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news, views and reviews on (south) asian arts primarily and other arty stuff here, not S.Asian and n Hello funksters. Don’t be alarmed. Come join the party. ART.

There’s a welcome here for everyone, wherever and whoever you are in the world. Okay, let’s hope you can see where we’re going. We have a destination. It’s pretty ambitious and in the process we feel we can help you too. You’ve just got to stay with us. Quite simply, we want to be the best, the most comprehensive, insightful, informative, entertaining, engaging, funny, (when appropriate) website d

edicated to arts from a South Asian perspective. Interpret that as you will. The site should give you all the answers you need in case you have any queries about that. Unlike other sites, we’re really only into art. Or that which strives to capture it – we’re not snobby – we think the best TV can be (cue: The Sopranos, a personal favourite of Mr ACV himself but don’t let his prejudices get in the way! Ha ha). We’re also a type of listings service - not everything covered here has to do with art, there’s comedy, as in stand-up and there’ll be some picture stories from time to time. We’re a space where cultural production can be discussed. Ok that sounds heavy. We like debate, discussion, argument, opinions, and want you to have your say. The best way is through Twitter (yes, short, sharp and sweet) at . When we’re a little bigger that might change. But from a humble acorn to a massive oak is a long journey. That’s where you – yes, YOU, come in. To do all this relies on more than just one individual, one person, one idea, one dream – together we can create something. We know there’s already this and that out there. Yes, this and that. But honestly, there is nothing like this – www.asianculturevulture.com. Believe us. At the heart of ACV is its writing, its insights, its belief in quality (coverage and criticism) above all. It’s our fervent belief that it stands for something larger than the sum of its parts. With your help it will mean what we all want it to mean and in the process we can leverage that with cultural producers. Ok, that’s getting heavy again. In short, there’ll be discounts, offers and perhaps even, special ACV events. But that’s for the future and only if YOU can help us in this enterprise. Let me take my ACV hat off for a second and address you personally as a writer, journalist, editor and entrepreneur. If I had a site like this to turn, I wouldn’t have created it, but more than that, it should also be about showcasing the very best of South Asian culture and giving it the rightful platform it deserves, especially in the West. So many of you are already involved and want to get involved, or simply promote your work or others you believe in. Let’s help each other with that. Like us on FB and follow us Twitter. Together we can be strong and powerful and maybe…change the world or at least our world. Let’s get to work!
* Sailesh was the editor of the British best known Asian weekly, Eastern Eye (2009-2012) and before editor of a lifestyle magazine called GG2 Life and has been a journalist for a few years and has written a teenage novel (Asian Triangle) and had a front page splash on The Independent a while back.

30/06/2024

What films have you been watching on the big screen - any of these? - our monthly column is out now!

A movie with a massive budget and another with a small one is what June is all about, as the monsoon season sweeps across the country… By Rodrigues C MUMBAI…read more →

27/06/2024

Meet the next generation of British (Asian) filmmakers on their way up - courtesy of Indian Film Festival UK - meet them! And a chance to see their films on Saturday ICA in
See

The London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) has curated a collection of short films showcasing the best of Asian emerging filmmaking talent in Britain – we catch up with several of…read more →

23/06/2024

Do you know? How many tickets have you got? What are you seeing? What do you want to see and why?
So many questions... Haha.
Our preview of the forthcoming London Indian Film Festival also in
Are you going to see the Closing Film? Lionsgate
Indian Film Festival UK
Also two industry network sessions see end of the preview
See you there?

Showcase of South Asian films and talents hits six cities in the UK and platforms new directors and new directions… with fest going on till July 7 in the rest…read more →

20/06/2024

Review of this new film from Pakistan - watchable, entertaining, interesting...
See ' Umro Ayyar' has stars in it - pakistanfilmindustry

It’s one of the biggest films to have come out of Pakistan in recent times… INSPIRED by a mix of ancient Persian-Urdu mythology, culture and spirituality, ‘Umro Ayyar’, a new…read more →

17/06/2024

Hope you are all having a blessed and precious time with family and friends, dear friends & followers if you are marking...

12/06/2024

How are you? Did you attend? Never fear, the bird is here... we did two final Instagram Reel interviews with star authors Mishal Husain and Vikas Swarup.
If you don't know them, here's your opp - also more about the Jaipur Literature Festival JLF International London (at British Library) between June 7-9.
Wrap page with Vikas Swarup Instagram Reel interview about his new work (coming out July 15 in India) - https://www.instagram.com/p/C8E7YLwtxpx/

From this you can naviagate to all our other

Day 1 and 3 wrap here
http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/jaipur-literature-festival-jlf-at-the-british-library-laughs-wise-reflections-and-uplifting-music-both-indian-and-western/

Day 2 here
http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/jlf-london-2024-day-2-how-the-west-made-itself-mughal-princess-diaries-museums-curiousity-and-bengali-short-fiction/

07/06/2024

The Jaipur Literature Festival London at The British Library starts today (June 7) - this evening with an opening address...full programme day of sessions from tomorrow through till Sunday - check out who's appearing...
Jaipur Literature Festival JLF International
Just a few of the authors and speakers appearing at the Jaipur Literature Festival at the British Library this weekend. There is an opening address today this evening (June 7) and festival is from June 7-9 at the British Library, London. Check out our preview
top or front of the site...

It is the 11th time the festival has come to London and starts this evening… SOME OF the world’s leading authors will be talking about their work and ideas as…read more →

05/06/2024

This is a wrap article with a picture gallery too - our reviews of the all the Indian films that screened in official selection are up too - we will be dropping some more videos and more reviews from some of the other fare at Festival de Cannes over time and we will post when all is done but for now that's us done in a big way on - join us for next year - subscribe to Youtube and there is a link on this article if you're not connected to us...about some celebrations later this year and in 2025 to mark 10 years and 10 years in Cannes too!
A big thanks too to all the team who contributed: Suman Bhuchar Suman Bhuchar Brigitte Leloire Kerackian Nat Bollywood (Natalie Barrass) Adrianne McKenzie, and last but certainly not least Anuj Deo (for the fabulous 10 year annivesary track).
There's a picture gallery too...with lots of prompts to our video interviews on Youtube and most posted during the festival itself (May 14-25).
So finally and with the Indian (and those made by British Asians) films to look out for this year

🎥 Four films about India featured in official selections this year (All We Imagine as Light; The Shameless; Santosh; and Sister Midnight) 🎥 Two won prizes and both created history…read more →

31/05/2024

What's been happening in Bollywood this May ,- mot according to our bird in Mumbai but OTT is scoring high with series such as and films and

As big Bollywood fare stays out of theatres probably due to the Indian heatwave, here’s the rest that’s bubbling away… By Rodrigues C IN INDIA the election fever is still…read more →

26/05/2024

Morning!
Wowee! If you don't know India wa among the prizes dished out ladt night and a top one for Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light'
Here's the video link to our question at the press conference (May 25) and Kapadia's answer...

http://youtu.be/1ibuzuZx2kg?si=D_fAYmWIuouOzasX

THE FIRST INDIAN Competition entry in 30 years also walked away with the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festiva...

25/05/2024

Grand Prix prize for Indian film 'All We Imagine as Light' comes up with three actors to collect her award popular choice

25/05/2024

Have you been following? Seen Youtube? Instagram? Links on home page
Latest (Real time)
http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/cannes-2024-indian-film-by-payal-kapadia-all-we-imagine-as-light-impresses-international-critics-and-tipped-to-take-top-prize-this-evening/

17/05/2024

- apologies about lack of updates but content dropping on Youtube, the site and Instagram. Pls see

- more coming soon. 😉

02/05/2024

Latest news items
guest of honour just announced... more # later

South Asian films extravaganza begins today… THERE are still tickets for the Opening Gala Film of this year’s UK Asian Film Festival which begins this evening.Hosted at the BFI Imax…read more →

01/05/2024

Here's the very latest on - the screening in LA attended by celebs and top honchos from Netflix... Sanjay Leela Bhansali has made a splash - can it break through in the West???
There is also a short review of the series (up to 4/8)

One of India’s great auteur directors’ first series for a streaming channel dropped earlier today on Netflix and the channel screened it on Monday (April 29) in Los Angeles for…read more →

01/05/2024

Are you going to the cinema to watch films - if so what has impressed you in the month just gone (April)? Why haven't you been if not...?
Perhaps this will help as our bird on the ground in Mumbai looks what's happening, who's is in, who's out and just who is sitting in their a/c room all day long... 😉

As two of the year’s biggest movies bring disappointment in Bollywood, here’s what else is making news… By Rodrigues C IN MUMBAI, the heat is on. With temperatures touching 39.7…read more →

01/05/2024

Who is watching ? It dropped on the streamer today...
We caught up with these amazing actors to talk about their characters, what they liked about them, what they didn't and what aspect of that culture would they like to incorporate today...
and of course the auteur behind it all
This is an 8-part series about an area in Lahore (now Pakistan) called - it still exists but in this it is the 1940s and the winds of change are blowing - the British era is coming to a close and the age of the courtesan and the tawaifs are coming to an end...

HOW many of you are intrigued by ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’? which will drop worl...

30/04/2024

New: Who was following the Bafta TV Craft Awards that took place on Sunday (April 28) ?
We were there backstage talking to the winners - you may have seen this on our Instagram account - all but one of interviews are there. Bisha K Ali and Charlie Brooker won the award for Writing Drama for their episode 'Demon 79' part of the most recent Black Mirror Netflix series. Congrats to them and all the winners!

http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/bafta-tv-craft-2024-award-for-writer-bisha-k-ali-her-and-co-writer-charlie-brooker-looking-to-do-more-together-tells-acv/

26/04/2024

New: Have you got a ticket? Do you know what's happening at this year's UK Asian Film Festival? UK Asian Film Festival
Here's our preview - some selected films and events...

Top creatives from India and UK gather for world premieres and established classics in ‘cilmate of change’ theme… HERE are our highlights we’ve picked from this year’s UK Asian Film…read more →

23/04/2024

New: Who has seen or participated in th Victoria & Albert Museum's Performance Festival?
It continues on Sunday (April 28) and features two productions - old and new - first is a talk about the seminal 'East is East' which was first developed under Tamasha when Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith ran it...
Sudha now has Bhuchar Boulevard and it has produced her own one woman show, 'Evening Conversations' - you can see her perform this entertaining and poignant show about modern life, families and mixed heritages after the talk...
ACV Associate Editor Suman Bhuchar makes the call for a British Asian Theatre Archive and also tells us about the production of 'A Number' by Caryl Churchill which is also being screened via the National Video Archive of Performance - and two productions 20 years apart screen as part of the festival too. She also details how the V&A came to have an archive making all this possible!
This festival is made possible by the Victoria and Albert Museum having its own theatre archives...Suman B tells us how that came about...

Today marks the birth of the country’s most famous playwright – William Shakespeare and www.asianculturevulture.com’ s Associate Editor Suman Bhuchar explains why it’s important to keep an archive of South…read more →

20/04/2024

Round up and news of new selection this week - 'Sister Midnight' and also 'The Shameless' as well as a bit about last year and controversy

THERE are just over THREE weeks before the Cannes Film Festival gets underway on May 14 and we bring you a round-up of the latest developments and look back briefly…read more →

17/04/2024

New: Who here has read 'The Buddha of Suburbia' Hanif Kureishi's hugely funny, riotious novel about being an (Asian) teenager in the late 1970s - it's a universal coming of age story and extremely funny but also has beautiful insights into what it means to be different, creative and always exploring (at least at that age from 17-19)... now adapted for the stage by well-known theatre director Emma Rice with some help from the great man himself - a not to be missed show for all those who admire this book! And produced by Royal Shakespeare Company no less...
We caught up with lead actors Dee Ahluwalia and Ankur Bahl, son- Karim) and (father -Haroon) - starts tomorrow (April 18) in Stratford Upon Avon...
Pic: ©RSC/SteveTanner

Whitbread Award winning book comes to life on stage and opens tomorrow in Stratford Upon Avon… IT IS ONE OF THE BEST novels of contemporary times – first published in…read more →

17/04/2024

Following on from the previous post (see beneath), the play he - director Abdul Shayek of Tara Theatre so memorably brought to life from BBC Broadcaster Kavita Puri's radio series and book - 'Silence' returns in a new, different incarnation and Suman Bhuchar explores this new production...

Play first developed from personal memories at the time of the Partition of India now has new staging and mostly new actors and is on a national tour… also news…read more →

14/04/2024

Who is celebrating Vaisakhi this weekend? To all our cherished friends and followers, may you enjoy this blessed time with you dearest and nearest...
Wishing you all celebrating a very

Freepik (Harry Arts)

14/04/2024

This is celebrated by Hindus in and around the world by those hailing from or having their roots there... it is a time of wishing people good fortune and a comfortable year ahead...
In many homes, these items will be displayed along with sacred texts, and it is auspicious to see first thing in the morning!
Maybe not so early (here in the UK today) but it is Sunday! haha.
Happy Vishu!
Pic: Freepik.com

11/04/2024

Cannes 2024 - two official selections caught our attention - Indian Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine as Light' has made it to Festival de Cannes Competition section - an amazing achievement! Three years ago (2021) her documentary - 'A Night of Knowing Nothing' - won a Cannes award. You can read more about and in our story...
Also making film news is Sandhya Suri. The British filmmaker's 'Santosh' features in the category for up and coming global filmmakers...again pretty damn impressive! Supported by the , it features in the section known as Un Certain Regard.
More about her and her film in the story...

We will have more about our own coverage of this year's Cannes next week. and a special unveiling 😉...
Picture is of Brigitte Leloire Kerackian (right) interviewing Kapadia in Cannes in 2021...

Indian film is included in prestigious Competition section, while ‘Santosh’ features in section for up and coming directors…the news broke earlier this morning in the Official Selections press conference… BRITISH…read more →

10/04/2024

To all our dear friends.... hope this is a time of renewal and joy everywhere - even in the darkest of corners...

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Videos

New: If you are in the UK, you'll be hearing a lot about the new drama series on ITV called 'Three Little Birds' which is about three women who came to the UK on the Windrush boat and came to settle in the UK, in time It is brainchild of Sir Lenny Henry who has long advocated for better represenation both in front of - and behind the camera - in terms of diversity. This very much too a tribute to that generation and LH's mother in particular. Sure we have all (in the UK) known wonderful people like her who make modern Britain what it is today... This is wonderful drama and is sure to win awards...but here's showrunner and the main creative force behind it Sir Lenny Henry talking about it -sorry if you have seen on our other social media followers. It is something he loved making and a lot of people are going to love watching it! It was under embargo until a few days ago really... #threelittlebirds #lennyhenry #Windrush #WindrushGeneration

ACV is 10!

This is signature video and pinning! Thank you so much for your interest and support - we will be celebrating properly in 2024! 😉 And as this shows we do more than just film! And our home is the UK, London. 😊 but we cover global creative South Asians 💙

How are you feeling after the Bank Holiday? Blues? It is Onam today in Kerala. It is the main festival there and bigger than Diwali. This video gives you a glimpse of the sights and sounds of Kerala....Happy Onam, have a great day and week! Remember, it's a bit shorter! These tiny bird No1 feet trace their origins back to this sunshine state! This is a video widely being (and freely) shared and we have no commercial relationship with the producers. See you all soon! (SR)

#cannes2023 Day 1 & 2 more pictures to follow #cannes2023 #saraalikhan #bollywood #cannes2023acv for us! 😉

New: Lily James on her new film, 'What's Love Got Do With It?' You can see the full video on the site or Youtube. You can hear what Shazad Latif has to say about the film too in the full version. #WhatsLoveGotToDoWithIt #LilyJames To watch after seeing this clip beow - https://youtu.be/XcsuZL0-gHc?t=28 To see story/video on the site - http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/lily-james-and-shazad-latif-on-whats-love-got-to-do-with-it-video/

Lily James on 'What's Love Got To Do With It' clip only

New: Lily James and Shezad Latif interview - just a clip here about their new film - 'What's Love Got To Do With It' - it's out in UK cinemas next month... You can watch the full video from here after watching below https://youtu.be/XcsuZL0-gHc?t=29 The site http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/lily-james-and-shazad-latif-on-whats-love-got-to-do-with-it-video/

Lliy James on her film, 'What's Love Got To Do With It' clip

See Sally El Hosaini's beautiful film about the two Mardini sisters making it out of Syria and one of them participating in the Olympics, and based on a true story... If you can't watch the film, see the full interview or watch this... Full video and review on site #TheSwimmers #sallyelhosaini #refugees #netflix

New: And we are down to No4 (of the top 5) in Nat Bollywood review of 2021 and all the shows she reviewed for the Bird Eye Review Show... If you love Indian music... Look away NOW! if you want to watch and hear it from Nat herself... The full show is on our Youtube Channel The show is Episode 19 https://youtu.be/fE4lSl6cAxQ #birdeyereviewshow #acvbers #ott #ottreviews #reviews #SKODASonicRoots #AmitTrivedi #sonicroots #indianfolkmusic #folkmusic #music

So, we are coming to the end of London Film Festival. It is the last day today (October 17). What did you see, if anything? We will have reviews but first our video interviews from the festival and to get you in the mood... We missed (press view of) The Tragedy of Macbeth which will have its LFF public screening as the Closing Gala Film this evening (17). Press seems mostly positive - has Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington in the main roles and directed by Joel Cohen. Our video interviews will be out on the site and on our Youtube channel shortly - if you haven't subscribed...Lots of flm festival content there, both past and present, plenty to get stuck in... Laters, dear friends (SR). #LFF #LLFFacv #LondonFilmFestival #London #londontourism #TheTragedyOfMacbeth

Bell Bottom director Ranjit Tiwari teaser

Seen 'Bell Bottom' yet? What did director Ranjit Tiwari tell our Nat Bollywood after she got over the disappointment of not featuring in this Bollywood spy blockbuster...hints of lockdown and Zoom casting...see the full video on the site or our Youtube channel... And are there any Akkians out there? UK Akkians? Go on...

New (but short version): Want to know what the first Bangladesh film to premiere in Cannes (for some time) is like...? Called 'Rehana Maryam Noor', it premiered in the Uncertain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival (July 6-17) Brigitte Leloire Kerackian Nat Bollywood Suman Bhuchar Seen our other reviews? #Annette #ahedsknee coming...stay tuned/subscribe - also first day and what's coming...head to Youtube from 👇 #cannes2021 #cannes74 #RehanaMaryamNoor #AzmeriHaqueBadhon #abdullahmohammadsaad For the full version, please see https://youtu.be/g-O0yXavuKg

Cannes 2021: Opening film

Reminder: What have you caught so far? It started on Tuesday evening formally with the opening ceremony and the world premiere of the film Annette - Brigitte Leloire Kerackian sets the scene for us...we will have more until the festival ends on July 17. What are you looking forward to? Know which films are screening...and what stars are in Cannes this year. Stay tuned... The full version of this is on our Youtube channel More soon! https://youtu.be/fjyfHj71jbs #Cannes2021 #Cannes74 #CannesFilmFestival #SpikeLee #cannes21acv

NEW: Coming soon - Manchester International Festival Manchester International Festival #MIF21 #Manchester Suman Bhuchar Preview http://asianculturevulture.com/portfolios/manchester-international-festival-2021-july-1-18-rashid-rana-imtiaz-dharker-zoe-iqbal-abi-sampa-akram-khan-naaman-azhari-artists-stepping-up-and-back-onto-a-platform/

New: What films are you watching at this year's UK Asian Film Festival? You have until June 6. There is also the online programme...check this out 'Granada Nights' - a British film shot wholly on location in the very beautiful city of Granada. Antonio Aakeel plays a young man from Britain who has lost his way a bit and remains fixated on his girlfriend who is studying in Spain. She has moved on - he hasn't what happens...? The full version is on Youtube! #GranadaNights Granada Nights movie UK Asian Film Festival #UKAFF2021 #Granada #youth #passion #love #holiday #spain Antonio Aakeel

Evening from here - how is everyone? Who is at the cinema? Yay, yes we can go now... Thinking of the UK Asian Film Festival - and especially the screening tonight in under 30 minutes the world premiere of 'Toofaan Mail' - not just the name of a train between Kolkata and Delhi - but we will let filmmaker Akriti Singh tell you about this film in her own words... https://www.facebook.com/akriti.singh Almost like an introduction to her film... UK Asian Film Festival #UKAFF2021 #UKAFF #ToofaanMail Nat Bollywood - great editing! Premieres tonight Belgrade Theatre, Coventry hosted by Phizzical and tomorrow Rich Mix London