Oh So Dreamy

What happens if purdah confined women were allowed to escape the shackles that bind them and control the world?

This Saturday in Manhattan you may just find out. SAWCC (the South Asian Women’s Creative Collective) will celebrate their 10^th anniversary with the exhibition “Sultana’s Dream” at the Exit Art Gallery.

The theme comes from the short story of the same name by writer

Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain, in which Muslim gender roles are reversed and the men are locked away and the women run everything. All of the pieces are collaborations between at least 2 South Asian women artists. The artists cut across various disciplines, including dancers, writers, and musicians. With artists like Sharmila Desai, Ela Shah, and Mona Kamal it’s bound to be good night.

Besides producing fabulous exhibits, SAWCC also conducts monthly meetings as a forum where South Asian women can come together to discuss their experiences, network with other artists, and provide artistic feedback. You don’t have to be an artist, just interested in art.

Sounds like a dream.

For more information on SAWCC and "Sultana's Dream" check www.sawcc.org

Sultana’s Dream, Saturday August 4, The Exit Gallery, 475 10^th Avenue, New York, NY

Kicking Butt Desi Style

Bollywood heros often fight villains with a few “dishooms”, a couple of deadly glances, and maybe a few evil spells. All the while our heroine is left sitting on the sidelines. Lame!

Meet real-life heroine, Vanita Gupta. Back in 1999, the recent Yale Law graduate stumbled upon a documentary about a drug bust in Tulia, TX. Vanita, convinced that racism was at the heart of the problem, decided to go to Tulia to find out.

What Vanita unearthed in the small town of Tulia led her to passionately fight to appeal the verdict of the 46 defendants wrongly convicted, assembling a team of high profile lawyers to help her. Vanita and her team won and the defendants were eventually freed four years after they were incarcerated.

Oh yeah did we mention she was only 28?

Now Vanita’s amazing story is going to grace the silver screen. And Vanita is being played by none other than….. Parminder Nagra? Sheetal Sheth? Maybe even Aishwarya? Nope, the role is going to be played by Halle Berry. Yep, this is going to be interesting. The half-white, half-black not-so desi actress will be directed by Carl Franklin in the screen adaptation of Nate Blakesee’s book “Tulia”.

OK, so we would have preferred the role go to an actress of South Asian descent. But at least Halle is still playing a South Asian. It’s a little early to rush (or not rush depending on how you feel about the casting) to the theater (the movie is scheduled for release in 2008), but you can always read the book, Tulia: Race, Cocaine, and Corruption in a Small Texas Town in the meantime.

Better get to reading!

To learn about updates and more Tulia news, check www.imdb.com

Going Back to Your Roots

Chintz…. Something you might think of as more suitable for old English grannies.

Think again desi.

The calico cloth print comes from our very own little subcontinent, (really!). Back in the day (and by that we mean the 17th century), the English decided to pilfer yet another good desi idea and make it their own. The English put their own spin on it making it more delicate prints and glazing to give it a sheen. The French then soon followed suit making their own type of chintz called “toile de Jouy” as well as those famous Provencal blue and yellow prints known around the world.

But don’t be fooled. It’s all desi baby. Now designer Kerry Cassill is creating a line of homewares and apparel that reflect this East-West hybrid. The duvets, beach blankets, dresses, and tops, are all influenced by the Indian block print. Purple florals, orange paisleys, and black and white tigers are some of the zippy prints available.

Indus Décor, takes it a step further in desi-style design with their full stock of silk batiks fabrics, wood block cotton prints duvets, silk paintings, and mirrored wall hangings.

Now you can celebrate your roots…. old school.

Kerry Cassill, www.kerrycassill.com

Indus Décor, www.indusdecor.com

Shake Your Groove Thang

Talvin Singh. Karsh Kale. Nitin Sawhney. These are only some of the names that come to mind when thinking of Indian Electronica. However there’s a new breed of up-and-coming DJs and artists (and they’re not just British) ready to steal your heart. And the Indian Electronic Festival is ready to show you.

The Toronto based online community, Indian Electronica, started over 4 years ago as a platform for emerging South Asian electronic music and artists. Its goals? To encourage South Asians to pursue music as a career, encouraging collaborations, and to promote South Asian electronic music to all cultures. And of course, to get your dance on. Pretty impressive. Which is why it’s so perfect that just two years later it spawned a globe trotting festival featuring South Asian DJs, dancers, and visual artists.

The festival kicks off tomorrow in Toronto at the Dragonfly with guests such as DJ Alkmst, Abdul Smooth, and Cassius Khan. The roving festival then travels to New York, London, New Delhi, and Mumbai until New Year’s Eve for all kind of sweet electronic action.

Now quit dancing around your room and shake your money maker at the Indian Electronica Festival.

Indian Electronica Festival, www.indianelecronica.com

I love Boyz

She’s Baaaaack.

Our favorite Sri Lankan British hip hop star and yours, M.I.A. is back and better than ever with a new tour, a new album, and last but not least a new ‘do.

The still colorful Maya Arulpragasam, aka M.I.A., starts touring this Saturday July 21^st in support of her new album Kala, which debuts in August. The album, named after her mother (Arular was named after her dad) features collaborations from the likes of ever ubiquitous Timbaland, DJ Switch, Diplo, to name a few. For a sneak peak, check out the video for “Boyz” on her website, complete with a multicolored spandex M.I.A., singing and dancing amidst a background of male Jamaican dancers and laced with neon graphics.

This summer, you can catch M.I.A. in all of her glory. Dancehall, reggae, Bollywood, 80s dance party, hip-hop, rebellion, English, American, African, politics, Jamaican, it all comes together when M.I.A. takes to the stage. With tour dates scheduled throughout the U.S. and Europe, you no doubt will have plenty of opportunities to see the bad ass in action.

Hopefully this time she won’t have any visa …. um “problems”.

M.I.A.’s tour starts Saturday July 21^st, with a performance at the Siren Festival in Brooklyn, NY. Check the official website for additional upcoming dates and news, www.miauk.com

Kala drops August 21 in the U.S., August 20^th in the U.K.

Someone Special

“Beta, have you found anyone special yet”??

Ugh, the dread question all singletons fear. If you’re anything like most of the other single, educated, worldly desis, you may have very well met several special someones. Unfortunately THAT is not going to appease the parents.

As part of its SALAAM 3^rd Mondays series (S3M), SALAAM (South Asian League of Artists in America) Theatre in NYC, invites you to explore the sad state of such affairs tonight in a reading of the one act play, Marrying Nandini, written by and starring Nandita Shenoy. In the play Nandini’s parents decide to grab the bull by the horns and fill out a profile for their daughter on match.com. In doing so, they get a more than they bargained for, and of course hijinks and shenanigans ensue.

For 7 years, the non-profit theatre celebrates South Asian culture through plays, readings, fundraisers, collaborating with artists such as Karmacy, Bobby Friction and organizations such as Project Ahimsa. Of course, as a non-profit, SALAAM always needs your help. Writers can submit their work for consideration in S3M. Non-writers, you can donate money, goods, or just plain volunteer.

If all that desi love isn’t enough to get you in the mood, just think of all the vegetarian samosas and refreshments you can have after the reading. Sublime.

Marrying Nandini, SALAAM Theatre, 16 west 32^nd Street, 10^th Floor, NY, NY.

SALAAM Theatre. For more info: www.salaamtheatre.org

Pour Some Chocolate on Me

It’s easy to fall into a rut. After years together, your relationship might start to seem a little….dull. You just need to shake it up a bit. Maybe take a break. So we suggest you break up with your regular bland chocolate and peanut butter cup and check these sub-continentally inspired chocolates.

If you’re the more traditional type, Dagoba Organic Chocolate is the perfect choice. Their Chai bars, recall memories of Grandma’s homemade tea… in chocolate form. A delightful mix of ginger, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, black pepper, anise and milk chocolate, the Dagoba Chai bar hits you in all the right spots.

For those who like their chocolate a little more “spicy”, the Naga and Calindia exotic chocolate bars by Vosges Haut Chocolat will stir your South Asian fantasies. The 66% cocoa Calindia (California + India, get it?) bar contains Indian cardamom, along with California walnuts and dried plums, while the Naga bar is a mix of coconut flakes, sweet “curry” powder, and milk chocolate. Delish!!! And if you go online, you can check out Vosges’ recipe for Naga Chocolate fondue. Can it get any better??

For those who like their chocolate REALLY spicy, may we suggest Partistry’s Kama Sutra box of chocolates. The circular chocolate discs feature an array of couples in a variety of um….interesting positions. Inspired by the dual pleasures of love and chocolate, chocolatier and pastry chef Jehangir Mehta infuses the candy with 4 aphrodisiacs to get your motor running.

Is it getting hot in here?

For online orders and more information check the websites.
Dagoba Organic Chocolate, www.dagobachocolate.com
Vosges Haut Chocolat, www.vosgeschocolate.com
Partistry, www.partistry.com

Summer Nights

Two heads are better than one. Or in this case 4 really awesome performers in one night are better than one. Yeah something like that.

Tonight at the Levitt Pavillion in Pasadena, CA, the Taal Dance Company will be performing alongside some of the biggest names in the biz, including DJ Cheb I Sabbah, Riffat Sultana, and Gingger. It’s enough to make our little hearts burst with excitement! Here’s a little rundown in case you’ve been, um living in a cave.

Cheb I Sabbah, DJ virtuoso, has been mixing it up for over 20 years, blending African, Asian, and Arabic music to create his own eclectic sound. Over the span of his career, he has released 9 albums including “Krishna Lila” and “Maha Maya”. Up next is an Kirtan album due later this year featuring the various religions of India.

The Pakistani folk artist Riffat Sultana, the first female singer in her illustrious family (she is the daughter of Ustad Salamat Ali), braved family and societal restrictions to prove herself as a talented performer. In between pushing the boundaries for women and giving kick-ass concerts, she records and collaborates with the likes of Quincy Jones and of course Cheb I Sabbah.

Violinist, singer, model, and all-around fab girl, Gingger, has collaborated with all sorts of artists including Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins to name a few. And oh yeah, she just happened to be one of the artists featured in the score to “The Passion of the Christ”.

Last but certainly, not least, is the Taal Dance Company. The fusion (yes there’s that word again), dance troupe combines traditional Indian elements with modern Western styles, often set to electronic South Asian beats. The company has performed everywhere from the Getty Museum to a Pepsi commercial with Christina Aguilera.

Phew! If that isn’t enough to get your cultural appetite going, you might need to have your pulse checked.

Did we mention it’s free? You can thank us later.

Levitt Pavilion, 87 N. Raymond Street, Pasadena, CA. www.levittpavilionpasadena.org

Back in Brown

Shopping for a birthday present for a 6 year old is a tough job. Do they really need another truck or anatomically unrealistic doll? We think not.

This year why not give the little tykes something they can relate to?

Kahani, is a unique award winning magazine geared towards South Asian children living in North America. The first of its kind, (why didn’t anyone think of this before???), Kahani is secular and non-political, which means everyone from Khonas to Khans can appreciate the sweet and endearing stories.

With tales about summers visiting Grandma (remember the first time you saw cows on the street?), geography lessons about the Himalayas, and upping your cool factor with “magical” henna tattoos, Kahani offers a whole new perspective on growing up South Asian in, well a non South Asian culture.

The contributing writers are also published authors and illustrators as well. On the website you can purchase some of their works including "Mama's Saris”, "Bollywood Babes" and "Looking for Bapu", as well as subscribe to the magazine itself. And even better, the hip writing and gorgeous illustrations means us grown-ups can appreciate the stories too.

Don’t worry. We won’t tell anyone the subscription was for you.

Kahani, www.kahani.com

School Is In

"We’re bringing Desi back

Them ABCD’s don’t know how to act

We’re gonna show them how to do their maths

And get them back on the premed track”

Ah the sweet melodies of self-mockery. Desi a cappella group Kranti, is spicing up academic life at the University of Baltimore, with their take on the traditional singing ensemble. Although a capella groups have been a staple on college campuses for decades, only over the past 10 years, an increasing number of desi groups been flourishing at campuses across the U.S.

While drawing inspiration from the progenitor of all desi a cappella groups, Penn Masala, the new groups sing in Hindi and English, riffing on everything from popular Bollywood songs to spoofs of English songs with desi inspired lyrics.

Groups such as Penn Masala (University of Pennsylvania), Raagapella (Stanford), Kranti (University of Baltimore), and Desi Hungama (Clark University) perform and compete around the world to hungry audiences eager for some desi flavor.

Get a taste.

Penn Masala, www.pennmasala.com

Kranti, www.jhu.edu/kranti

Desi Hungama, www.clark.edu/students/desihungama

Raagapella, www.raagapella.com

Some Kind of Wino

Chapati, channa, and….wine?

Master sommelier and television personality Alpana Singh is more than just another pretty face. Born and raised in wine country Monterey, CA, it might make sense that Alpana Singh would develop an interest in the tasty beverage. Except that wine isn’t exactly the beverage of choice for most desis.

Which makes Alpana that much more unique. While waiting tables during college, Alpana discovered her love for wine and decided to pursue her goal of becoming a Master Sommelier, passing the exam in 2003, (only 3% pass) and becoming the youngest woman to be introduced into the Court of Master Sommeliers.

She then went on to serve as sommelier at a variety of 5 star restaurants and has been cited as one of best sommeliers in Wine Advocate, as well as receiving mentions in Bon Appetit, Wine and Spirits Magazine, and Epicurious, where she recommends some of her top wine choices. Among them are Castle Rock 2004 Chardonnay, A-Z Pinot Noir 2003, and Kunin Zinfandel Paso Robles 2003. Delish.

And when she’s not busy kicking ass as a sommelier, she hosts Check Please!, a Chicago based food review show. And in her spare time, she wrote a book entitled Alpana Pours.

Makes passing the MCATs sound easy, huh?

Alpana Singh, www.alpanasingh.com

Check Please!, www.wttw.com

Alpana Pours, www.amazon.com

What's Your Name?

“MADH uri. MADH urrrriiiii!!!”

“MAD uri? Like Mad Cow? Is that how you say it?”

If you’ve ever had to repeat your name fifty times to a non-Indian before they could understand it, the daily desi has the solution for you. Instead of reiterating your moniker you can just point to your neck. Yep, that’s right. The kiddies at Limoges Jewelry can make a personalized Carrie-Bradshaw-style necklace with your own little South Asian name.

You can get your sweetheart's name (Amit loves Asha), block letters, and even vertical style. And if you’ve been secretly coveting Ms. Bradshaw’s necklace, get the classic script lettering in gold. Choices, choices!

But if you REALLY want to pump it up, you can check out Sky Gift Worldwide on eBay, where you can purchase a customized nameplate necklace in…. Hindi!! Sky Gift not only sells necklaces in Hindi, but also Farsi, and Arabic. Now you can wow your desi friends and mystify drunk guys at the bar, with your nameplate necklace. A conversation starter for sure.

Eat your heart out Carrie.

Sky Gift Worldwide, www.ebay.com

Limoges, www.limogesjewelry.com

Dosalicious

The children were asleep while visions of sambar and chutney danced in their heads….

Huh?

When most people they think of a “crepe”, they conjure up an image of the pancake-like creation of the French variety, filled with the likes of nutella and bananas.

Of course, if your desi, or even more specifically South Indian, you know better.

Dosa, a San Francisco restaurant dedicated to the almighty rice crepe, is a temple for all those who grew up on the tasty treat. Filled with delicious combos of zucchini, chutneys, paneer, nuts, onions, and yes even mozzarella cheese, these dosas will have your mouth watering for more.

Traditional Indian food this is not. With minimalist orange colored walls and thin hanging lights, Dosa is the place to bring your best friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, cousin visiting from out of state not Uncle and Aunty visiting from India, (mango soju cocktails anyone?).

The French have nothing on us.

Dosa, 995 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA. 415.642.3672. www.dosasf.com

Swiss Cheese

Idyllic green pastures, snow-capped mountains, Sridevi dancing passionately through the flowered fields. If you grew up watching Bollywood movies, you know this scene.

Ah, Switzerland the backdrop of many an 80’s Bollywood film, affected an entire generation of movie goers with visions of blue skies and plump cows, (okay, there were plenty of cows in India too).

Of course, Switzerland soon became too common, and dream sequences moved to more exotic locals in the Caribbean. However, Switzerland will always have a fond place in our hearts.

Which is why the Bollywood Restaurant, is soooo perfect.

After dancing around a few trees, you can climb (or take a train) to the Jungfrau mountain (aka “The Top of Europe”), pose for pictures with the ice sculptures at the top and treat yourself to lovely delicious Indian meal at the very summit of the mountain.

Yes that’s right. The Bollywood Restaurant is in fact located at the top of one of the highest peaks in Europe. Dedicated to all things Bollywood and covered with posters of your favorite stars, the restaurant can help indulge your old school heroine fantasies, while feeding you copious helpings of desi food.

Chandni, oh meri Chandni….

Bollywood Restaurant, 3801 Eigergletscher Tel +41 (0)33 828 78 88.