These playlists were curated while writing The River’s Daughter and The River Goddess – A Prequel. They include songs that I listened to while writing the story, tracks inspired by the original Punjabi folk tale of Mirza Sahiba, and music that makes me think of Jaraan (the world of The River’s Daughter and The River Goddess).

For an immersive reading experience, think of the songs as the movie-soundtrack for each chapter and listen while you read.

The River’s Daughter Part 1 (Stillness):

• Prologue: “Ancient Love” – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 1 (Surface): “When It Falls” – Zero 7
• Chapter 2 (Marketplace): “Intimacy” – Andrea Vanzo
• Chapter 3 (Storm): “Imbre” – Jordan Critz
• Chapter 4 (Dreams): “Fathers” – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 5 (Shed): “Idea 10” – Gibran Alcocer
• Chapter 6 (Tether): “No Time for Caution / Cornfield Chase” (Interstellar) – Jacob’s Piano
• Chapter 7 (Forest): “New Dawn” – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 8 (Purity): “Canvas (Instrumental)” – Imogen Heap
• Chapter 9 (Inspection): “Ascension” – Jason Fervento
• Chapter 10 (Night): “Idea 25” – Gibran Alcocer, Andrea Vanzo

The River’s Daughter Part 2 (Flow):

• Chapter 11 (Marriage): “Songs from the Seven Towers” – Bombay Dub Orchestra
• Chapter 12 (Unbound): “I Wanted to Leave (Sitar Version)” – SYML
• Chapter 13 (Purification): “Prayer in Passing” – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 14 (Escape): “Healing Katniss (The Hunger Games Score)” – James Newton Howard
• Chapter 15 (Mehr’an): “The Orange Terrace” – Bombay Dub Orchestra
• Chapter 16 (Divergence): “Prologue” – Loreena McKennitt
• Chapter 17 (Dasha): “Flight” – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 18*: “The Mystic’s Dream” – Loreena McKennitt
• Chapter 19 (Vision): “Solas” – Gibran Alcocer
• Chapter 20 (Transformation): “Instinct” – Karsh Kale

The River’s Daughter Part 3 (Balance):

• Chapter 21 (Return): “Paradise Circus” – Massive Attack
• Chapter 22 (Severing): “Dream is Collapsing” – Hans Zimmer (from Inception)
• Chapter 23 (Trial): “Recollection of Wars Long Lost” from Elder Scrolls Online
• Chapter 24: “Voice of the Moon” – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 25: “Letting Go” – Karsh Kale
• Chapter 26 (Path): “Cavalier” – James Vincent McMorrow
• Chapter 27 (Convergence): “Solas X Interstellar” – Gabriel Albuquerqüe
• Epilogue: “Flame of the Forest” – Bombay Dub Orchestra (feat. Kartik and Sirishkumar)
• After the book:
  • • “Ya Nari Revolution” – Amina
    • “Sahiba” – Intense & Simiran Kaur Dhadli
    • “Mirza Yaar” – Kuldip Manak

The River Goddess: A Prequel – Part 1 (Gods):

• Prologue (In The First Age): "The Lost Lineage" – Peter Gundry
• Chapter 1 (Wagers): "Probe (Slowed Down)" – Oxy
• Chapter 2 (Mortals): "Pacifica" – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 3 (Princes): "Land of Gold" – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 4 (Lovers): "Milan" – Karsh Kale
• Chapter 5 (Rainclouds): "Lovers (Komorebi Remix)" – Karsh Kale (ft. Malini Awasthi)
• Chapter 6 (Drought): "Boat to Nowhere" – Anoushka Shankar

The River Goddess: A Prequel – Part 2 (Mortals):

• Chapter 7 (Choices): "Sinister Grains" – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 8 (Flames): "Teardrop" – Massive Attack (ft. Elizabeth Fraser)
• Chapter 9 (Floods): "We Burn So Brightly" – Anoushka Shankar
• Chapter 10 (Impermanence): "The Serpent's Tongue" – Peter Gundry
• Chapter 11 (Transformation): "In Church" – M83
  (Bonus: “Ancient Love” – Anoushka Shankar – final scene in Chapter 11)
• After the book:
  • "Jaiye Sajna" (from Dhurandhar 2)
  • "Sufi Bhakti" – Debashish Bhattacharya