When Hanumankind Brought Chenda to Coachella
The Indian rapper’s powerful set turned a centuries-old temple drum from Kerala into one of the music festival’s most immortal sounds.
Surina Venkat
Falooda: The Original Maximalist Dessert
How a Persian slushy crossed empires, melted social barriers, and became South Asia’s most layered dessert.
Meher Mirza
The Last Elephant Polo Match
The sport’s surreal journey reveals what happens when colonial fantasy, animal conservation, and morality collide.
Forget American Tariffs — Is this India’s Free Trade Moment?
For many, India is the “poster child” for the perils of high duties. Now, it has a rare chance to cut deals and reshape the global world order.
Snigdha Sur
‘The White Lotus’ and the Illusion of Enlightenment
Season 3 uses Buddhism to dissect greed, anger, and delusion. Does it succeed or is it more Western spiritual tourism?
‘A Nice Indian Boy’ is Lovely — and a Little Too Nice
What happens when two ‘DDLJ’-loving men fall in love and want a big Indian wedding?
The Sin of Touching Books with Your Feet
A seemingly minor taboo reveals profound truths about knowledge, divinity, and the sacred.
Kiran Sampath
Devika Rani, More than the Longest Kiss
Hindi cinema’s matriarch founded a film studio, launched stars, and left a legacy far beyond one moment.
A Founder, a Divorce, and the Trial by X
Rippling co-founder Prasanna Sankar is in a viral fight with his ex-wife over money, custody, and reputation — and the internet is choosing sides.
In ‘Baksho Bondi,’ One Woman Holds it All Together
The Bengali film by Tanushree Das and Saumya Sahi spotlights the realities of female labor — in a society that often fails to value it.
Divya Bharti, Bollywood’s Lost Superstar
The once-in-a-generation talent delivered 19 movies in two years. Her untimely death left a void — and questions that remain unsolved.
Why is ‘The White Lotus’ So White?
Season 3 takes place in Thailand. The guests of the eponymous luxury resort don’t reflect that reality.
Do South Asians Have a Secret Drinking Problem?
The British used alcohol to control the community. A Surgeon General advisory finds it’s now killing us in new ways.
Tulika Bose
&
Leyla Doss
Jalebi: A Dessert So Good, It Traveled the World
From Persian courts to Diwali feasts, the crunchy orange coil has survived centuries of culinary influences. What gives it such staying power?
‘Deli Boys’ Serves Up Some Spicy, Tasty Achaar
Two incompetent brothers. One badass aunty. A family cocaine business. What could possibly go wrong?
When Meghan Met Mindy
The Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix show has sparked debate over everything from her last name to her lewks. One episode, however, takes the cake.
Celebrating Women’s History Month: 2025
This March, dive into our stories about women in all their multitudes. Goddess. Mother. Sister. Saint. Icon.
The Juggernaut
‘Anuja’: Two Ambitious Sisters, One Choice
The Oscar-nominated short upends gender dynamics to show us a world of possibility — and the impossibility of hard choices.
When Earwax Became Political
From a DOGE staffer’s tweets to attacks on interracial marriage, is anti-Indian rhetoric no longer fringe?
The Indian Prince and Stalin’s Daughter
Brajesh Singh and Svetlana’s love — as well as a journey to India — would defy Cold War geopolitics and change their lives forever.
Somdyuti Datta Ray