Mahmood Farooqui and Darain Shahidi of the Dastangoi Collective bring Shrilal Shukla’s iconic Hindi novel Raag Darbari to life in a captivating performance, produced by Anusha Rizvi.

The podcast has been produced by Pervaiz Alam and Achala Sharma for Cineink. 
This Cineink podcast in Hindi is adapted from a stage production performed in London on April 8, 2025, before a live audience.

Sahitya Academy Award-winning ‘Raag Darbari’ is a sharp, humorous Hindi novel that brilliantly satirises corruption, bureaucracy, and the intricacies of rural Indian life. Originally published by Rajkamal in 1968, its relevance endures today. The novel is also available in English, translated by Gillian Wright.

Based in Delhi, the Dastangoi Collective is renowned for reviving the ancient art of Persian and Urdu storytelling.