India’s Parallel Cinema Remains Unmatched
Govind Nihalani’s ‘Party’ was among a slate of films that used realism to challenge political power. Where are such movies now?
Meher Manda
“Enjoy Enjaami”: How a Tamil Song Led to a Public Outcry About Caste
A magazine cover by Rolling Stone India and a Times Square billboard sparked public outrage over Dalit erasure.
Zinara Rathnayake
How Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan Weaves Nuance into Marginalized Identities
Whether it’s caste, gender, class, or sexual orientation, the director behind "Masaan" and "Geeli Pucchi" dissects every theme with refreshing sensitivity.
Poulomi Das
Why Tillotama Shome Views Her Career as “Slow Cooking,” Not “Instant Noodles”
From playing the quiet Alice in “Monsoon Wedding” to the vibrant Ratna in “Sir,” the veteran actor has come into her own.
How the Death of a Bollywood Actor Became a Political Proxy War
Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide fueled a four-month-long media circus, with internet mobs and politicians destroying lives and livelihoods in the name of “Justice for Sushant.”
Michaela Stone Cross
Even a Pandemic Can’t Stop the Indian Mango
Nearly 15 years after the infamous “nuclear mango deal,” Indian mangos are still hard to come by in the U.S. But there’s still hope.
Vandana Menon
Indian Chill in the Age of Corona
On Monday, India told residents to “prepare, but do not panic.” Right now, however, it looks like Indians are doing neither.
Erin Blair
The Delhi Riots in Photos: Fake News, Real Blood
Understanding the 2020 Delhi anti-Muslim pogrom in Modi's censored India, in photos.
Photo Essay: Coastal Karnataka’s Ancient Nighttime Performance
Once limited to men, Yakshagana — which features demons, comedians, and a singing narrator — has evolved with the times.
Rashi Arora
Life in Limbo
Ten years after the Sri Lankan civil war, many Tamil refugees in India are still unsure about their futures.
Sarah Hoenicke