It's DNA

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 UK and abroad”.

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

Summer Days

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:

1. For Matrimonial Purposes, by Kavita Daswani. The age old story of finding a “suitable” husband is modernized in the tale of fashion publicist Anju, who moves to New York after she fails to get married in India. Nothing us ladies can’t relate to.
2. Goddess for Hire, by Sonia Singh. Forget Wonder Woman. When California girl Maya Mehra discoveres she’s the reincarnation of Kali all hell breaks loose. Unfortunately she’s still not married and lives with her parents. But this superhero doesn’t feel sorry for herself; she’s ready to kick ass.
3. Imaginary Men, 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”.
4. The Hindi-Bindi Club, 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,

Ain't Nuthin But a Dosa Thing

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. www.pardonmyhindi.com

Beautiful Dreamer

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.

www.dhruvi.com

Win This!

No, you’re not hallucinating. That is indeed desi Avir Mitra lead singer of Bamboo Shoots, in the in the latest Virgin America ad campaign. The billboard size ads will be seen in Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington D.C..

Now for the good stuff. If you see the ad take a picture of it with you, your pet squirrel, or your new BFF. Send the photo with your name and location of the ad to BambooShoots@gmail.com and you could win a signed limited edition Hey Girl 7" from the band. Additionally, all pictures will appear on the Bamboo Shoots site...credited to you.

Now if that is hot contest, we don’t know what it is.

www.myspace.com/bambooshoots

www.bambooshoots.com

Mumbai Glitter

Pick up a copy of the March issue of Vogue for “Global Glamour” profile on Mumbai socialite Prenra Goel.

Make Me Over

Check out the profile of celeb surgeon Dr. Raj Kanodia in the March issue of Allure magazine. The master beak tweaker denies working on Ashlee Simpson, Cameron Diaz, or pretty much anyone else in Hollywood. But that apparently doesn’t stop celebs and socialities alike from dropping $18K on a signature “Kanodia”.

www.drkanodia.com

www.allure.com