Rudyard Kipling's timeless story re-imagined as a gangland coming-of-age fable.

In this radical radio reboot, Kipling's family classic is given a darker twist and reimagined in the concrete jungle of present-day India.

Born in a tenement block in Mumbai, orphan boy Mowgli is brought up by the Wolves, a gang of tough, streetwise petty criminals, and quickly learns how to survive in that world. But when the villainous politician Tiger Khan threatens his life, two residents of the block, the 'black panther' Bagheera and the 'bear' Baloo, offer to help him escape.

Leaving behind the only home he's ever known, Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery through the city, meeting 'creatures' along the way who don't always have his best interests at heart....

Dramatised by Ayeesha Menon, whose radio version of Midnight's Children won Best Adaptation at the 2018 Audio Drama Awards, this stunning audio retelling features Namit Das (A Suitable Boy) as Mo, with Bollywood stars Rajit Kapur and Shernaz Patel as Tiger Khan and Mrs Gupta.

Written and directed by Ayeesha Menon

Based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling

Produced by Nadir Khan

Executive producer: John Scott Dryden

Music by Sacha Puttnam

Recorded in India

A Goldhawk Production

Cast

Mo/Adult Mo - Namit Das

Tiger Khan - Rajit Kapur

Mrs Gupta - Shernaz Patel

Mr Gupta - Zafar Karachiwala

Bugs - Sukant Goel

Yuva - Abir Abrar

Kala/Adult Kala - Shikha Talsania

Rikita - Devika Shahani

Father Carvalho - Sohrab Ardeshir

Young Kala/ Rani - Preetika Chawla

Young Mo - Omkar Kulkarni

Dimple - Trisha Kale

Bobby - Alka Sharma

Varun/Boy - Ajitesh Gupta

Amma - Prerna Chawla

Raksha - hivani Tanksale

Rafiq/Naag - Tavish Bhattacharyya

Baldeo/Tabaqui/Purun Bhagat - Vivek Madan

Akhil - Nadir Khan

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 February-6 March 2021

© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd