Every story has a beginning, and so does this podcast. In this very first episode, I take you back to a childhood moment that unknowingly shaped the name of this podcast. A memory, a song, and an unexpected connection - tune in to find out how it all came together.

Kinkini Cheppu – Tales & Tidbits from Kerala

The word Kinkini refers to tiny trinkets that tinkle, while Cheppu is a treasure chest of keepsakes and memories. Thus, Kinkini Cheppu is a podcast that brings to you stories that holds Kerala together through its folklore, myths, legends, rituals, traditions, practices, poems, proverbs, cultural quirks and some personal stories, wrapped in nostalgia, humour and a mix of vernacular Malayalam and English.

If you are wondering why vernacular or why bi-lingual? Because for many of us, our connection to Kerala comes in glimpses - summer vacations, festive gatherings, the occasional craving for pazham pori, puttu-kadala or kerala porotta. But when we try to dig deeper, we often find these stories locked away in formal, literary Malayalam, just out of reach.

This podcast is for those of us who want to reconnect with Kerala, not through textbooks, but through the stories that feel like home. Whether you’re a city-bred Malayalee, a non-resident Malayalee missing home, or someone simply curious about Kerala’s rich cultural tapestry, Kinkini Cheppu is your bridge - one tale at a time.

So, plug in your earphones, grab a cup of chaya, and let’s take a trip home - one story at a time.

And if these stories tug at your heart? Make you nostalgic? Or remind you of anything or anybody, write to me at [email protected].

Share your thoughts, memories, or even a story passed down in your family. Who knows? It might just find its way into an episode.

This season of Kinkini Cheppu is incubated at Podcasting Bootcamp - Cohort 2 by Your Story Bag.

Kinkini Cheppu - Tales & Tidbits from Kerala is a podcast that brings you stories that hold Kerala together - folklore, myths, legends, rituals, cultural quirks, and personal stories wrapped in nostalgia, humor, with a mix of Malayalam & English.

If Kerala exists for you in glimpses - summer vacations, festive gatherings, or the occasional craving for soulful delicacies, then this podcast is your bridge to rediscovering its heart and soul.

Plug in, grab a cup of chaya, and let’s take a trip home, one story at a time! Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!"