nri Archives

Howdy Dhokla! Enough with the Outrage Over the Snack-Stealing Woman at Modi’s Houston Event

A woman was caught slipping dhoklas into her bag at the Howdy Modi event and of course, Indians on the internet are angry. But aren’t we all guilty of acting more than a little entitled and greedy? Demanding free chakna with our beers and not paying the guy who cleans the car windshield at the petrol pump?

Dushyant Shekhawat April 27, 2016

Bollywood

Vishwatma: Bollywood’s Flashiest Story of Patriotism in Pardes

On Republic Day, we look back at Rajiv Rai’s cult classic Vishwatma, where Bollywood took deshbhakti to the diaspora. The film, which released 28 years ago, gave us the greatest masala national integration song, “Dil le gayi teri bindiya,” and reminds us of a time when no one was asked to prove their patriotism.

Pragyan Mohanty April 24, 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

Bollywood

What Do Baazigar and Chachi 420 Have in Common With the Oscar-Winning Parasite?

Oscar-winning South Korean phenomenon Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-Ho, walks on a similar path as several Bollywood plots, focusing on ugly societal norms, class divide, and striking inequality. The only difference — our love for a sprinkling of masala.

Sayantan Mondal March 3, 2016