‘Folktales from Karnataka’ Book Review: Karanji Retells Old Village Stories

Book Title: Folktales from Karnataka
Author: Karanji
Publisher: Red Panda
Number of Pages: 180
ISBN: 8168170008
Date Published: Sept. 25, 2026

Book Review

Karanji’s “Folktales from Karnataka” is a light, charming collection that brings together stories shaped by village squares, riverbanks, courts, and generations of retelling. His writing style is simple and conversational, closer to a grandparent telling a story after dinner than to a formal historian explaining folklore. The language is easy to follow, with short sentences and familiar rhythms that make the book accessible to children as well as adults.

Tales about a pregnant Ravana, a revengeful crow, and a girl turning into a tree give the collection its playful, slightly absurd charm. Nayan Bose’s illustrations add colour and wonder to the pages, though they sometimes decorate the stories rather than deepen their atmosphere.

The pacing is brisk, which suits oral tales, but it is also the book’s main weakness. Many stories end just as they begin to feel interesting, leaving little room for characters to grow or for the reader to sit with a story’s meaning. Karanji preserves the fun and strangeness of Karnataka’s folk imagination, yet the retellings sometimes feel polished rather than rooted; the rough edges, local idioms, and deeper cultural context that make folklore memorable are softened.

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Still, as an introduction to the state’s storytelling tradition, the book succeeds in being amusing, readable, and warmly nostalgic.

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About the Author

Karanji is an author and storyteller devoted to preserving Karnataka’s rich folklore and oral heritage. Inspired by tales passed down through generations, he draws on stories gathered from the state’s villages and riverside towns, bringing the voices, traditions, and cultural memories of these communities to a wider audience.