You may have skimmed our lists of 30 things to do before you turn 30. See the complete list all at once and learn more about each item, with additional resources, links and photos. Read the rest of this entry »
New takes on old media
I previously discussed the burgeoning market of ethnic media, which got me thinking about different storytelling methods. Lo and behold, what I found were unique ways in which ethnic media and/or their audiences were taking steps to change news.
Take a look at the models I found: Read the rest of this entry »
Urban Desi Radio
Get ready to jive to the beat of tablas while rocking out to hard metal. That is, only if you live in the Bay Area.
Since Aug. 12, South Asians in the Silicon Valley have been able to tune into KLOK 1170 AM every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Urban Desi Radio. The show features music from around the world, with a South Asian focus, and plans for guest speakers and discussion topics on entertainment and lifestyle are in the works. Read the rest of this entry »
30 Things Before 30: Part Three
The last installment includes a special bonus option for your 30th year. Leave a comment and let us know what you would add or what you’ve done! Missed the first two? Read the first ten here and the second ten here. Read the rest of this entry »
Bollywood the American Way
All it took was a dash of insomnia, a long plane journey and a big helping of boredom for Jennifer Hopfinger to get hooked on the world of Bollywood.
Listening to her relate the experience of watching her first mass dance sequence, the lip-synching stylings of actor Shah Rukh Khan, or the sultry moves of actress Rani Mukerji is an out-of-body experience for me – having grown up watching Amitabh Bachchan and Brad Pitt on screen (although not together… yet!)
But while most fans would keep their obsession limited to the couch and perhaps a cup of steaming chai (maybe a bhangra lesson or two), Hopfinger turned it into a full-time project and created The Bollywood Ticket. Watch the video and see what I mean: Read the rest of this entry »
I am proud to be South Asian because…
So I took a hike to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. for the South Asian Carnival on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16. In light of India Independence Day and Pakistan Independence Day, I thought it’d be neat to ask people there just why they were proud to be who they are. Listen to their responses and share your own below.
Hindu mythology + Twitter = Philosophical musings of the 21st century
When Lord Ganesha (the elephant-faced Indian deity who removes obstacles) wrote the Mahabharata as dictated by Sage Veda Vyasa, it was probably written on the 4th century BCE equivalent of bamboo paper.
These days, you can follow140-character pieces of this Sanskrit epic on Twitter. Read the rest of this entry »
Despite Khan-troversy, Bollywood ‘Badshah’ keeps his cool
By now you may have heard the story of how Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, also known as ‘King Khan,’ was questioned by airport security for 66 minutes (previous reports say two hours) at Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday. Khan’s name reportedly appeared on a security checklist, and he wasn’t released until after Indian diplomats intervened.
Happy Independence Day, India
In honor of tomorrow, here’s a little something for today.
I’ll be attending the South Asian Carnival this weekend at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill (also in Houston at Reliant Park this weekend). If you haven’t heard, it’s the first-ever carnival of its kind, featuring Bollywood celebs like Shah Rukh Khan and Bipasha Basu. There’s also a fashion show, wedding expo, food booths, jewelry bazaar and more!
Coming to America: A Bollywood story
I’ve never quite understood why it took the fame of Slumdog Millionaire to put India, much less Bollywood, on the map here in the States. It’s not even Indian! It’s British!
What really tipped me over the edge was watching the Pussycat Dolls’ remix of “Jai Ho,” the hit song by A.R. Rahman from Slumdog. At first, I was fascinated to see Nicole Scherzinger and the other Dolls dance in Indian-inspired clothing with khol-darkened eyes. Then, I heard the lyrics, some of which were literal translations from Hindi, and was incredibly confused. So much is lost: the subtle meanings and layers of context make a literal translation sound absurd and tacky. And finally came frustration and disappointment at the jazzed up “Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)” that was more a failed imitation than a successful remix. Read the rest of this entry »
