Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold
A 2023 collection of 15 South Indian folktales for children.
**Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold** brings together fifteen folktales from across South India. Written by Nitin Kushalappa, with artwork and cover illustration by Pari Satarkar and cover design by Isha Nagar, the book was released in 2023 by Puffin India, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Its stories feature sorcerers, gods, goddesses, fairies, animals, villagers, hunters, kings, and queens. The tales draw from a wide range of sources, including books, temple songs, regional-language verses, popular folklore retellings, movies, and comic books. Aimed primarily at children and young adults, the collection is a work of fiction.
The book includes the following stories: "The Tale of the Mynah who never gave up," "The Tale of Bala Nagamma and the Evil Sorcerer," "The Giant Red Kangaroo, the Queen and the Hunter," "The Tale of the Singing Drum," "The Blessings of Vishnu," "The Cat and the Fly's Delicious Congee," "The Cow and the Tiger," "The Seven Fairy Princesses," "The Tale of the Last Sun," "The Tale of the Miser," "The Tale of the Jungle River," "The Tale of the Boy Champion," "The Tale of the Good Boy," "The Moon Prince," and "The Sage and the River."
Reviewers have noted the book's depth and appeal. Sammohinee Ghosh of *Mid-day* praised Kushalappa’s detailed research. Shweta Sharan of the *Mint* described the collection as filled with tales of evil sorcerers, gods, goddesses, fairies, animals, village folk, hunters, kings, and queens. Author C P Belliappa, writing in *Star of Mysore*, said Kushalappa gives the stories a new flavour with his distinctive style, adding that each tale takes readers on a fantasy journey with unexpected endings and moral lessons. He noted the book is aimed at children nine and older but can be enjoyed by young adults, adults, and senior citizens. Md. Faizan Moquim, in *The Book Review*, commended Kushalappa’s skillful narration for keeping readers anticipating twists, though he suggested that a note clarifying the differences between fables, myths, and folktales would have helped young readers.
**Dakshin** was shortlisted for the 2023 Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize in the children's fiction category. In 2025, it earned its author the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar, India’s highest national award for children's literature.
- field
- Children's literature, folklore
- known_for
- Collection of 15 South Indian folktales
- published
- 2023
- publisher
- Puffin India (Penguin Random House)
Lore & Background
Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold was published in 2023 by Puffin India. The book contains 15 stories, including 'The Tale of the Mynah who never gave up', 'The Tale of Bala Nagamma and the Evil Sorcerer', 'The Giant Red Kangaroo, the Queen and the Hunter', 'The Tale of the Singing Drum', 'The Blessings of Vishnu', 'The Cat and the Fly's Delicious Congee', 'The Cow and the Tiger', 'The Seven Fairy Princesses', 'The Tale of the Last Sun', 'The Tale of the Miser', 'The Tale of the Jungle River', 'The Tale of the Boy Champion', 'The Tale of the Good Boy', 'The Moon Prince', and 'The Sage and the River'. The book was shortlisted for the 2023 Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize in the children's fiction category, and in 2025 it earned its author the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar, India's highest national award for children's literature.
Reader's Guide
Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold is significant as a modern retelling of regional folklore aimed at children and young adults. The book draws from a wide range of sources, including books, temple songs, regional verses, popular folklore, movies, and comic books, reflecting a diverse cultural tapestry. Reception has noted the detailed research behind the writing, as well as the unexpected endings and moral lessons in each story. The book's recognition, including a shortlist for the Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize and winning the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar in 2025, underscores its impact on children's literature in India. Critics have observed that the author does not explicitly differentiate between fables, myths, and folktales, which some suggest could have been clarified for young readers. Nonetheless, the collection is seen as inspiring readers to explore new meanings in folklore.
Did You Know?
- The book was shortlisted for the 2023 Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize in the children's fiction category.
- In 2025, the book earned its author the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar, India's highest national award for children's literature.
- The folk tales are based on diverse sources including books, songs sung at local temples, verses from regional languages, movies, and comic books.
- The book features 15 stories, including 'The Tale of the Mynah who never gave up' and 'The Moon Prince'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold?
It is a 2023 children's book published by Puffin India (an imprint of Penguin Random House) that gathers fifteen folktales drawn from across South India. The volume was written by Nitin Kushalappa, with artwork by Pari Satarkar and cover design by Isha Nagar.
What kinds of characters appear in the stories in Dakshin?
The fifteen tales feature a wide cast including sorcerers, gods and goddesses, fairies, talking animals, ordinary villagers, hunters, kings, and queens. This mix of divine and everyday figures is what gives the collection its broad, region-spanning feel.
Where do the tales in Dakshin originally come from?
The stories are sourced from a diverse set of traditions: older books, temple songs, verses in regional languages, popular folklore retellings, films, and even comic books. This multi-source approach lets the book present South Indian folklore as a living, layered tradition rather than a single fixed canon.
Who is Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold aimed at?
The book is primarily written for children and young readers who are curious about South Indian mythology and fables. Its accessible language and Pari Satarkar's illustrations make the stories approachable for younger audiences while still honoring the original folk traditions.
Why is Dakshin important in the landscape of Indian folklore publishing?
It brings together fifteen tales from multiple South Indian regions into one accessible volume, helping preserve stories that might otherwise remain scattered across temple songs, local verses, or regional media. By publishing through Puffin India in 2023, it reaches a wide young readership and keeps these oral and written traditions in active circulation.
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