Inhale This

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 Guantamo Bay ” out in theaters now.

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 Amsterdam . Unfortunately the “bong” is mistaken for a “bomb” and Kumar is suspected of being a terrorist. Alas, the duo must now out run Homeland Security and escape Guantanamo while trying to clear their names.

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 Guantanamo Bay ” is playing in theaters now. www.haroldandkumar.com

Cheer On

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.

You've Got Style

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, www.jivanastyle.com

Rainbow of Desis

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

Come One, Come All!

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

www.indianfilmfestival.org

Be A Good Girl

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.

Support good girls everywhere and shop here.

www.goodindiangirls.com

Guru in the House

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 U.S. as a guru to help Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player regain the love of his wife who has left him for rival hockey player Jacques Grande played by none other than Justin Timberlake.

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.

Myers is joined by Ben Kingsley as Guru Tugginmypudha (get it?) and Jessica Alba as his love interest.

Isn’t love sweet?

Catch a sneak peak here

“The Love Guru” opens in theaters June 20^th.
www.lovegurumovie.com

Princely Duties

He's so cute!! Watch Oprah interview Prince Mavendra Singh Gohil. Go Prince!



For info on the Prince's organization, visit www.lakshyatrust.org

Paint by Number

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.

Well now you can celebrate Holi all year round. Japanese designer Kenzo has come with a new fragrance entitled “Amour Indian Holi”. The limited-edition fragrance is inspired by the “a festival of colors, love, and life”. Sounds hot. The perfume contains notes of rice, berries, rose, vanilla, musk and of course sandalwood.

Let the games begin.

On sale for a limited time only at www.sephora.com

Smoking Hot

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 www.sho.com

and www.nbc.com