MUMBAI: Mirchi, India's no. 1 city-centric music and entertainment company, has launched its all-new audio series, titled 196 Phere, exclusively on the Mirchi Plus App. A ten-part comedy serial narrated by Gopal Datt, a popular actor and writer, places listeners amid a police procedural against a con man who married 27 women, via a fictional character called Ramesh Kumar. With the wedding season upon us, Mirchi Plus's 196 Phere presents a piece-by-piece breakdown of Ramesh's long-running scam of swindling women by marrying them.

Set in the lanes of Orissa, the story begins with Ramesh Kumar, a 66-year-old man accused of marrying 27 different women for their wealth. Suketu Varma, an IAS from Kolkata, has been appointed to investigate this high-profile case. As the story unfolds, Ramesh's crimes are interwoven with IAS Suketu'songoing investigation, which catches the listener's interest. Through the course of the series, listeners come to understand that Ramesh is not merely a trickster, but a master criminal who has successfully exploited people from across states. That’s not all! It is the constant hiccups in IAS Suketu's investigation as well as Ramesh's unexpected confessions that will keep the listeners hooked on the series, eager to learn what happens next.

Talking about the show, Indira Rangarajan, National Content Director, ENIL, Mirchi said, “At Mirchi Plus, we are constantly looking for novel storytelling formats and concepts to enrich our marquee content offerings. With the launch of our latest audio series, 196 Phere, we are kicking off the wedding season in 'Mirchi style'. With multiple layers of comedy, action, drama, and suspense, the series is sure to keep listeners entertained. We are thankful to Gopal Datt, who narrated this complex story with ease. We hope our listeners enjoy listening to this all-new audio series and continue to look forward to our upcoming marquee audio content.”

Talking about his association with Mirchi, Gopal Datt, said, “Narration and storytelling have always been close to my heart. I am extremely glad to have partnered with Mirchi Plus for their marquee audio show 196 Phere. The show, which is inspired bytrue events, has been beautifully adapted into a narrative that highlights the story of a con man and his 27 marriages. I am confident that listeners will enjoy this show as much as I enjoyed recording it.”