There were two weaver birds Podna and Podni, husband and wife they were living merrily in their tree house. Then one day the king decided that their house was built on his land, while forgetting that nature's bounty is for everybody to share, and he took away the Podni. The Podna was grieved at this he was a small bird, but he had a big will to fight against the injustice of the king. He immediately set out to find all the resources he could, he made a cart of reeds (sarkande) that grow by the lake and yoked two frogs from the pond to pull it. Then drumming two kettle drums he went singing
"Sarkande ki gaari, do maindhak jote jayen
Raja le gaya podni, hum ladne marne jaayen"
"I go on my reed cart, To fight the king I am going to depart
To fight the King I raise a war cry, Now is the time to do or die"
Now "Himmate Mard Maddade Khuda", "Fortune favors the bold" thinking this he started off alone
And as he went along his way, he met a cat, the cat asked him where was he headed to and the Podna told him his tale and intentions. The cat asked to join him and said he might come in handy. The Podna agreed as there was no place for the cat in the cart Podna told her "Hus Phus mere kaan main ghus". So that cat got into the weaver birds ears. Similarly moved by his tale and offering their help, a group of ants, a rope and a club, and a river got into his ear.
The Podna reached the castle of the king and there the guards laughed at him and his small cart. Nevertheless he went on further to enter the king's court. The Podna asked the king to return his wife, the King refused. He had the Podna imprisoned in the hen house, and he expected the hens would pick on him, and make him miserable so that he would go back, but as night came the Podna said,
"Nikal Billi Teri Baari Kaan Chhod Kanpati Maari"
"Come out cat, its your turn, Leave the ear I have pulled the lobe"
And he pulled his ear lobe, out jumped the cat and it ate all the hens. The King was very annoyed that the Podna survived he locked him in the stable next night, and expected the horses to trample him. The Podna at night said
"Nikal Rassi aur Sonte tumhari baari, Kaan Chhod Kanpati Maari"
And the rope tied the horses, the clubs beat and killed them. The King then tried locking him up in the elephant stable, but the ants came out of Podna's ear when he called and so the elephants were also dealt with. Finally furious the King had had enough, he tied the Podna to his own bed, as it was getting impossible to imprison him anywhere else. In the night the Podna touched his ear and he called
"Nikalo dariya teri baari, Kaan Chhod Kanpati Maari"
And then the river came gushing out, it started flowing through the palace drenching the tapestries and the carpets, making its way around, taking away everything in its path and then the King's bed started to get swept away. Now very afraid and repenting his sins, the King said "Take away, take away your Podni, but please spare me." And so claiming victory over the big bad King the Podna came back with his wife.
Below is a the animation of this story from Animated Tales of the World
Heard this story from Mum's friend, instead of Podna and Podni her version had a Mor and Morni(peacock and peahen). I guess the culprits would then be the Kaale chor(black hearted thieves), going by the old song of Nani's peahen getting stolen by Kaale chor
