The term ‘genre’ refers to a category or type of artistic, literary, or cultural expression that shares distinctive characteristics, forms, and conventions. In literature and folklore, genres serve as frameworks through which stories, performances, and traditions are classified, understood, and transmitted. Folklore genres are often defined by narrative structures, thematic content, performance style, and the cultural contexts in which they emerge. In the context of India, folklore encompasses a rich and diverse spectrum of genres, including myths, legends, folktales, fables, ballads, proverbs, riddles, songs, and ritual narratives. Each of these genres reflects not only the creativity of the communities that produce them but also the socio-cultural values, moral frameworks, and collective memories of those communities. Genre in folklore is not static; it evolves over time in response to changes in society, culture, and historical circumstances. ‘Genre transformation’ refers to the dynamic process through which a genre undergoes modifications in form, content, or function. This transformation may occur due to internal developments within a tradition, external influences such as contact with other cultures, technological innovations, or shifts in societal structures and values. In the Indian context, genre transformation is especially visible given the country’s complex history of cultural exchange, colonization, modernization, and globalization. Traditional folktales, for example, may originally exist in oral narrative forms but later appear in written, printed, or digital formats, thus undergoing significant transformation while retaining elements of their original identity. In India, folklore genres have historically played multiple roles: educational, entertainment, ritualistic, and social. Fables like the Panchatantra and Jataka tales functioned as moral and didactic narratives, teaching ethical values and life lessons through stories of animals and humans. Legends and myths, such as the stories surrounding local deities, saints, and heroes, served to establish social norms, legitimize cultural practices, and reinforce community identity. Songs, ballads, and performance genres like Yakshagana or Kathakali combined narrative, music, and dance to narrate tales that are both entertaining and spiritually instructive. Each of these genres is deeply embedded in its regional and linguistic context, reflecting local cultural