Did Diwali come early this year? Break out the mithai! Today we’re focusing on Indian representation through books, Bollywood and more! You know how the song goes. “Mera joota hai japani, yeh patloon englishtani, sar pe laal topi rusi… phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.”
Books
The Palace Of Illusions
By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
I presume we’ve all heard of the Mahabharat? If not, then listen up really quick. A very very long time ago, there were two sets of cousins: the Pandavs, the five sons of Pandu (not a Panda) and the Kauravs, the one hundred (yes, one hundred) sons of Dhritarash. Pandu gave up the throne of Hastinapur. Dhritarash, despite being blind, was put on the throne. And now the cousins are fighting. Mostly because Duryodhan (the oldest of the Kauravs) is kinda… a horrible person. So anyways, that’s the Kurukshetra war in a nutshell. Cousins go to war over a fancy chair.
The Palace Of Illusions is the story of the Kurukshetra war from the perspective of Draupadi, the princess of Panchal and wife of the Pandavs. Yes, she really was married to all five of them. Polyandry at its finest. Draupadi is arguably the most significant female character in the whole long-winding Mahabharat. This beautifully written, captivating novel tells the story of her birth from a fire ritual, the tensions in her marriage with the Pandavs and her navigation of the complex political landscape as a woman in ancient India. Over the course of the story, Draupadi develops from a mere princess into a key player in the war, showing qualities of resilience and bravery. To all my desi girls, Draupadi is an inspiration and we should all aspire to be like her. (And not just because she was captivating enough to have five husbands. One is more than enough, thank you.)
The Phoenix King
By Aparna Verma
Have you ever wanted a fantasy novel, filled with ball gowns and political plots and mythical creatures and dangerously attractive and smouldering heroes? Yeah, me too. If we were looking at the western world, I’d recommend the Throne Of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. (Chaol Westfall was my first love.) But we’re not.
The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma is coming out very soon, and I’m certain that all the hype will be worth it. Finally some Indian representation is mainstream fantasy romance. I’m excited. I mean come on, there’s historical references, beautiful lehengas, assassination plots, romance, religion (never thought those two words would be in the same sentence, but here we are). If you’ve heard of the Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang, it’s a really similar concept. But representation! Finally! I know it’s going right on my TBR when it comes out. If you’re a fan of history, mystery and Indian culture, you have to read this book. You have to.
Kaikeyi
By Vaishnavi Patel
So… Ramayan. Different Hindu epic. Really quick recap. This happens before the Mahabharat. Very very very long time ago. There is a king called Dashrath. He has three wives: Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. Ram is the eldest son of Dashrath, his mother is Kaushalya. As the Ramayan goes, Kaikeyi, being jealous that her son Bharat wouldn’t get the throne of Ayodhya, commanded that Ram be exiled to the forest for fourteen years. For so many years and generations, Kaikeyi has been portrayed as this jealous, evil stepmother. But was she really?
In this retelling, Vaishnavi Patel explores Kaikeyi's motivations and emotions, delving into her backstory and the events that led up to her fateful decision. The novel also explores themes such as love, loyalty, and sacrifice, and provides a fresh perspective on a familiar story. It’s a freaking amazing book and I loved every page. Never again will I think of Kaikeyi as a jealous, evil stepmother. Honestly, she was just doing what she had to do. Think about it, mere concubine to mother of the king. Power move. If you loved reading or hearing about or watching the Ramayan, you absolutely have to read this book.
Music
By KK
“Tere saath saath aisa koi noor aaya hai… chaand teri roshni ka halka sa ek saaya hai.”
I’m telling you, if someone said that to me, I’d melt. With you comes this kind of radiance. The moon is a mere shadow of your celestial light. (*Swoons*).
From the cult classic (and one of my absolute favourite films) Om Shanti Om, comes Ajab Si. When Om sees Shanti for the first time, these are the thoughts that run through his mind. Take notes people, this song is perfection. If there’s someone in your life that makes your heart flutter and your stomach backflip at a million miles an hour, someone who radiates beauty and love, someone who’s so close to perfection you can swear that heaven is on the other side of their skin (uhh… not in the biology way), then please, sing them this.
Rest in peace KK, no one can do romance like you.
By Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
“Mere rashke qamar… tune pehli nazar jab nazar se milayi… maza aa gaya.”
Mere rashke qamar. My envy of the moon. You’re more beautiful than the moon… (*swoons*). A classic song of Sufi love, in the ghazal-qawwali style, this remastered version of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s 1998 song, complete with dazzling visuals of Ajay Devgn and Illeana D’Cruz… oh it’s perfection. Illeana’s saris man. They’re to die for.
Remember darling, you are the envy of the moon. Moon is nice and all, but you are spectacular. Self-love before love-love, right? But no joke, if you want to romance someone, and you think they’re more beautiful than the moon, sing them this.
By Sadhana Sargam & Udit Narayan
“Pehla nasha… pehla khumar… naya pyaar hai… naya intezaar..”
Purane zamane ke pyaar. Classic old-timey love. Soft piano, sweet melodies, the unforgettable voice of Udit Narayan… this is the love of our parents’ generation. What happened yaar? Bring this back now people. Be the change.
Anyways, this is young love blooming like a rose in the spring. This is the kind of love where you don’t need words. The haunting first line goes “chahe tu kuch na kaha, maine sunn liya.” Despite the fact that you didn’t say anything, I heard. This is that kind of love. Where you understand each other so perfectly. You fit. Like pieces of a puzzle. You don’t need words, only looks and actions. As Wattpad of the 2010s would say, your orbs battle passionately. But sweeter. Softer. Simpler. This is simple love.
Well… real love is never simple. But this is the kind of love where you go together so well, you fall into sync, and the universe falls with you. That kind of love. If someone makes you feel like that, this is the song.
Movies
Okay, condensing these to my top three recommendations for Bollywood beginners was incredibly difficult. I know that the vast majority of people will tell you “Watch 3 Idiots”. I agree. Watch 3 Idiots. It’s freaking amazing. But watch these too. And anything by Imran Khan. That guy is the epitome of mindless entertainment that is surprisingly thought-provoking. (Imran Khan the actor, not the former PM of Pakistan.)
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
“Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam… pyaar hota hai deewana sanam… ab yahan se kahan jaaye hum… teri baahon mein mar jaaye hum…” (I mean, if Shah Rukh Khan searched every village in Punjab for me, I’d probably mar jaa in his baahon too.)
This is the story of Simran and Raj, two Indians who meet on a train trip across Europe. A little splash of enemies-to-lovers, but not quite in the traditional sense. He’s rebellious but charismatic, free as a bird. She’s the conservatively-raised traditional daughter who stepped into the world on her own for the first time. Obviously, his youthful and childish antics will annoy her, right? But somewhere between getting stranded in Switzerland and sharing a bottle of cognac (sharab nahi hoti) on an icy night creeps in love. Pyaar, ishq, mohabbat.
Complete with symbolic and memorable visuals (no one will forget that field of yellow flowers), heart-touching songs still played to this day (mehendi laga ke rakhna) and endless masti, DDLJ is not a movie. It’s an experience. An experience you need to have. Right now. So crank up Netflix or Amazon Prime my dears. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll find your Raj or Simran too…
Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
“In lamhon ke daaman mein… pakeezah se rishte hai… koi kalma mohabbat ka… dohrate farishte hai…” (So… love and religion do go together… hmm… interesting… fated lovers?)
A little spin on real historical figures: Jodhaa, a beautiful Hindu Rajput princess, and Akbar, the third Mughal emperor of India. An alliance that begins with enmity and ends with love. As the plot goes, it’s pretty simple. But watching this movie is just amazing. It’s filled with beautiful visuals: stunning palaces, intense war scenes, silken saris and sparkling gold jewellery. (I’m telling you, I wanted to traipse around in a sari and jhumkas for days after this.) There’s suspense, intrigue, political plots and meddling aunty characters. And the occasional song. Sufi and qawwali ghazals that perfectly combine Hindi and Urdu, tales of love and loss and beauty. This movie is just (*chef’s kiss*).
And if it couldn’t get any more perfect, it’s Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan as Jodhaa and Akbar. I didn’t know who to swoon over more. About to have another crisis. They just complete it, iykyk.
Om Shanti Om (2007)
“Ek chutki sindoor ki keemat tum kya jaano Ramesh? Ishwar ka aashirwad hota hai ek chutki sindoor. Suhagan ke sarr ka taj hota hai ek chutki sindoor. Har aurat ka khwab hota hai… ek chutki sindoor.” (Absolute classic line, please use it every time someone belittles marriage. Only if you believe in marriage.)
This is my absolute favourite movie ever. It’s basically my comfort movie. A perfect blend of the nostalgia of old Bollywood and the new culture of swooning over heroes. We open with some lines the Rishi Kapoor classic Karz. “Kya tune kisi se pyar kiya? Kya tune kisi ko dil diya? Maine bhi diya!”. And then we see Shah Rukh Khan, or Om Prakash Makhija, a little junior actor who is absolutely hopelessly in love with Shantipriya, a famous actress. A little bit of drama, a little bit of scandal. And then poof! Tragedy.
Thirty years later, we have Om Kapoor, a famous actor. And upon meeting Mukesh Mehra, a producer from the seventies, he remembers everything about Shantipriya and her tragic demise. So Om vows to avenge Shanti’s death, and finally serve justice to the man who killed her.
Oh. My. God. This movie is everything. It’s got fun visuals, catchy songs, lovable and relatable characters. The purane zamane ka pyaar and the aaj ka zamana ka swooning over heroes. A little bit of love, a little bit of revenge all packed into this blockbuster of a film.
PS. Watch out for all the famous Bollywood faces in this song here. Try and see how many you can name. More than half? You might just have the makings of a fan in you.
TV Shows
Maddam Sir
“Kuch baat hai… kyunki jazbaat hai.” Yes, the title is a little weird. Bear with me. Maddam Sir is a show about police officers. Not your standard police officers. Our tale is set in Lucknow and the first few seasons focus on a station run entirely by female officers. The show follows the personal and professional lives of these officers, and addresses social issues such as gender equality, women’s safety and the importance of community policing. It also addresses female representation in a male-dominated industry. These ‘mahila’ police officers face gender bias, discrimination and social stigma, along with a lack of personal safety and support. The show also addresses work-life balance and the expectation of women to marry and have children early. (The police chief’s mother keeps bugging her to get married, it reminds you so much of the aunties you encounter.) I’ve lost you, haven’t I? I promise, this show is amazing. Yes, it deals with complex and multifaceted issues, but it does so in such an entertaining manner, you take the lesson without realising. The episodes can be watched entirely out of order, just start from a random place and enjoy. And don’t be like the criminals, please.
Saath Nibhaana Saathiya
“Kal mere sari par juice gira tha, aur main dobara nahane gayi thi. Tum chane cooker mein chadhakar mere paas aayi thi tab rasode mein kaun tha? Kaun tha? Main thi? Tum thi? Kaun tha? KAUN THA?”
Before these lines became a TikTok sensation, this was the show of my childhood. You get everything. The horrid mother-in-law, the traditional and conservative family values, the ridiculous drama over tiny things and the (*gasp*) scandalous plot twists. You take away the saris and jewellery, this could be any Indian joint family. It’s amazing! And that’s why this show ran for seven whole years, and then got a slightly… terrible remake. Watch the original and you’ll laugh your head off. I used to think it was funny, I still think it’s funny, I just feel bad for poor Gopi bahu. Rashi’s horribly mean to her. To those of you who’ve seen it, or who are going to start watching it after my lovely synopsis, tell us in the comments: team Gopi bahu, or team Rashi bahu?
Also, poor Kokila ben. Who hurt her???
Rocket Boys
Oh Rocket Boys. I’ve been in love with this show (and Jim Sarbh, but that’s a different story) since I first saw it. We first meet Vikram Sarabhai. Some of you might have heard the name. Vikram is a student in the UK, and we first meet him as he sets off a rocket on school grounds. Then we meet Homi J. Bhabha, a physicist who researched cosmic rays and then nuclear power. Over the course of the show, we see the development of Vikram and Homi’s personal and professional lives, and their friendship with each other. From student and teacher, they become good friends with dreams to reach the sky. Vikram dreams of launching rockets. Homi dreams of India becoming a nuclear power.
The first season is ^^ in a nutshell. The second focuses more around the political landscape of post-Independence India, and the changing ideals towards rocketry and nuclear power; and the straining relationship between the two visionaries. All in all, Rocket Boys is a beautiful show. Stellar cinematography, a captivating storyline and very swoon-worthy actors, this thing is more informative than a history lesson. And a million times more entertaining. We get to see personal and intimate relationships, the trials and tribulations of hard work and endless study, and the challenges that two scientists face when no one believes them.
This show was an inspiration. I’d like to be a rocket scientist. Alas, I cannot do maths. (*Sighs*) But, if this show inspires you, and you can do maths, reach for the stars. Launch a rocket, build a nuclear reactor. Be careful. I believe in you.
Okay, honestly. The first time I saw Jim Sarbh, he played a psychopath kidnapper in Raabta (amazing movie, no joke) and I still fell head over heels in love. This show just makes it so much better. The second season premiered less than a month ago. Go watch it! You know how I said that DDLJ is an experience for movies? Rocket Boys is the experience for shows. Enough of irritating mother in laws and family drama. We have explosions!
Podcasts
Masala Podcast
Cultural Taboos, Feminism, Women’s Health
By Sangeeta Pillai
We’re brown people. There are a lot of things that are taboo in our culture. Periods. Sex. And we try to break the stigma here at The Lion’s Crest, but sometimes that’s just not enough. Masala Podcast is run for women, by women. Periods, menopause, sex and dating. Everything. Here. For you. At Masala Podcast, they break stigmas and get rid of shame. They talk about everything. Body image, sexuality, being LGBT+ as South Asians, identity, mental health. You name it, they’ve got it. All three seasons on Spotify. Go forth and listen!
Love Aaj Kal
Love, Relationships, Social Issues
By Aastha Atray & Ankit Vengurlekar
I have been a religious listener of this podcast since 2019. It’s dwindled a bit recently. They’re just so much better when they’re run by best friends. Aastha and Ankit don’t just talk about love, sex and dating. They also talk about culture, social issues. A particular favourite episode of mine detailed the film Kabir Singh. Yes, that film. That one. It talked about the toxic relationships that were portrayed as romantic (CoHo apologists, begone). But not just in Kabir Singh, toxic relationships are portrayed as romantic in so many Bollywood movies. Goodness, it’s like we’re being conditioned by our culture to accept abuse. There are good sides to this podcast too. They’re incredibly funny, they scatter in movie references, and if you have a particular question that’s bugging you, you can DM them on Instagram (@loveaajkalpodcast). The first two seasons are on Spotify, the rest of the episodes can be found on their Instagram, YouTube Channel or JioSaavn.
Pride & Prejudice
LGBT+, Loopholes In Law, Queer History
By Suno India
There are queer Indians. Yes. And they don’t get enough representation. Pride & Prejudice explores issues related to gender and sexuality in India. They focus on the experiences of the LGBT+ community and raise awareness about the challenges and discrimination that LGBT+ individuals face in the conservative Indian society, which always thinks first and foremost “log kya kahenge?” They also bring in guest speakers, discussing things like legal and social status, mental health issues, societal pressures and the impact of family on queer individuals. They aim to create a safe space, where the LGBT+ community can share experiences and stories. They promote empathy and seek to address the misconceptions and stereotypes about the community. And that’s not quite it. They also share and provide resources for those looking for support and looking to learn more about LGBT+ issues in India. Find them on Spotify and the Suno India website.
YouTube Channel & Instagram Account
I don’t watch a lot of YouTube, but here’s what I got. @thatgirltas is a passionate reader and filmgoer who has done some really amazing and insightful reviews of more modern Bollywood films. I particularly enjoyed her review of Qala (2022), a film I loved and my mother hated. It’s got beautiful cinematography, symbolism and songs. The plot is… okay. Do look out for trigger warnings though.
If movie reviews aren't for you, still, check out her Instagram (also @thatgirltas) for book recommendations, Bollywood movie lists with opinions (did Aditya and Geet from Jab We Met stay together???), some really good Hindi songs and... desi outfit inspiration. If I could, I'd be her. She's an absolute icon.
I hope you took something from today's post, even if it was just "don't be Kokilaben." Good enough. Thank you for putting up with my spiralling. Until next time <3
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