# Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu
**Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu** (फ़ायरफ्लाइज़: पार्थ और जुगनू) is an Indian Hindi-language fantasy drama web series that premiered on the streaming platform ZEE5 on 5 May 2023. It follows Parth, a struggling 14-year-old boy, who befriends Jugnu, a mystical boy from the haunted forest of Bheem Mukteshwar, and joins him in protecting a magical tree.[1](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/) • [2](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere | 5 May 2023 on ZEE5, all ten episodes released the same day[1](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/) • [3](https://www.jiotv.com/tv-shows/fireflies--parth-aur-jugnu/e8ad72bbb7eb54aa824a79aab81c0b66) |
| Format | Season 1 of 10 episodes, roughly 41 to 50 minutes each[3](https://www.jiotv.com/tv-shows/fireflies--parth-aur-jugnu/e8ad72bbb7eb54aa824a79aab81c0b66) |
| Genre | Fantasy drama, described as a coming-of-age series for young and family audiences[1](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/) |
| Lead cast | Meet Mukhi as Parth, Aekam Binjwe as Jugnu, with Madhoo Shah, Priyanshu Chaterjee, and Luke Kenny[1](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/) |
| Key crew | Director Hemant Gaba, writer Alok Sharma, producer Amrit Walia[1](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/) • [4](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-web-series-117109) |
| Setting | Bheem Mukteshwar, a fictional hill station in India; shot in the hills of Himachal Pradesh[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/hindi/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/season-1/seasonshow/99938734.cms) • [6](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2023/Apr/19/fireflies---parth-aur-jugnu-to-stream-on-zee5-on-this-date-42486.html) |
| Audience rating | 7.3/10 on IMDb from about 5,300 votes[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27548825/ratings/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
The story centers on Parth (Meet Mukhi), a down-and-out 14-year-old who feels unfulfilled and disconnected from the world around him. He ventures into the forest near his home in Bheem Mukteshwar and meets Jugnu (Aekam Binjwe), a mysterious boy who lives in the woods and is the protector of a magical tree. According to the series' folklore, the Sanjeevani tree can cure any deadly disease, and tribal people have long guarded it so it does not fall into the wrong hands.[1](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/hindi/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/season-1/seasonshow/99938734.cms) • [8](https://www.ottplay.com/amp/review/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-review-a-novel-idea-let-down-by-sloppy-storytelling/4e3541eabf599)
After Jugnu's true nature is revealed, the two friends, joined by Parth's school friends, set out to save the tree from an evil scientist who seeks the sanjeevani booti (mythical life-restoring herb from Hindu legend) to become immortal. The series frames this conflict through themes of teenage friendship, exploration, Indian mythology, and life lessons of good versus evil.[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/hindi/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/season-1/seasonshow/99938734.cms) • [1](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/)
The first episode, "Bhakti, Shakti, Yukti," establishes Parth as a class 9 student with exam phobia whose academic failure embarrasses his father; the second introduces Jugnu as a boy with super-human powers who creates havoc in Parth's school.[2](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441)
### Cast and characters
- Meet Mukhi as Parth[2](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441)
- Aekam Binjwe as Jugnu[2](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441)
- Madhoo Shah as Naani (Ira Ranaut), Parth's grandmother[2](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441) • [11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu)
- Priyanshu Chaterjee as Arjun (Dr Arjun Negi), Parth's father[2](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441) • [8](https://www.ottplay.com/amp/review/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-review-a-novel-idea-let-down-by-sloppy-storytelling/4e3541eabf599)
- [Luke Kenny](https://www.edgepedia.org/luke-kenny) as Mritunjay Vyas per ZEE5's listing, though [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) credits him as Sleeman[2](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441) • [11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu)
- [Zoya Afroz](https://www.edgepedia.org/zoya-afroz) as Nyasa, Riva Arora as Shilpi, Varun Kapoor as Laffu, Akshat Singh as Johnson, Harshit Bhojwani as Dangwal, Rahul Singh as Hooda, and Hitesh Dave as Edison[2](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441) • [11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu)
## Production
The series was directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Hemant Gaba and written by [Alok Sharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/alok-sharma), with Amrit Walia as producer through her company Cinnamon Media and Artworks; Walia has described the project as born from a decade-long idea of combining animation and live action in storytelling.[1](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/) • [4](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-web-series-117109) • [9](https://glamsham.com/ott/web-news/amrit-walia-cinnamon-media-and-artworks-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/) The show marries live-action and animation, using tales from Indian mythology to give life lessons to misunderstood teens.[10](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2023/epaper/may/bhopal-english-edition-2023-05-11.pdf) It opens with an animated montage recounting the folklore of the Sanjeevani tree's origin.[8](https://www.ottplay.com/amp/review/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-review-a-novel-idea-let-down-by-sloppy-storytelling/4e3541eabf599)
Two specialists shaped the writing: the mythologist and author [Devdutt Pattanaik](https://www.edgepedia.org/devdutt-pattanaik) served as script consultant, and the [American comic book](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-comic-book) writer Ron Marz, known for extensive work with DC and Marvel, served as script doctor.[6](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2023/Apr/19/fireflies---parth-aur-jugnu-to-stream-on-zee5-on-this-date-42486.html) Filming took place in the hills of [Himachal Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/himachal-pradesh).[6](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2023/Apr/19/fireflies---parth-aur-jugnu-to-stream-on-zee5-on-this-date-42486.html)
## Reception and availability
The series was positioned by ZEE5 as children's and family entertainment; Manish Kalra, then chief business officer of Zee5 India, said the platform aimed to delight young viewers with a unique fantasy story.[12](https://telanganatoday.com/zee5s-original-fantasy-drama-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-to-premiere-on-may-5) Critics gave it modest marks: The Times of India awarded season 1 a critic rating of 2.0, calling it one of the few shows made especially for young audiences but noting that deeper execution and more convincing visuals would have helped, and OTTplay rated it 2.5 out of 5, describing a novel idea let down by sloppy storytelling.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/seriesreview/99938974.cms) • [8](https://www.ottplay.com/amp/review/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-review-a-novel-idea-let-down-by-sloppy-storytelling/4e3541eabf599) Audience response was warmer: the show holds a 7.3/10 rating on IMDb from about 5,300 votes, with India, the United States, Iraq, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia among the countries contributing the most ratings.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27548825/ratings/)
The series carries a U/A 7+ age rating in India and streams on ZEE5 and VI movies and tv, including free-with-ads options on both platforms.[11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu) [Zee Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/zee-studios) has also marketed it internationally; it appeared in the SEPC Indian content guide at MIPCOM as a 10 x 45-minute format.[14](https://pickle.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SEPC-Indian-Mipcom-Content-Guide-2023.pdf)
## References
1. [ZEE5 announces new series 'Fireflies – Parth Aur Jugnu', ThePrint/PTI](https://theprint.in/feature/zee5-announces-new-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/1528370/)
2. [Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu, ZEE5 series page](https://www.zee5.com/global/web-series/details/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/0-6-4z5343441)
3. [Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu, JioTV show page](https://www.jiotv.com/tv-shows/fireflies--parth-aur-jugnu/e8ad72bbb7eb54aa824a79aab81c0b66)
4. [Fireflies – Parth aur Jugnu Web Series, Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-web-series-117109)
5. [Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu Season 1, Times of India Etimes](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/web-series-details/hindi/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/season-1/seasonshow/99938734.cms)
6. [Fireflies - Parth aur Jugnu to stream on Zee5 on this date, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2023/Apr/19/fireflies---parth-aur-jugnu-to-stream-on-zee5-on-this-date-42486.html)
7. [Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27548825/ratings/)
8. [Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu review, OTTplay](https://www.ottplay.com/amp/review/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-review-a-novel-idea-let-down-by-sloppy-storytelling/4e3541eabf599)
9. [Unveiling The Journey: Amrit Walia's Path In The Entertainment World, Glamsham](https://glamsham.com/ott/web-news/amrit-walia-cinnamon-media-and-artworks-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/)
10. [Daily Pioneer Bhopal epaper, 11 May 2023](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2023/epaper/may/bhopal-english-edition-2023-05-11.pdf)
11. [Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu)
12. [Zee5's original fantasy drama series 'Fireflies – Parth aur Jugnu' to premiere on May 5, Telangana Today](https://telanganatoday.com/zee5s-original-fantasy-drama-series-fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu-to-premiere-on-may-5)
13. [Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu series review, Times of India Etimes](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/fireflies-parth-aur-jugnu/seriesreview/99938974.cms)
14. [SEPC Indian MIPCOM Content Guide 2023](https://pickle.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SEPC-Indian-Mipcom-Content-Guide-2023.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Indian and South Asian web series › Premiered 2021 to 2025*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license