aziz ansari Archives

#MeToo: How to Return from Shame-Leave, the Alok Nath Way

Alok Nath might return to the public eye after a self-prescribed sabbatical, in a film about the #MeToo movement. A society that welcomes harassers back after a short time-out ensures that they are shielded from meaningful consequences.

Kahini Iyer July 9, 2016

Pop Culture

Trevor Noah and the Lazy Art of Mistimed Racial Stereotypes

Reducing India to outdated jokes about Bollywood dancing and funny accents is what American pop culture does best. Even as we see marginally better representations thanks to stars like Mindy Kaling, it’s still rare to see desis outside the context of “funny”. Trevor Noah is no different.

Kahini Iyer July 7, 2016

Pop Culture

Can You Laugh at Aziz Ansari’s Jokes and Not Feel Guilty in a Post-#MeToo World?

Aziz Ansari performed his comeback stand-up tour, “Road to Nowhere” in India this weekend. In the sold-out show in Mumbai, the comedian’s new set spiritedly acknowledged the predominant concern of the post-Me Too world: Are you trivialising the transgressions of outed men if you’re willing to renegotiate with their art?

Poulomi Das June 21, 2016

Pop Culture

Farewell Dear Mindy Project, The One-Woman Show Hollywood Needed

In The Mindy Project, Mindy Lahiri’s career and success is entirely of her making, mirroring its creator, Mindy Kaling’s, own life, where she been consistently shattering the glass ceiling on behalf of women and actors of colour everywhere.

Poulomi Das May 28, 2016

Love and Sex

Flirting 101: How to Lose a Girl in 1 Minute

Urban Dictionary defines flirting as “you dinking around with the opposite sex”, but for clueless Indian bros, the definition seemingly transcends to “block-worthy behaviour that will elicit at least five eye-rolls”.

Poulomi Das May 18, 2016

POV

Decoding India’s Love-Hate Relationship with Hasan Minhaj

The “Howdy Modi” event held in Houston over the weekend was organised to celebrate the contributions of Indian-Americans to the arts. While it was a spectacle of sorts, one particular NRI felt a little left out. Comedian Hasan Minhaj was turned away at the entrance, rekindling the question — “Do Indians love or hate Hasan Minhaj?”

#VALUE! April 15, 2016