A Century Of Stories

Kabaddi has travelled a remarkable journey - from dusty village fields to packed stadiums, prime-time television, and a professional league that has transformed the sport in India. In this episode of A Century of Stories: India, host Kunal Vijayakar sits down with Suhail Chandhok, CEO of U Mumba and broadcaster, one of the most recognizable voices in Indian sport, to explore the fascinating rise of Kabaddi. The conversation traces the sport’s ancient roots, its presence across Asia, and its evolution from a traditional rural pastime into one of India’s fastest-growing professional sports leagues. Suhail reflects on the launch of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), the role of institutions like the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), and how broadcasters, sponsors, and team owners helped bring the sport into the mainstream. Is Kabaddi truly becoming India’s second-biggest sport after cricket? And what does the next decade look like for this rapidly evolving game? Watch the full conversation to understand the past, present, and future of Kabaddi. Episode out now on A Century of Stories: India’s YouTube Channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the smell of rain have to do with a 3,000-year-old city on the banks of the Ganges? In this episode of A Century of Stories India, host Kunal Vijayakar sits down with Pranav Kapoor, 8th-generation perfumer and a trained chef from Kannauj, to explore Petrichor, the science behind scent and memory, and India’s ancient distillation techniques that predate modern perfumery. From copper stills and raw botanicals to the rise of perfume tourism, this conversation traces how fragrance shapes culture, ritual, identity, and the future of Indian craftsmanship. Watch the full episode now on A Century of Stories: India’s YouTube Channel and rediscover why Kannauj remains the perfume capital of India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The BCCI has grown from strength to strength in the past couple of decades to become the strongest cricketing board in the world, also aided by the riches brought to it by the success of the Indian Premier League. Writer and administrator Amrit Mathur, who was at the centre of it all in the ‘90s, tells the story of how BCCI moved from being on the periphery of the cricketing world to sitting on the throne in a matter of three decades in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 17th edition of the Asia Cup is upon us, and on this occasion we bring to you an episode on the storied history of this tournament that began with the idea of bringing the Asian cricket playing nations closer in the early 80s. While the tournament has had some great cricket over the years, it has also made news for reasons beyond the pitch. Amrit Mathur, who was once offered the role of the CEO of the governing body of this tournament takes us through the fascinating journey of Asia Cup on this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A proper box-office cricketer who entertained with both bat and ball, Yuvraj Singh’s life and career also had all the ingredients of a blockbuster movie. His father’s obsession to make a cricketer out of him, the change he brought to the Indian team, his struggles to find a place in Tests despite obvious talent and his comeback after a battle with Cancer are some of the many chapters that make Yuvraj’s career so fascinating. Ace journalist Sharda Ugra, who co-authored a book with the cricketer after his comeback to the game in 2013, tells us the stories that made Yuvraj Singh the larger-than-life figure that he went on to become in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have all seen them on our screens, producing one superlative performance after another. But how are our favorite cricketers when the cricketing limelight isn’t on them? Journalist and TV host Gaurav Kalra who has worked in the television industry for decades talks candidly about the cricketers he had the opportunity to work closely with in his career in this special episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of A Century of Stories, Kunal Vijayakar sits down with Rochelle Pinto, Head of Editorial Content at Vogue India, for a deep dive into the evolution of fashion — from red carpets to real life. Rochelle traces the biggest influences on Indian fashion, unpacks how today’s young generation's fashion reflects a world that’s constantly shifting and pulls back the curtain on the Met Gala.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just a few months away from the Women’s 50-over World Cup at home, Team India has made a strong impression under Harmanpreet Kaur by winning a T20I and ODI series in England. The success of this team in the past few years is built on the groundwork laid by several generations of women cricketers who played the game for passion. Former team India Captain Anjum Chopra, whose 17-year long career for India began in 1995, tells us what all has changed in Indian women’s cricket in the past 25 years to bring it where it stands today in this special episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that dishes like butter chicken and bread halwa were born out of survival and displacement? Or that gurudwaras became lifelines, serving food and comfort to thousands rebuilding their lives after 1947? In this episode of A Century of Stories: India, host Kunal Vijayakar is joined by historian and culinary anthropologist Dr. Kurush Dalal to explore how India’s kitchens transformed after Independence. From refugee-run dhabas to community kitchens, they uncover how migration shaped our plates, how food traditions adapted to new realities, and how some of India’s most iconic dishes are, at their heart, stories of resilience served hot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kolkata Test of 2001 against Australia proved to be a major turning point in Indian cricket. And one man who will always be synonymous with that special Test is VVS Laxman who established himself as the batter who would produce the tough knocks for the team whenever needed, something he did admirably well over the next decade playing more than 100 Tests. Noted journalist Sharda Ugra looks back at the life and career of India’s crisis man in this special episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What did Indians eat 200 years ago? Dive into the fascinating world of traditional Indian food history with Dr. Kurush Dalal, archaeologist and culinary anthropologist, as he joins Kunal Vijayakar on A Century of Stories. Discover how colonial rule, regional migration, and evolving local markets shaped Indian food traditions—from lost recipes to ancient cooking techniques. This episode uncovers the rich and diverse diet of Indians in the 1800s and early 1900s, bringing back forgotten flavours and culinary wisdom. Learn about: What our ancestors actually ate during British India The impact of colonisation on Indian diets Ancient thalis, spices, and preservation methods How food evolved across regions and communities The role of food archaeology in understanding India’s past   Whether you’re a foodie, history buff, or culture explorer, this episode has something for you! Don’t forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe for more stories from India’s rich past! #IndianFoodHistory #KurushDalal #TraditionalIndianFood #ACenturyOfStories #AncientIndianDiet #FoodAnthropology #ColonialIndia #LostRecipesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As things heat up between India and hosts England in the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy 2025, we take a look at one of the most controversy-ridden India tours which almost caused a diplomatic row. Our guest Gaurav Kalra, who followed all the developments from close quarters as a journalist on that tour, tells us what all went down when India travelled Down Under in 2007-08 in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The breakneck speed at which Indian cricket has moved in the last thirty years has meant that a lot around it has changed as well, and that includes its relationship with the media. Sharda Ugra, who has been writing about Indian cricket for the last 35 years, sheds light on how player-journalist relationships have changed in her time as a journalist in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soon after winning his second ICC trophy as a captain in the form of the Champions Trophy, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Tests. Having already retired from T20Is after winning the World Cup in 2024, Rohit will eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup as his swansong. India cricketer and former national selector, Jatin Paranjape, who saw the growth of Rohit Sharma’s cricketing journey from close quarters, talks about what made Rohit so special as a cricketer in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rishabh Pant recently became the first Indian wicketkeeper to hit two centuries in a Test while his counterpart Jamie Smith blitzed his way to an 80-ball century in the following Test. South African wicket keeper Lhuan-dre Pretorious struck a sparkling century on Test debut. But things were quite different for wicket keepers for most part of cricket’s history. What changed three decades ago? And who were the men who ushered in this new era? Former Indian wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta discusses the transformation of the role of wicket-keeper in this century in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mighty West Indies ruled cricket for about 20 years and gave the world some of the best cricketers. However, the decline post 1995 has been equally spectacular, making many wonder what went so drastically wrong in a team full of champion cricketers. Our guest Shishir Hattangadi explains the reasons that led to the graph dipping for West Indies mid 1990s onwards in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this unique episode, Rajdeep Sardesai, a cricket tragic among many other things, takes us down the memory lane to talk about the cricketers who left a huge impression on him in his five decades of watching the game. Hear him passionately tell stories of how he fell in love with cricket because of some fine cricketers in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Team India starts its tour to England with a new captain and several fresh faces as four mainstays of the Test lineup in the last few years are no longer with the team. Former National Selector Jatin Paranjape shares his thoughts on how this transition has been handled by the management while also looking back at some of the major transitions the team has gone through in the last three decades in this episode of A Century of Stories: Cricket podcast presented by IDFC FIRST Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of A Century of Stories India, host Kunal Vijayakar interviews advertising titan Ambi Parameswaran on the evolution of Indian advertising. Discover how Indian advertising strategies turned from Western influenced sensibilities to Indian idioms and cultural narratives. As they built equity, brands and their advertising gave a voice and identity to generations of Indians, shaping and reflecting the transformation of the country. In this Episode Indian Advertising Evolution: Colonial to unique Indian identity & global impact. Legendary Indian Ads: Iconic marketing, jingles, & brand stories. Digital Marketing Shift: Traditional to performance marketing & content for India. Brand Building Secrets: Effective ad strategies, consumer engagement & longevity.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.