“Are you lost?”
“No dude, I’m just fabric shopping”.
Welcome to
The stunningly beautiful fabrics are influenced by everything from art to poetry to music. So intricate is the fabric that a yard of fabric can take up to three weeks to produce. Damn! And you thought making chapattis took too long!
For more info, mosey over to
This is amazing….
This is just a sneak peak. We’ll keep you posted when the real video is out…
“Whoa, this wedding between Arjun and Archana is amazing, but geez this tablecloth sucks!”
“I know, seriously, what loser thought white linen with embossed flowers was cute? Hello, this is a desi wedding!!!!”
Duh. It ain’t easy being an NRI. Unlike your 5th cousin Niraj, you can’t have elephants, horses, and trumpet players in your wedding. And forget about dancing in the streets unless you have a permit. How on earth are you ever going to represent?
Well thank GOD, you at least have Magnolia Linens. Founded by mother-daughters team Anjum and her betis Asema and Talaiya, the 2 year old company has already been featured in Town and Country, collaborated with designer extrodinaire and Oprah BFF
The elaborate linen tablecloths are the perfect solution when you don’t want boring old white. In fact the cloths are more sari-like then tablecloth-like. They come in colors such as royal blue, chocolate brown, are adorned with beading, crystals, and sequins galore!! Party time!!!
And the fun doesn’t end there. Napkin rings, candles, containers, and towels are just some of the other goodies Magnolia can help you with.
Your wedding will be sooooo much better than Archana’s.
For rental and sales visit their website www.magnoliasgroup.com
There are times when you really need to make a statement. Pack a punch. Which is why you have to ditch the delicate gold strand necklace and throw on something a little more exotic.
Multi-tasking jewelry? Now that’s a hot ticket.
For more info check out www.myspace.com or
She’s at it again. Jhumpa Lahiri of The Namesake
What I love Lahiri’s books is her ability to reach deeper than the typical ABCD lit. She explores the bi-cultural identity of first generation Indian children, without pandering to stereotypes. The burden of family wishes and yet the desire to follow your own dreams, the guilt, and the expectations that many Indian-Americans can relate to, are themes which Lahiri makes so poignant and real in her stories.
Ruma must learn to get along with her father without the comfort of her deceased mother. Hema confronts her feelings for an old crush when she is on the eve of entering an arranged marriage. An American man falls in love with unavailable Indian roommate.
Heart wrenching, delicious, and soulful, Unaccustomed Earth is a delight to the senses. So put away your Us Weekly and read something substantial this summer.
Buy it here Unaccustomed Earth
Love it or hate it, The Love Guru is here. Watch Mike Myers (as Guru Pitka), “Bombay Dreams” star Manu Naryan (as Ranjeesh) , and Jessica Alba (Jane) dance Bollywood style to a remake of Steve Miller’s “The Joker” in The Love Guru.
Just when I started to wonder what where all the summer scary movies are, the news came in. The master of suspense, M. Night Shayamalan is back in full force tomorrow with his latest film The Happening.
In the movie, an oh-so-frightful pandemic is spreading with the unfortunate victims losing the ability to speak and physical deterioration followed by…. DEATH. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg as “Elliot Moore” a high school teacher from
Oooooh, sounds scary!! The best part is you never really see the killer, making the entire situation even more of a mystery. And if nothing else you get to watch Mark Wahlberg for 2 hours, (Hot!). Sooooo, grab some popcorn and a slurpee and start the summer movie season off with a bang (or a BOO!).
The Happening opens in theaters Friday June 13, (cue spooky music) www.thehappeningmovie.com
I love
Trendylicious is fun and easy to read. It’s like talking to your best friend who happens to know everyone and everything in town.
Some of my bookmarks included a write up about
You think your in-laws are bad? Try living with them.
Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Dancer, Actress and devoted daughter, Shaheen Sheik is a more than just a triple-threat. She’s a one-woman multi-talented extravaganza. After taking a hiatus to be with her family, Shaheen is back with a new CD aptly titled “Revolution”. The Desi Dish caught up with Shaheen to discuss her new album, life, love and the pursuit of happiness.
The Desi Dish: I really enjoyed the album it was incredibly refreshing. What inspired the title "revolution"? It suggests some sort of life change.
Shaheen: Definitely a life change. Musically, I put away my guitar and produced this album by myself. So, big change there! Personally, I began to stand on my own two feet again. “Rock Candy” (her first album) was based on a big long bad break up. So here I was, single, in charge of my destiny and I wanted to showcase that in my music
The Desi Dish: So it was a stylistic and a life change as well. What made you decide to produce it on your own?
Shaheen: On “Rock Candy”, I co-produced it with Jay Ruston and he taught me a lot in terms of production and how to break down a song and build it back up through arrangement and composition. But I definitely found during [the making of] “Rock Candy” that I had so many ideas that were being filtered through Jay's brain or other musicians' brains which impacted "my sound."
The Desi Dish: It’s true you hear it with so many artists, one album sounds one way and the next album comes out with a different producer and you’re not even sure if it’s the same artist! Nonetheless, that’s quite an undertaking for only your second time around. Did you find it difficult to produce an album yourself?
Shaheen: Hahah! That is a loud and clear YES! I remember when I first got all the equipment and set it up, I couldn't get any sound to come through the speakers, [I was] feeling so defeated, I called jay in a panic and asked him..."How do I get sound out of this thing?"
The Desi Dish: Omigod!!!
Shaheen: He's such a nice and patient man, he just walked me through all the cable connections until we found the culprit. I learned a lot "on the job" so to speak.
The Desi Dish: By the way how is your mom doing? (Last year Shaheen’s mom battled cancer).
Shaheen: She's doing really well now. She has more spirit in her than before the cancer. Part of it is I think facing your mortality and figuring you better live while you can because you never know what lies ahead - and part of it is the joy of retirement!
The Desi Dish: Do you think that her battle with cancer influenced your album? The album discusses a lot of serious issues like poverty and HIV but manages to stay pretty upbeat.
Shaheen: I think having gone through that really nasty break up and then faced mom's cancer, I really got it...there will always be adversity and challenges and sometimes they will be really heavy and difficult - even tragic - but through all that, you must see hope, experience joy and celebrate what you do have. Life is a gift. I'd be insolent if I didn't count my blessings in every thing I did - including my music. That's why this album discusses things like poverty and AIDS and prostitution, but in a hopeful way.
The Desi Dish: I love that attitude. I definitely got the sense that the album is a celebration of life, the good and the bad.
Shaheen: Yup! Unfortunately, we have to have the bad with the good. Can't just pick out the good parts!
The Desi Dish: I enjoyed the lyrics in the song "Coconut" a lot. Have you ever been called a coconut? Why do you think we as desis put each other down like that?
Shaheen: I never got called a coconut to my face, but I'm sure someone has said that about me somewhere. My cousins in
The Desi Dish: So true! I wonder if desis who are considered more “traditional” are threatened by those who aren’t perceived as such. Which brings me to my next question did you ever feel pressured to follow a more traditional path, i.e. medicine or business?
Shaheen: I think in my family, it wasn't so much an overt pressure. My folks never said you have to be a doctor or a lawyer, etc. But I think it was definitely there in a subtle way. In the sense that my folks didn't really sit me down and say, "You can be anything in the world. There are so many options out there. Let's try to figure out what will fulfill you and inspire you lifelong!" Hahaha! I didn't really think I had options until i picked up a guitar and figured other people did this for a living, why couldn't I?
The Desi Dish: I think many of us know that feeling. You just assume there are certain possible careers and you don’t realize what else is out there until it smacks you in the face! Although music is a more recent venture for you, dance has been part of your life since a young age. How is your dance career going? And does it influence your music? And lastly what are your plans for the future?
Shaheen: I'm very active with my dancing. i have a solo showcase on June 22 here in LA. My first solo show in 11 years! Acting is also a great outlet and I have two films slated to start this summer that I'm involved with, but they are in the nascent stages still. I feel very excited to be able to pursue all these creative avenues. They definitely help round me out as an artist and keep me sharp and challenge all the different aspects of being an artist. It's like exercise. My artistic muscles need the exercise!
The Desi Dish: Do you have any plans to tour?
Shaheen: We're working on it. I'd like to do a 10 city US tour and then head to
A musician, dancer, actress, songwriter, and gorgeous, now that’s what we call desilllllicous!!!! For more info on Shaheen and upcoming dates visit her website.
The Desi Dish is on vacation! When we return on May 21st, look for interviews with hot rising stars like Shaheen Sheik, the latest desi European flavor, art, fashion and more!
In case you missed it the first time around, watch Bobby Jindal on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
Take a toke and pass it on. Our favorite pot smoking perpetually high Asians are baaaaack! Kal Penn and John Cho return as Harold and Kumar in “Harold and Kumar Escape from
This time the movie strikes a more serious note, delving into the meaning of life and eastern wisdom. Yeah right. It’s shenanigans and hijinks as usual!!! The movie starts off with the boys finding themselves in trouble as they try to sneak a bong onto a flight to
Although it’s still pretty much a screwball comedy, the movie does hit a slightly (and we mean SLIGHTLY) deeper note playing with stereotypes (brown=terrorist) while at the same time showing people that Asians are more than just the “model minority”. We like weed too!!
Catch a sneak peak of the trailer here:
“Harold and Kumar Escape from
The recent furor over the cheerleaders at cricket matches led us to wonder are the cheerleaders dressed any skimpier than their desi counterparts??? We think not.
Another year, another raksha or diwali. How do you express your festive sentiments for the desis in your life, when you can't find a card? Clearly Hallmark isn't cutting it.
Enter Jivana Style, a collection of desi cards created by Samantha Alfred. The British born desi girl created the cutesy line of cards after noticing the dearth of desi and specifically British-Asian greeting cards. The birthday cards are organized by collections, "Masala Girlz" and "Desi Boyz" featuring characters like “Bindi Babe”, “Dearest Nani” and “Chutney Chacha”. Jivana also sells everything from Diwali, Christmas, and Eid Mubarak to regular old weddings and engagements.
And after popular demand, Samantha even added British-Carribean cards, Mehndi inspired cards, as well as mugs, magnets, and keychains.
Now you can express yourself in all of your desi glory.
To shop online visit,
Queer desis unite! You are no longer alone in your quest to find your fellow desi LGBTs!
The recently launched ”Queeristan”, blog, addresses issues such as religion, politics, film, art, and Bollywood (among other topics) as it relates to homosexuality.
Yea for progressive thinking!
Check out the blog here, queeristan.blogspot.com
It’s that time of year again! The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles is gearing up for their 2008 extravaganza. This year includes “Bollywood by Night” including 21+ Bollywood films as well as a Madhuri Dixit tribute, featuring the acclaimed film “Mrityudand” (The Death Sentence) followed by a discussion with none other than the Queen of Bollywood herself.
Indie film lovers don’t fret. There’s plenty for you too. Song free films addressing issues of poverty, alcoholism, infidelity, and the partition are there for the viewing.
Five days of some of the best in brightest in the South Asian cinema, what more could you ask for?
For more info, check out their site
All good Indian girls go to med school and marry a doctor. Um, not.
Tiffany is the creator of “Good Indian Girls Do Design!”, where she designs silkscreened notecards. All of the cards feature her original artwork on fine cotton/linen Italian paper and matching envelopes. From the “Colors of India” to the “Scary and Beautiful Bugs” collection, all of the cards are beautifully airy light and elegant. How many people can really make spiders look good? Kudos Tiffany.
Although her parents initially wanted her to be a doctor, Tiffany has since proven that Indian girls can be successful and creative. Tiffany has been featured on HGTV and has even shown her cards at the National Stationary Show.
You go girl.
Can’t seem to get your love life together? Work falling apart? You need to call the Love Guru.
In the upcoming film “The Love Guru”, Mike Myers plays “Pitka” an American raised by gurus in an Indian ashram. He returns to the
Although the movie seems fairly stereotypical, it’s clearly too over-the-top to be taken seriously. In typical Myers fashion, there’s plenty of sex and midget humor. Think of it as Austin Powers Indian style.
Isn’t love sweet?
Catch a sneak peak here
He's so cute!! Watch Oprah interview Prince Mavendra Singh Gohil. Go Prince!
For info on the Prince's organization, visit www.lakshyatrust.org
Ah, another year another Holi. There’s nothing like being splattered with paint and powder until you’re more colorful than Rainbow Brite.
Good times.
Nothing like a little toke to take the edge off. Thank goodness for our favorite drug dealer “Sanjay” played by Maulik Pancholy on the Showtime series “Weeds”.
Watch Sanjay freak out when the cops come a knockin.
Not enough Maulik for you? Don’t fret. The multi-tasking actor stars on not one but 2 TV series. You can also catch Maulik on NBC’s “30 Rock” with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin.
For more info visit
and
Bills, work, friends, family, you can’t keep up with everything going on in the desi world.
Which is why we absolutely LOOOVE BBC program “Desi DNA.” The show focuses on “the new generation of Asians breaking the mould and seeking out the hottest in Asian clubs, fashion, music and lifestyle in the
Watch as presenter Nikki Bedi explores the world of independent Indian film. From premarital sex to homosexuality, to other taboo themes, desi arthouse cinema covers it all.
Check it www.bbc.co.uk
Ah, the salt spray, the sea breeze, the warm air, sand in your book. Nothing like a summer beach read. OK, so it’s not quite summer yet, but hey it’s never too early to get cracking!
Here’s our list of classic summer desi chicklit:
, by Kavita Daswani. The age old story of finding a “suitable” husband is modernized in the tale of fashion publicist Anju, who moves to 
, by Sonia Singh. Forget Wonder Woman. When 
, by Anjali Banerjee. Tired of the questions about her lack of a love life, matchmaker Lina Ray decides to invent an imaginary boyfriend Raja. Now Lina has the tricky task of finding the Raja she’s already supposed to have. Think of it as “The Secret” meets “Clueless”. 
, by Monica Bradhan. As little girls, Kiran, Priety, and Rani used to goodheartedly make fun of their moms, naming them “The Hindi Bindi Club”. But as grown adults with issues of their own, from divorce to infidelity to anorexia their mother-daughter relationships grow even closer, all of course with a sprinkling of some old-world tradition. For info on any of the above books visit,
If you haven’t done it already you’re missing out.
We’re talking about NYC’s very own Dosa Man. Dosa Man is out there Mon-Sat from 11-4 in his vendor cart serving up steamy hot dosas to hungry New Yorkers. Our personal fav is the Special Pondicherry Masala Dosa filled with potatoes and veggies.
Dosa Man is so well known for his tasty treats he even has his own review on citysearch, no small feat in a city full of sidewalk vendors. And the best part? It’s all vegan and under $10. Filler up!
For hours and location see www.newyork.citysearch.com
Need more Dosa Man? Read an interview with Dosa Man at Pardon My Hindi.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest painter of them all?
Clearly it’s Dhruvi Acharya. We are in LOVE with bi-continental painter whose work takes us away to another world with her melancholy wistful watercolors.
The beautiful work of Dhruvi Acharya is both haunting and warm at the same time. The light faded colors bring a dreamy quality to the paintings, while the subject matter addresses everything from pregnancy to arranged marriage, to the position of Indian women in society.
The painter credits the style of Japanese superflat paintings and comic books as inspiration. But don’t let the simplicity fool you. Upon closer examination you might find a dismembered body parts or tears of blood.
As the painter says her work evokes “emotional and intellectual quarrels with oneself”.
If only our self quarrels were half as interesting.
