'Qisse Kahaniyaan': The Story Behind Phoolan Devi’s Iconic Rise from Tragedy

Tune in to listen to Phoolan Devi's journey into a life that defied oppression and shook the conscience of a nation.

In this powerful dramatised episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan, the Bandit Queen speaks.
Through the voice of an artist, Phoolan Devi tells her story—unfiltered, unapologetic, and hauntingly real.

(Photo: Athar Rather/The Quint)

She was born into oppression. She rose in defiance. Phoolan Devi was not just a woman—she was a storm. Branded a criminal, hailed as a warrior, she walked the razor’s edge between vengeance and justice, fear and reverence. 

From a child bride to a feared dacoit, from a prison cell to the Indian Parliament—Phoolan’s life was a tale of survival, rebellion, and an unbreakable will. They called her the ‘Bandit Queen,’ but she was far more than that. She was a woman who refused to be erased, a force that demanded to be reckoned with. 

In this gripping dramatised episode of Qisse Kahaniyaan, Phoolan Devi speaks. Through the voice of an artist, she tells her own story—raw, unfiltered, and unapologetic. Alternating between her words and the anchor’s narration, we relive a saga that shook the nation. 

Step into the legend of Phoolan Devi and uncover: 

• The brutal injustices that turned a village girl into a feared outlaw. 

• Her reign over the Chambal ravines, where she became both savior and terror. 

• Massacre that made her a symbol of vengeance and resistance. 

• Her shocking transformation—from fugitive to elected leader of the people. 

Was Phoolan Devi a criminal or a revolutionary? A bandit or a queen? 
Her story isn’t just history—it’s a legend carved in blood and fire. 

Anchor & Script: Athar Rather

Voice of Phoolan Devi: Shelly Walia

Sound Design: Athar Rather

Executive Producers: Ritu Kapur, Shelly Walia