Tuk-tuk talkies

The logo for the audio series

An idea traversed the corners of her mind for 10 years. And she knew that someday the idea would grow legs amidst sound. Sara Mohan, an ecology champion and producer in Chennai, wrapped up 2021 with her podcast titled Tigress on tuk-tuk. Mohan knew who she was addressing - the everyday Indian urbanite. She says, "Although a nature podcast, my aim was never to give out hard facts and facts alone. Every episode narrates a story to grab and hold on to a busy city dweller's curiosity. Our natural realm is fascinating, but my observations through close-knit social connections tell me most people don't pause. The pandemic gave us a chance to slow down and look around." Her friends who wouldn't engage with their surroundings were keen to question when made to see, Mohan recalls, adding that these factors motivated her to launch her labour of love five months ago.

Recording frog sounds in the open

The podcast has reached the penultimate episode of its first season with The Urban Wildlife Omnibus. In this piece, naturalist and educator Karthikeyan Srinivasan discusses geckos that lie motionless on our walls and ceilings, swallowtail butterflies that sashay in and around flower beds and leaf-cutter bees that leave behind chiselled leaf edges. Mohan welcomes doodlers, environmentalists and nature architects as expert speakers on her show. Our favourite piece is the one where Mohan advises us to not go "all Marie Kondo on the garden"; it busts many urban ideas of gardening that end up in tokenism. We cringe, but also like the series on handling snakes, and especially enjoy the one that teaches children and adults to sit in the open and draw with hungry eyes. Mohan's topics are a mix of fun and method: "The verticals of my career complement one another. I also teach children and often end up asking them what they would like to talk or learn about with regard to nature. Alongside, I maintain an Excel sheet."

Sara Mohan

The eye-catching logo was designed by Mohan's friend, illustrator Jemma Jose, who has aptly encapsulated figments of her love for nature in daily life. On a bright yellow plane, a brighter tiger hangs from a tuk-tuk with its headphones on. We spot splashes of greens, bats, storks, crabs, beetles and binoculars on all four sides. "I thought of cheesy names while planning to start this podcast. Every title had nature in it. But I didn't want to have a boring, repetitive and preachy title. When thinking of the wild, a tiger is a symbol every Indian will associate with instantly. Again, auto-rickshaws define city life. Lastly, my penchant for alliterative sounds landed us with the final name." As we take note of the blue-banded bee in the podcast's creative - a daily visitor in Mohan's garden - we also eagerly wait for the second season of this series.

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