In Sickness and In Health

A lesbian couple in the Indian state of Orissa has gotten married.
A priest belonging to the Korput district’s Kandha tribe presided over the ceremony, uniting Wetka Polang, 30, with her partner Melka Nilsa, 22.
The community, initially resistant to the idea of two women marrying, ultimately gave its blessings to the union.
Said village elder, Melka Powla, […]

New King of Bollywood?

“It seems like the Indian filmmakers are pushing boundaries in terms of pushing the censors. I think Bollywood is an interesting place for filmmakers to go.”
So says Oscar-winning perennial bachelor George Clooney, in a recent interview with the CNN-IBN channel.
Clooney is a fan of Bollywood films, and apparently wants to star in one: “I’d love […]

Bulay Bulay: Do It For The Kids

Click here for more details.
Voted one of the top five nights for dancehall, dub and worldly beats by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Non Stop Bhangra is a collective of DJs, dancers and dhol players who produce local events bringing bhangra to the Bay area.
Project Ahimsa is a non-profit bringing music teachers and instruments […]

Giant Buddhas Come to New York

Time magazine calls it “A subdued, indeed Zen-like rumination on the things that war spoils.”
We call it a worthwhile way to spend a Thursday night.
If you’re in the New York area, check out Christian Frei’s documentary The Giant Buddhas, a meditation on the senseless destruction of Afghanistan’s historic Buddha statues.
The Asia Society (725 […]

Film Review of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

So I finally got around to seeing Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle recently, on DVD. I know, that probably makes me the last person on earth, or at least in this hemisphere. While conducting a post-viewing Google on a rather pointless question (being Hindi-challenged, I wondered exactly what Kumar and the shopkeeper were […]

An Indian Christmas?

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me/
A totally insufficient dowry

So it goes when you’re celebrating the “12 Days of an Indian Christmas” in this South Park-meets-Charlie Brown Christmas “Boy Mongoose” original.
But is it funny or offensive? Tell us what you think:

Becoming Family: A Tsunami Relief Documentary

A small coastal village’s tsunami memorial to the 136 people who died there. (typecastingfilms.com)
I remember attending a five-college production of Richard III years ago and being struck by the dynamic lead actor Rahmi Mowjood. He brought Shakespeare’s portrayal of a bitter, power-hungry royal to life. Mowjood went on to complete medical school, and recently worked […]