's ALMAARI. A touching tale of an inanimate piece of furniture that brings memories alive! Background music: Sparsh Johri. ALMAARI is written by Anshu Johri and is a story from her recent collection of stories: Adrishya Kinara. Adrishya Kinara is available on Amazon Kindle, Audible, and Applebooks. Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts....

Send us Fan Mail Presenting the next song from Naatak's VRINDAVAN, our 110th production. In Ranaji Mharo Mard Maryo, presented as a Meera bhajan, we hear the widows talking about only wanting to live in Vrindavan and devote themselves to Krishna now that they've lost their husband. About the Play In 2014, Bollywood’s dream girl Hema Malini became Member of Parliament from Mathura. When visiting a widow-home in Vrindavan, she suggested that Vrindavan widows should remain in Bengal instead of ...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting the next song from Naatak's VRINDAVAN, our 110th production. In Saat Janam ke Phere, we hear a typical Bollywood song that could have featured in any of the movies featuring the actors that the widows talk about. About the Play In 2014, Bollywood’s dream girl Hema Malini became Member of Parliament from Mathura. When visiting a widow-home in Vrindavan, she suggested that Vrindavan widows should remain in Bengal instead of coming to over-crowded Vrindavan. The upr...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting the next song from Naatak's VRINDAVAN, our 110th production. In Bindraban Mhaaro the widows are proclaiming that Vrindavan is now where they belong. About the Play In 2014, Bollywood’s dream girl Hema Malini became Member of Parliament from Mathura. When visiting a widow-home in Vrindavan, she suggested that Vrindavan widows should remain in Bengal instead of coming to over-crowded Vrindavan. The uproar that followed involved many actors – NGOs, the BJP, Ben...

Send us Fan Mail Naatak Radio is back! And we are back with a classic from one of India's most prominent short story writer Ruskin Bond. This also happens to be our 100th episode!! Here's to many more. A Face in the Dark is a tale of Mr. Oliver, a school teacher in Simla, and his rather strange encounter on his walk back to town via the forest. Performed by Vikas Dhurka. Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting the first song from Naatak's VRINDAVAN, our 110th production. In Saavan Beetyo the Vrindavan widows are preparing for Janmashtami. About the Play In 2014, Bollywood’s dream girl Hema Malini became Member of Parliament from Mathura. When visiting a widow-home in Vrindavan, she suggested that Vrindavan widows should remain in Bengal instead of coming to over-crowded Vrindavan. The uproar that followed involved many actors – NGOs, the BJP, Bengal Chief Minister Mamat...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting songs from Naatak's VRINDAVAN. About the Play In 2014, Bollywood’s dream girl Hema Malini became Member of Parliament from Mathura. When visiting a widow-home in Vrindavan, she suggested that Vrindavan widows should remain in Bengal instead of coming to over-crowded Vrindavan. The uproar that followed involved many actors – NGOs, the BJP, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Hema Malini. This incident provides the inspiration for Vrindavan, City of Widows, in...

Send us Fan Mail Bombay Talkies - A Musical (Sep 2023) written and directed by Sujit Saraf Music from Bollywood (1935 to 1975) Music direction : Nachiketa Yakkundi Vocalists: Nachiketa Yakkundi, Amit Shenoy, Ritesh Nayak Anitha Dixit, Poulomi Sarkar, Manisha Ram Shreya Dixit, Surya Saraf, Rohit Upamaka Harmonium: Surya Saraf Flute: Arjun Bharadwaj Guitar: Ritesh Nayak Tabla: Ajay Sundar Raj Percussion (Dholak, Djimbe, Bongos):  ...

Send us Fan Mail Lyrics : Wajid Ali Shah, Nawab of Awadh, 1847 to 1856 Vocals - Prathamesh Kamat, Ritesh Nayak Adapted for Shatranj ke Khiladi Naatak's 104th production June9 - Jun18, 2023 Written by Munshi Premchand Adaptation: Ritwik Verma and Anush Moorthy Directed by Anush Moorthy Produced by Dhananjay Motwani https://www.naatak.org/2023-shatranj/ Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get y...

Send us Fan Mail Music Composition - Anitha Dixit Lyrics : Wajid Ali Shah, Nawab of Awadh, 1847 to 1856 Vocals - Anitha Dixit Bansuri (flute) - Arjun Bharadwaj Tabla - Hemanth Hariharan Original sound track from Shatranj ke Khiladi Naatak's 104th production June9 - Jun18, 2023 Written by Munshi Premchand Adaptation: Ritwik Verma and Anush Moorthy Directed by Anush Moorthy Produced by Dhananjay Motwani https://www.naatak.org/2023-shatranj/ Support the show Subscribe to Naatak R...

Send us Fan Mail Music Composition and Vocals - Anitha Dixit Lyrics : Ritwik Verma Original sound track from Shatranj ke Khiladi Naatak's 104th production June9 - Jun18, 2023 Written by Munshi Premchand Adaptation: Ritwik Verma and Anush Moorthy Directed by Anush Moorthy Produced by Dhananjay Motwani https://www.naatak.org/2023-shatranj/ Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also...

Send us Fan Mail Music composer: Nachiketa Yakkundi Vocalists: Nachiketa Yakkundi, Anitha Dixit, Amit Shenoy, Savitha Gayathri, Ambhranee Yakkundi, Surya Saraf, Tanmayi Rao Instrumentalists: Ajay Sundar Raj (tabla), Prasanna Rajan (flute), Ambhranee Yakkundi and Tanmayi Rao (harmonium) This song is part of Ramayan - the grand musical Naatak's 100th production Sep 4 - 25 2022 Based on the Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas Stage adaptation and Direction: Sujit Saraf Producer and dance director:...

Send us Fan Mail Music composer: Nachiketa Yakkundi Vocalists: Nachiketa Yakkundi, Anitha Dixit, Amit Shenoy, Savitha Gayathri, Ambhranee Yakkundi, Surya Saraf, Tanmayi Rao Instrumentalists: Ajay Sundar Raj (tabla), Prasanna Rajan (flute), Ambhranee Yakkundi and Tanmayi Rao (harmonium) This song is part of Ramayan - the grand musical Naatak's 100th production Sep 4 - 25 2022 Based on the Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas Stage adaptation and Direction: Sujit Saraf Producer and dance director:...

Send us Fan Mail Music composer: Nachiketa Yakkundi Vocalists: Nachiketa Yakkundi, Anitha Dixit, Amit Shenoy, Savitha Gayathri, Ambhranee Yakkundi, Surya Saraf, Tanmayi Rao Instrumentalists: Ajay Sundar Raj (tabla), Prasanna Rajan (flute), Ambhranee Yakkundi and Tanmayi Rao (harmonium) This song is part of Ramayan - the grand musical Naatak's 100th production Sep 4 - 25 2022 Based on the Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas Stage adaptation and Direction: Sujit Saraf Producer and dance director:...

Send us Fan Mail Music Composition: Anitha Dixit Lyrics: Vikram Ramanarayanan Tabla: Ajay Sundar Raj Harmonium: Surya Saraf Vocals: Anitha Dixit, Ritwik Verma, Prathamesh Kamat, Sujit Saraf, Ritesh Nayak, Savitha Gayathri, Surya Saraf, Vikram Ramanarayanan This song is a part of The 6th Pillar - Naatak's 99th Production, Written andDirected by Vikram Ramanarayanan July23-Aug7, 2022 https://www.naatak.org/2022-thesixthpillar/ Daastaan-e-Chhataa-Satoon (The Tale of The Sixth Pillar) Sar...

Send us Fan Mail Music composition and vocals: Anitha Dixit, Ritesh Nayak Guitar: Bidan Sinha Tabla: Ajay Sundar Raj Lyrics: by Ritwik Verma This song is part of Hayavadan - the grand musical Naatak's 98th production Jun 12-25 2022 Written by Girish Karnad Directed by Harish Agastya https://www.naatak.org/2022-hayavadan/ Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of ov...

Send us Fan Mail Music composition and vocals: Anitha Dixit, Ritesh Nayak Guitar: Bidan Sinha Tabla: Ajay Sundar Raj Lyrics: by Ritwik Verma This song is part of Hayavadan - the grand musical Naatak's 98th production Jun 12-25 2022 Written by Girish Karnad Directed by Harish Agastya https://www.naatak.org/2022-hayavadan/ Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of ov...

Send us Fan Mail Music composition and vocals: Anitha Dixit Harmonium: Bidan Sinha Tabla: Ajay Sundar Raj Lyrics: by Ritwik Verma This song is part of Hayavadan - the grand musical Naatak's 98th production Jun 12-25 2022 Written by Girish Karnad Directed by Harish Agastya https://www.naatak.org/2022-hayavadan/ Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 e...

Send us Fan Mail Music composition and vocals: Anitha Dixit Guitar: Bidan Sinha Tabla: Ajay Sundar Raj Lyrics: by Ritwik Verma This song is part of Hayavadan - the grand musical Naatak's 98th production Jun 12-25 2022 Written by Girish Karnad Directed by Harish Agastya https://www.naatak.org/2022-hayavadan/ Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episode...

Send us Fan Mail Music composition and vocals: Anitha Dixit Guitar: Bidan Sinha Tabla: Ajay Sundar Raj Lyrics: by Ritwik Verma This song is part of Hayavadan - the grand musical Naatak's 98th production Jun 12-25 2022 Written by Girish Karnad Directed by Harish Agastya https://www.naatak.org/2022-hayavadan/ Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episode...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the #NaatakRadio #Podcast presenting वडिलांचे मुलीस पत्र, a Marathi poem by Sanjeevani Bokil, performed by Monica Dani. Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episodes on our website at naatak.org/naatakradio/ Love the show? Consider supporting the show here.

Send us Fan Mail Presenting songs from Naatak’s GRAND MUSICAL, BUDDHA! Naatak’s annual musical is set in the sixth century BCE and written entirely in rhyme. The Shakya prince Siddharth leaves his father’s palace, attains enlightenment under a peepal tree to become Buddha, roams the kingdoms of Magadh and Kaushal to persuade the world, and alters the course of human history. The play features an ensemble cast, live music and dance. With a giant mural for a set, colorful cos...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting songs from Naatak’s GRAND MUSICAL, BUDDHA! Naatak’s annual musical is set in the sixth century BCE and written entirely in rhyme. The Shakya prince Siddharth leaves his father’s palace, attains enlightenment under a peepal tree to become Buddha, roams the kingdoms of Magadh and Kaushal to persuade the world, and alters the course of human history. The play features an ensemble cast, live music and dance. With a giant mural for a set, colorful cos...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting songs from Naatak’s GRAND MUSICAL, BUDDHA! Naatak’s annual musical is set in the sixth century BCE and written entirely in rhyme. The Shakya prince Siddharth leaves his father’s palace, attains enlightenment under a peepal tree to become Buddha, roams the kingdoms of Magadh and Kaushal to persuade the world, and alters the course of human history. The play features an ensemble cast, live music and dance. With a giant mural for a set, colorful cos...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting songs from Naatak’s GRAND MUSICAL, BUDDHA! Naatak’s annual musical is set in the sixth century BCE and written entirely in rhyme. The Shakya prince Siddharth leaves his father’s palace, attains enlightenment under a peepal tree to become Buddha, roams the kingdoms of Magadh and Kaushal to persuade the world, and alters the course of human history. The play features an ensemble cast, live music and dance. With a giant mural for a set, colorful cos...

Send us Fan Mail 18th August 2021 is India's most famous lyricist, poet, writer, screenwriter, and director's Gulzar's 87th birthday. To celebrate Gulzar saab's legacy, Naatak Radio presents SUNSET BOULEVARD, from his story collection Raavi Paar. About the story: An unexpected visitor to her mansion gives hope to a lonely movie actress past her prime. Performed by: Sareeka Malhotra Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn ...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we present one of the most acclaimed American playwright Alice Gerstenberg's famous one-act play: He Said and She Said, adapted for an Indian setting. Isha invites two friends, Mrs. Puri and Dhani, to dine with her and her husband Lakshya. However, upon arriving, Mrs. Puri has a piece of gossip for Isha about Dhani that threatens to ruin the night and to end friendships. As in Alice Gerstenberg's other plots, the hallmark of He Said and She Said is the clever word ...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the #NaatakRadio #Podcast presenting the last play of the Saadat Hasan Manto series of Aao radio plays, Aao Akhbaar Padhein. Kishore and Lajwanti debate about the current affairs in the newspaper and Narayan has to join in to prevent an all out war from breaking out. Performed by: Kishore: AZ Xedi Lajwanti: Pooja Sabharwal Narayan: Anush Moorthy Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wh...

Send us Fan Mail Sahitya Akademi Award winner Gopinath Mohanty is one of Odisha's most prominent writers. This week, we present one of his most famous short stories, The Somersault, in English. Jaga Palei becomes the pride of Odisha by defeating Ramlawan Pande of Bihar in the All-India Wrestling Competition, however success hasn't come easy for him. Will he continue to be the pride of the people of Odisha or will the next fight bright him back to where it all started. Somersault, in short is ...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, presenting Mridula Sinha's heart touching short story: BENAAM RISHTA. Chitra takes up Shaligram's invitation for his daughter's wedding knowing fully well that this time her special bond with him from years ago will have to be made public. Performed by: Vaishali Koli Maithili Wedding Song: शुभे शुभ के लगनवा || Maithili Vivah Geet || Shubhe Shubh Ke Laganva || Nitu Pathak एल्बम - Vivah geet गायक - Nitu Pathak निर्माता- Krishan Kumar Choudhary...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, presenting Rashid Jahan's Dilli Ki Sair. A forerunner among a cohort of young, female, Urdu short story writers in the 1930s and 40s, Rashid Jahan - doctor and a political activist, is credited with freeing the tongues and pens of several generations of writers that followed, including the great Ismat Chugtai who considers Rashid Jahan as a literary mentor. “She spoilt me because she was very bold and used to speak all sorts of things op...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, presenting "Chitra ka Shirshak" or "The painting's title" by Yashpal. Jayraj, a famous landscape painter, wants to paint human beings and is full of hope when his friend's wife visits him. But things don't quite turn out the way he expected. The author beautifully weaves the two stories together with the final reveal of what the title of the painting ends up being. Performed by: Anup Kumar Singh Yashpal (3 December 1903 – 26 December 1976) was a ...

Send us Fan Mail Ishwar Petlikar’s short story in Gujarati, “Lohini Sagai” (‘Ties of Blood’) is a moving account of the relationship between Mangu, a young girl with mental retardation and speech impairment and her mother, Amratkaki, and the latter’s extraordinary love for her daughter. Mangu is dependent on her mother for all her daily activities. Amratkaki prays for a ‘cure for Mangu’s condition’, tries all manner of traditional healing systems and dreams of getting her daughter married at ...

Send us Fan Mail A classic Premchand short story about the virtues of honesty. Performed by: Rajiv Nema Background Music: Yellowmuzic Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of o...

Send us Fan Mail "Here We Are" is a short story by American writer Dorothy Parker, first published in Cosmopolitan Magazine on March 31, 1931. The story, written almost entirely as dialogue, describes a tense scene between a newly married couple traveling by train to New York City for the first night of their honeymoon. Performed by: Kamala Subramaniam & Varun Dua Directed by: Kamala Subramaniam Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affi...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting in our series of Manto's radio plays, Aao Bahas Karein. In "Aao Bahas Karein", Lajwanti challenges Kishore and Narayan for a debate. Will they hold the fort, retort or abort? Sunny Moza returns as Kishore, Shravanti Yadav debuts as Lajwanti, and Anush Moorthy returns as Narayan. Directed by Vikas Dhurka Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commis...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, presenting George Bernard Shaw's classic "How He Lied to Her Husband" in Hindi. A married woman and her lover get into a pickle with her husband and then get out of it. Performed by: Snehal Pachigar, Ekta Brahmakshatri, Sanju Pancholi Adapted by: Paresh Vyas and Vikas Dhurka Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our lib...

Send us Fan Mail On the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr, we present one of the most famous stories on this glorious festival: Munshi Premchand's Idgaah. Idgaah tells the story of a four-year-old orphan named Hamid who lives with his grandmother Amina. On the joyous occasion of Eid, Hamid is full of spirits and is excited to go to market to buy toys like his friends. But an unusual thought causes him to buy something else. Will his grandmother appreciate his unique gift? Performed by: Ra...

Send us Fan Mail When talking about the all-time classic short stories, H. H. Munro's "The Open Window" finds itself in almost everyone's list. A classic story of a missing husband, a nervous visitor, the husband's niece who has her secrets, and a living room window that has remained open ever since the husband's disappearance, Open Window excels in its brevity and impact, something the short story medium is designed to do. Performed by: Anoushka Dave, Ritwik Verma, Pooja Sabharwal, an...

Send us Fan Mail When talking about the all-time classic short stories, H. H. Munro's "The Open Window" finds itself in almost everyone's list. A classic story of a missing husband, a nervous visitor, the husband's niece who has her secrets, and a living room window that has remained open ever since the husband's disappearance, Open Window excels in its brevity and impact, something the short story medium is designed to do. Performed by: Vikas Dhurka Support the show Subscribe to Naata...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, Amritlal Nagar's famous short story Dharmsankat. Rai Bahadur Giriraj Krishna, a man of great wealth and prestige, passes away and wants his wife to be the heir of his assets. But he has some very specific conditions. Performed by: Rajiv Nema About the Author: Amritlal Nagar (17 August 1916 – 23 February 1990) was one of the prominent Hindi writers of the twentieth century. He started off as an author and journalist, but moved on to be an active ...

Send us Fan Mail Continuing our series of hilarious radio play written by Saadat Hasan Manto, Kishore persuades Lajwanti to steal what he thinks is his friend Narayan's parcel. Performed by: Kishore: Vikas Dhurka Lajwanti: Pooja Sabharwal Narayan: Anush Moorthy Mrs. Narayan and Durga: Anjali Kirloskar Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episode...

Send us Fan Mail "Post Office" is a short story written by Indian writer Dhumketu. It was first published in 1923, and is considered Dhumketu's most famous and frequently anthologized short story. The story is about a father's affection for his daughter, and the apathetic bureaucracy of the local post office. It is notable for its description, narrative, and dialogues. Performed by: Kartic Bhargav Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saav...

Send us Fan Mail "Post Office" is a Gujarati short story written by Indian writer Dhumketu. It was first published in 1923, and is considered Dhumketu's most famous and frequently anthologized short story. The story is about a father's affection for his daughter, and the apathetic bureaucracy of the local post office. It is notable for its description, narrative, and dialogues. Performed by: Maunic Dharia Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, ...

Send us Fan Mail "Torch Bechnewale" is a short story written by one of India's most famous satirist, Harishankar Parsai. It talks about the fundamental sales strategy humans deployed ever since they first walked the planet: To Sell on Fear. Today's society has taken this to a new extreme, the scarier the narrative, the better the results. Two friends make a pact to try out their luck for 5 years by going in different directions. When they meet again, they're both in the same business of sel...

Send us Fan Mail "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It is regarded as an important early work of American feminist literature for its illustration of the attitudes towards mental and physical health of women in the 19th century. Narrated in the first person, the story is a collection of journal entries written by a woman whose physician husband (John) has rented an old mansion for the summer. Forgoing other rooms in the house, the couple moves into the u...

Send us Fan Mail We have all made the mistake of passing judgement a little too quickly. In the world where most things are grey, let's not judge it by a simple black or white. The story's narrator, simply called "Masterji" in the story makes a similar personality judgement error until one of his students comes to him with a request that changes his entire outlook. Beautifully written by Sapna Manglik, this is a delightful tale of how we can possibly cure some of the evils of the socie...

Send us Fan Mail A woman's train journey to meet her fiancé, becomes an interrogation session with a highly inquisitive co-passenger. Written by Varsha Thakur, this delightful story captures the emotions of a long distance train journey and often the highly smart and inquisitive nature of the co-passengers whom you often end up sharing your personal information with, whether you like it or not. But its all done in good faith and often is what keeps the social fabric alive and well.&nb...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, we present one of Shekhar Joshi's famous short story, Dajyu. A boy from the mountains takes liking to a stranger in a cafe, when he asks him about his village, and considers him his Dajyu or big brother. Does the stranger reciprocate? Performed by Vikas Dhurka About the author: Shekhar Joshi (born 10 September, 1932) is a Hindi author, who is also known for his insight into the culture, traditions and lifestyles of people of Uttarakhand. With Shai...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, we present one of Shekhar Joshi's famous short story, Dajyu. A boy from the mountains takes liking to a stranger in a cafe, when he asks him about his village, and considers him his Dajyu or big brother. Does the stranger reciprocate? Performed by Vikas Dhurka About the author: Shekhar Joshi (born 10 September, 1932) is a Hindi author, who is also known for his insight into the culture, traditions and lifestyles of people of Uttarakhand. With Shai...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting the next play: Aao Khat Suno in the hilarious series of radio plays by Saadat Hasan Manto. Lajwanti doesn't allow Kishore to read through a letter by Narayan until the letter writer himself makes an appearance. Performers: Kishore: Sunny Moza Lajwanti: Sonia Saini Narayan: Vikas Dhurka Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over...

Send us Fan Mail This weeks marks the 31st death anniversary of Shri Amritlal Nagar, one of the most prominent Hindi writers, often called the true literary heir of Premchand. Gorakhdhandha, that literally translates to a labyrinth, is one of his most famous short stories. It is a tale of a lower middle class married guy named Satish. Satish has been looking for a job for the last two years and is now fighting for every last penny. Things don't look favorable for him, but he doesn't give up h...

Send us Fan Mail 2020 will forever be remembered as the year when the world was under the spell of a deadly virus. The unsung heroes of the year were the first responders, the medical professionals who dealt with the human casualty first hand. पीले डैफोडिल (Yellow Daffodils) is a story written by Anshu Johri of 3 such professionals, in what became the epicenter of the pandemic, New York! Written and Performed by: Anshu Johri Live music in the background: Sparsh Johri Support the show...

Send us Fan Mail In this edition of the series of hilarious radio plays written by Saadat Hasan Manto, a thief robs Kishore and Lajwanti and then himself makes an appearance to explain the act leaving their friend Narayan more than just speechless. Aao Khoj Lagayein! Kishore: Sunny Moza Lajwanti: Sonia Saini Narayan: Vikas Dhurka "Mulakati": Mustafa Khan Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcast...

Send us Fan Mail According to the Times of India: 15-25% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. Loss of pregnancy is physically traumatising as well as emotionally paralysing. There are millions of unspoken stories of loss but no one wants to start the dialogue and very few want to hear them. This week on Naatak Radio, we present one such story: DEAD. Written and performed by Abha Agarwal of the blog Abalicious, this 21-year old from Hyderabad, India, has written a powerful short story that...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting songs from Naatak's 46th production and its very first grand musical: AMAVASYA. About the Play: The princess Amavasya is devastatingly beautiful: black as night. Or she is so hideous that a glimpse of her milky-white face sends the victim into a three-day slumber. No one knows, because she is hidden behind a mask. What will her people see on the day she uncovers her face? Performed with music, dance, spectacular sets and costumes, AMAVASYA is an entertaining...

Send us Fan Mail क्या तंत्र जन की रक्षा के लिए है या जन तंत्र की सेवा के लिए? A Democratic Republic, India celebrates its 72nd Republic on 26th January 2021. Naatak Radio celebrates this occasion with this fascinating story by Rajendra Tyagi: Adhoora Sawal Janatantra Ka. The question of whether the system (तंत्र) is serving the public (जन) or the public serving the system plagues all republics and democracies alike. Munnalal is at the crossroads of Rajpath and Janpath in New Delhi and...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio we present a chilling tale from the partition: Gurmukh Singh Ki Vasiyat by Saadat Hasan Manto. A muslim family is trapped in their own house as the city around them burns. Will the friendships formed with the community come to their rescue? Performed by Sunny Moza Background Music: "Riots of 2020 over The Joker Theme" by Squicx "Tense Ambient Background Music" by Argsound Background Music "Tense Cinematic Instrumental Ambient Music" by Argsou...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio presenting Mahendra Bhishm's TANG NAZAR. The legend goes that when Lord Rama was sent to the forest, his entire kingdom followed him. He told them, "Men and Women, please wipe your tears away and go back." They left, but a group of people stayed behind, at the edge of the forest because they were neither men nor women. The "Kinnars" or "Hijras", who include the transgender and intersex people, have a special place in the society. They d...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting Saadat Hasan Manto's radio play: Aao Radio Sunein. Lajwanti and Kishore are at each other over what radio station to tune into, until Narayan steps to save the day. Performers: Sunny Moza, Monica Singh, Mustafa Khan, Vikas Dhurka Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episodes on our website at naatak.org/naatakradio/ ...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio, a short story “The Cub” by Lois Dykeman Kleihauer, describing the changing relationship between a boy and his father. The young boy grows up admiring his father’s physical strength and the two wrestle and playfight throughout his childhood. Although at first the father always wins, the day comes when things change. Adapted and performed by Kartic Bhargav Music: "Better Days", "November", "Slow Motion", "Tomorrow" by Bensound.com Youtube chann...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting a delightful tale from one of the most prolific feminist writers of the 20th century - Padma Shri Ismat Chughtai: FIRDAUS (meaning: paradise). Written in her classic first person narrative, Firdaus is about Saleema who is needlessly beaten by her husband and confides in Ismat "appa" about it often, until one day things change. Written with a healthy dose of humor and a tongue-in-cheek self reflection, one that Ismat Chughtai mastered in, Firdaus a feminist respons...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio we present, Rabindranath Tagore's KABULIWALA in 3 languages, Hindi, Bengali, and English. Kabuliwala is a Bengali short story written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1892. The story is of a merchant from Kabul, who comes to Calcutta (present day Kolkata), India each year for selling dry-fruits and while living in India he becomes friends with a five-year-old girl Mini from a middle-class aristocratic family. The main theme of this story is the deep ...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio we present, Rabindranath Tagore's KABULIWALA in 3 languages, Hindi, Bengali, and English. Kabuliwala is a Bengali short story written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1892. The story is of a merchant from Kabul, who comes to Calcutta (present day Kolkata), India each year for selling dry-fruits and while living in India he becomes friends with a five-year-old girl Mini from a middle-class aristocratic family. The main theme of this story is the deep ...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Naatak Radio we present, Rabindranath Tagore's KABULIWALA in 3 languages, Hindi, Bengali, and English. Kabuliwala is a Bengali short story written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1892. The story is of a merchant from Kabul, who comes to Calcutta (present day Kolkata), India each year for selling dry-fruits and while living in India he becomes friends with a five-year-old girl Mini from a middle-class aristocratic family. The main theme of this story is the deep ...

Send us Fan Mail Today we celebrate Dr. Annapurnand Verma who passed away 58 years ago today (4th December, 1962) at the young age of 67. We present one of his most famous stories: AKBARI LOTA. Lala Jhaulal is in a real pickle. He has committed to give a large sum of money to his wife and to make matters worse, has accidentally injured an English tourist. Will he be able to wriggle out of this situation? Dr. Annapurnanand Verma is considered one of the foremost poets, novelists, and story wr...

Send us Fan Mail One slip. One Mistake. One mess-up. That's all you get. One fault can change the whole course of life. So, think before you act. The Kapoor family suffers the consequences of one such action. This Thanksgiving weekend, thank the ones you love! Written and Directed by: Ritvik Agastya Starring: Havish Ravipati, Kamala Subramaniam, Natasha Nema, and Kanishk Pandey Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or whereve...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting Anton Chekov's "THE MARRIAGE PROPOSAL" in Marwari. A marriage proposal leads to a hilarious quarrel about land and cattle. Artists: Devu Heda, Sonal Kabra (Maloo), Prashant Maloo Director: Manish Sabu Translator: Prashant Bharati Maloo Adaptation: Pratiksha Rao-Vaidya Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our library of over 100 episodes on our w...

Send us Fan Mail On this Diwali day of 2020, we mark the start of season 2 of Naatak Radio with a beautiful short story on the theme of Diwali: SANKALP. Shreya wants to celebrate her first Diwali in their new home just as she remembers from her childhood. But all is not well in the household, and she needs to muster the strength to kill the darkness within, this Diwali. Can she succeed? Written by: Bhawna Saxena Performed by: Vikas Dhurka Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on ...

Send us Fan Mail From the Naatak Radio archives, presenting two beautiful poems by the gifted Anjana Surin. Recorded in conversation with Shubhla Bhatia Jotwani, the two poems were first aired on Radio Zindagi 1170AM in the Bay Area in 2017! The first poem is called RADIO SONG describing the wonders of Radio, bringing back the cherished childhood nostalgia. The second poem is called SAWAL JAWAB, a moving poem about the author's interactions with her dad. Support the show S...

Send us Fan Mail "The Monkey's Paw" is a supernatural short story by author W. W. Jacobs, first published in England in the collection The Lady of the Barge in 1902. In the story, three wishes are granted to the owner of The Monkey's Paw, but the wishes come with an enormous price for interfering with fate. It has been adapted many times in other media, including plays, films, TV series, operas, stories and comics, as early as 1903 and as recently as 2019. Naatak Radio's Monkey's Paw is...

Send us Fan Mail ‘This is Going to Hurt Just a Little Bit’ by Ogden Nash is a humorous poem filled with exaggerations, puns and metaphors. It is a hilarious description of the whole experience of sitting in a dental chair which causes the poet great agony. Students all across India learn this poem in school. Ritwik Verma was one such student and this poem left a mark on him. Fast forward a few years, and Ritwik Verma put pen to paper and created a Hindi Version of this poem: अल्पकालिक ...

Send us Fan Mail Chief ki Daawat is one of the legendary writer Bhishm Sahni's most famous stories. A humble Indian official invites his chief, an American, to his house for dinner. The low-ranked official believes that if his boss is impressed by his hospitality, he would surely grant him the long due promotion. The man and his wife turn the house upside down to make it spic and span for the party. But, according to them the man's elderly, illiterate, and unkempt mother is an eyesore. Will...

Send us Fan Mail Lajwanti convinces her husband Kishore and his friend Narayan to spin a web of lies together with her. Will they get entangled or manage to escape? Presenting the 4th in the series of hilarious radio plays written by Saadat Hasan Manto. In 1940, when Manto left Lahore for New Delhi to take up the position of staff artist at All India Radio in New Delhi, he stopped en route at Amritsar where he wrote the preface for Aao, his first anthology of short humorous plays. Written o...

Send us Fan Mail On Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary year, Naatak Radio presents the music recorded live during the performance of Naatak's grand musical GANDHI. The play captured the arc of Gandhi’s life and times, from his ‘experiments with truth’ in London to his campaigns in South Africa, to the civil disobedience movement he led against the British in India and was presented with live music and dance, including tunes familiar from Gandhi’s life and the Indian independence moveme...

Send us Fan Mail Three men starving on a life raft, in the middle of the sea, employ a hilariously logical application of bureaucratic procedures to determine which of them is to become dinner for the other two. Actors: Surender Singh, Rohit Dube, Snehal Pachigar, and Rajiv Nema Adapted and Directed by: Surender Singh About the playwright Sławomir Mrożek, (born June 29, 1930, Borzęcin, Poland—died August 15, 2013, Nice, France), Polish playwright and satirist noted for his subtle parody an...

Send us Fan Mail Presenting Lucille Fletcher’s THE HITCHHIKER, directed by Kartic Bhargav and featuring Kartic Bhargav along with Edward Keyani, Shelly Perrier Smith. Sound mixing and remastering by Navi Viswanathan. NOTE: For the most optimal experience, we recommend using headphones for this episode. A typical cross country becomes anything but with a mysterious hitchhiker! A a radio play written by Lucille Fletcher, the Hitchhiker was first presented on the November 17, 1941, broadcast of...

Send us Fan Mail Munshi Premchand is one of the foremost Hindi writers of the 20th century. A novel writer, story writer and dramatist, he has been referred to as the "Upanyas Samrat" ("Emperor among Novelists") by writers. And Kafan, published in 1936, is thought to be the author's best, blackest, and most powerful short story. Set in an Indian village, the milieu of Premchand's best works, on a dark, chilly winter night, it is the story of a father, Ghisu, and his son, Madhav, who si...

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to stories about the Indo-Pak partition of 1947, one stands out almost instantly, Toba Tek Singh by Saadat Hasan Manto. A powerful satire on the relationship between India and Pakistan, Toba Tek Singh presents a unique view of the lunacy of the times from the point of view of the lunatics of the Lahore asylum. The story is set two or three years after the 1947 partition, when the governments of India and Pakistan decided to exchange some Muslim, Sikh and Hindu...

Send us Fan Mail This week's bonus episode features a tribute to the king of Mushairas and one of the most impactful poets from the recent times, Rahat Indori. This is the original tribute as aired in Akashvani Ahmedabad composed and read by Paresh Vyas in Gujarati. Listen to Episode 26 for the tribute in Hindi by Rajiv Nema. Support the show Subscribe to Naatak Radio on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Jio Saavn or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen to our li...

Send us Fan Mail The world of poetry lost an absolute gem of an artist on Aug 11, 2020. Rahat Indori, the undisputed king of "Mushairas", a poetic symposium where poets have the freedom to express themselves freely, passed away due to Covid-19. Naatak Radio's episode this week is a humble tribute to this legend, who transformed the world of poetry with his creations that were simple, but packed a knock-out punch. Based on Paresh Vyas's tribute broadcasted in Akashvani Ahmedabad, in thi...

Send us Fan Mail Aug 21, 2020 was Padma Shri Ismat Chughtai's 125th birth anniversary. One of India's most prominent authors, Ismat Chughtai has written countless stories, novels, and even films, but none more controversial at its release in 1942 and popular after than LIHAAF. Written as a first person narrative, Lihaaf is a 'terrifying' memory of the narrator from her childhood. Lihaaf is a landmark portrayal of an insulated life of a neglected wife as seen from a little girl's eyes. Chugh...

Send us Fan Mail "At the stroke of the midnight hour" on 15th August 1947, British India was divided into two independent and self-governing countries of India and Pakistan. As the two countries awoke to "life and freedom" nearly 15 million people found themselves displaced as the states of Punjab and Bengal were partitioned strictly on the basis of religion. Among the many stories written on the partition, like "Amritsar Aa Gaya Hai" featured in Episode 23, Saadat Hasan Manto's Toba Tek Sing...