Qisse Kahaniyaan

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 flinches as the horror that is unleashed. The British manage to vanquish the Mughal Empire and Emperor is arrested and exiled to Rangoon.

The mirror too is lost and forgotten in a cellar. It is only in 1919, that it sees the first rays of light after it is taken out of a cellar and presented to its new owner General Dyer.

What happens next? Tune in this episode to find out.

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, and Qisse Kahaniyaan is my attempt to bring you some such memories wrapped in words, dressed in sound, and juiced with nostalgia and memories.

Voiceover and Production: Athar Rather

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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 new owner and also what happened in the year 1857.

The mirror catches the reflections of the best and the worst of those days and the story that unfolds in between. 

Tune in to this episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan for more!

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, and Qisse Kahaniyaan is my attempt to bring you some such memories wrapped in words, dressed in sound, and juiced with nostalgia and memories.

Voiceover: Athar Rather

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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!

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, and Qisse Kahaniyaan is my attempt to bring you some such memories wrapped in words, dressed in sound, and juiced with nostalgia and memories.

Voiceover: Athar Rather

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan Season 2.

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, and Qisse Kahaniyaan is my attempt to bring you some such memories wrapped in words, dressed in sound, and juiced with nostalgia and memories.

Stay tuned!

Story by: Rohan Puri

Voiceover: Athar Rather

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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 country. 

How is Amarjeet going to decide about the fate of books? What is going to happen to the library?

Tune in to find out in this episode.

VO and Writing: Athar Rather

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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 two nations. And he has to decided the fate of the book. 

How will the story unfold? Tune in to find out in this episode.

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, and Qisse Kahaniyaan is my attempt to bring you some such memories wrapped in words, dressed in sound, and juiced with nostalgia and memories.

Voiceover and Production: Athar Rather

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 world that he is not bad luck. What is Panna Lal going to do about his life and his jinxes? Will he be able to express his love to Jhilmil?

To dive into Panna's universe, tune in to this episode!

Voice-over and Production: Athar Rather

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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 he is not bad luck?

Tune in to this new episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan to find out what Panna Lal 'Panauti' is upto!

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, and Qisse Kahaniyaan is my attempt to bring you some such memories wrapped in words, dressed in sound, and juiced with nostalgia and memories.

Voiceover and Editing: Athar Rather

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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 Ahana's persistent questions about her grandfather leaves Sahil restless.

While he can't lie to his daughter, he is not willing to face the truth either. After all how do you explain the pain of an estranged relationship to a four-year-old? 

Will he be able to face his past and find the answer before it's too late? Will Sahil be able to redeem himself before the loss becomes too heavy to bear?

Tune in!

Also listen to: 'Baarishein Part 1' — When Chasing Dreams Comes at a Cost

VO and Production: Athar Rather

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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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. 

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