What Mohammed Zubair’s Arrest Means for Press Freedom
The arrest of the co-founder of an Indian fact-checking website is the latest incident in declining press freedom in the subcontinent.
The Juggernaut
The Evolution of the Bollywood Item Song
By definition, these dance numbers objectify women, but — in the hands of directors like Farah Khan or choreographers like Helen — they allow for an otherwise rare expression of women’s sexuality.
Zeahaa Rehman
Freida Pinto Wants to Change Who is “Allowed” to Fall in Love On Screen
The ‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ actor chats about Black and Brown love, what’s on her relationship checklist, and how Hollywood has diversified since ‘Slumdog.’
Sadaf Ahsan
Why South Asians Often Have Multiple Birthdays
Sure, two birthdays means double the cake, but for some, it’s also a reminder of a turbulent past.
Sushmita Pathak
Sri Lanka: The Reality of Mealtime in the Midst of Economic Collapse
The island nation’s worst economic crisis since its 1948 independence has forced people to change how and what they eat.
Zinara Rathnayake
Nik Dodani is Making Hollywood His Own
Luck helped the actor and writer, known for ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Atypical,’ break into Hollywood. But he’s not leaving the rest up to chance.
Shrai Popat
The Evolution of Karan Johar’s Queer Eye
What has driven the filmmaker’s increasingly nuanced portrayals of LGBTQ characters?
Meher Manda
‘Mr. Malcolm’s List’ is a Familiar Story, with a Refreshing Twist (Review)
The latest British period drama is the rare film whose romantic leads, Freida Pinto and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, are both people of color — but is it enough?
Ishani Nath
‘Chutney Popcorn’ Reimagines Family and Motherhood
Nisha Ganatra’s 1999 film about a lesbian artist who becomes a surrogate for her sister remains ahead of its time.
Priya Arora
Why “Best Of” Lists Often Overlook South Asian Cuisines
But as these restaurants and chefs rack up recognition and business from ardent fans, do mainstream accolades even matter?
Mallika Basu
The Magical Lives of Kumar Pallana
It took perfecting death-defying stunts, a chance encounter, and seven decades before Hollywood took notice of the inevitable star.
Indian American Congress Members Weigh in on the Nation’s Biggest Issues
We spoke with U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, and Raja Krishnamoorthi about Roe v. Wade, combating inflation, and how the “Samosa Caucus” got its name.
In ‘Ms. Marvel,’ Culture and Faith are Superpowers (Review)
With the first-ever Pakistani American Muslim superhero, Marvel’s limited series flips the script on how Muslims and Pakistanis are depicted on screen.
Hafsa Lodi
Iman Vellani: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Made Me Feel Seen for the First Time
The Pakistani Canadian actor talks about going from Marvel superfan to star, the line that meant a lot to her personally, and acting alongside Fawad Khan and Farhan Akhtar.
KK Gave Us the Soundtrack to Our Own Movies
The Indian singer gave us the ability to revisit our first heartbreaks, our first joys, our first goodbyes, just by hitting play.
Harnidh Kaur
Why ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ Gets Better With Age
The 2013 movie remains a friendly note to self that people, and friendships, change — and that isn’t always a bad thing.
Snigdha Sur
Celebrating Pride Month: 2022
This June, a roundup of 15 stories from our archives about queer South Asian history, icons, and culture.
Sidhu Moose Wala brought a global diaspora together
The internationally renowned rapper was the voice of a generation for Sikh and Punjabi fans, despite controversy surrounding his music and videos.
Sabrina Malhi
You Don’t Know Jay Sean
For two decades, the British artist had a carefully curated image. Then, he got on TikTok.
Dhruva Balram
The Complicated Love of ‘Love on the Spectrum’
The new season of Netflix’s docuseries includes a charming South Asian participant — but also a familiar and frustrating trope.