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Before ‘RRR,’ There Was ‘Anniyan’

Shankar’s 2005 vigilante drama cracked the pan-India formula long before it had a name — by speaking to ordinary people on their own terms.

AI May Be the Secret to Saving South Asia’s Elephants

Trains have killed hundreds of the revered creatures. New technology is helping stop the bloodshed.

The Queer Magazine That Defied a Nation

Xulhaz Mannan founded Roopbaan as a love letter to Bangladesh’s LGBT community. The price of ink was his life.

Can Air India Be Saved?

Tata is pouring billions into the airline. But a deadly crash — and years of passenger complaints — continue to cloud its comeback.

‘Materialists’ is No Modern Romance

Bollywood’s love story drought continues. But is Hollywood really doing it better?

The Myth of the “Smelly” South Asian

From colonial disgust to “imagine the smell” memes, the racist trope is back. But the real question is: who decides what stinks?

How the CIA Took Down Guyana’s First Leader

Cheddi Jagan was the first Indian-origin person to run a government outside South Asia. Then, the U.S. came knocking.

The Magical, Experimental World of Eid Henna

The joyful declaration of identity — inked in Mughal arches, crescent moons, and dainty flowers — is undergoing a revival.

Is the South Asian ‘American Dream’ Dead?

For the largest international student body in the U.S., hopes for building a better life are unraveling.

Has Bollywood Reached Peak Plastic Surgery?

As the Hindi film industry’s beauty ideals grow narrower, audiences are pushing back.

Why ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ Nails Rich People Drama

Don’t let the glamour fool you. A 2015 film about wealthy people on a cruise shouldn’t be so relatable. And yet, it is.

Bengal’s Goddess Contradiction

A history of worshipping powerful women shapes the region’s identity as a matriarchal utopia — but the data tells a more uncomfortable truth.

Our Top Stories for Pride 2025

This June, explore some of our favorite long reads on queer South Asian icons, history, and culture.

How Faizan Zaki’s Spelling Bee Win Marks a New Era

From jhumkas to on-stage prayers, Indian American spellers are reshaping the bee as a place for cultural belonging.

Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: 2025

Dive into 20 of our favorite stories that celebrate South Asian American icons, culture, and history.

Satyendra Nath Bose, the God Particle Genius

The Bengali physicist discovered the universe’s tiniest building blocks and earned Einstein’s praise — yet history overlooked him.

What Does a Pinch of Sindoor Really Mean?

How Aishwarya Rai’s Cannes look sparked a global conversation about the 7,000-year-old tradition.

Why South Asians Still Aren’t Getting Enough Protein

Fitness nerds and doctors are telling us to pile on the macro. But for the community, the answer isn’t just “more.”

What’s Really Killing Bollywood

The decline of Hindi cinema isn’t just about streaming or bad scripts — it involves something far more sinister.

Why Won’t America Let Us Have Mustard Oil?

A 1970s rat study is keeping Bengalis from their aachars and hilsa. They want answers — and their tel back.