The roaring 20s are back, baby!
Forget subtlety, homegrown artists and creators are breaking down borders and blending tradition with avant-garde interventions: musicians are dropping genre-defying anthems, chefs are reimagining culinary legacies through an outsider's lens, and designers are rewriting narratives of identity — all while anchoring their work in the region's rich cultural roots. This vibrant wave isn't just about making noise — it's about sparking a conversation between heritage and modernity, proving that the region's creative pulse now beats at the heart of global culture.
This week, we are celebrating the contradictions driving contemporary South Asian culture — where soft meets sharp, tradition meets rebellion, and cultural lines are blurred with chutzpah. We're spotlighting homegrown artists and creatives who aren't afraid to remix the rules: Shreea Kaul's moody sonic universe on 'Khali Wali' bends genres into something darkly romantic and unmistakably global; a new joint in Bandra redefines Japanese comfort food through a distinctly Indian outsider's lens; and a haunting video installation stages a quiet battle between the man-made and the natural world.
From a fashion label confronting masculinity to a short film that delicately dissects the joy and grief of female friendship, and a cross-continental residency program reimagining collaboration — this is not just culture, it’s culture in motion. Step in. Slow down. Look closer.
Here's what we have for you this week:
Shreea Kaul's Latest Single Khali Wali Is A Dark Romantic Fusion Of Genres
On her latest single, 'Khali Wali', Shreea Kaul uses cultural influences from across the globe to build a cinematic new world of her own. The singer-songwriter has been at the forefront of the rising South Asian and pop-R&B fusion landscape since the release of her 2020 LP, ‘Seven Deadly Sins'. With 'Khali Wali', Kaul takes her innovative, multicultural creative approach to the next level, incorporating elements of Flamenco and Arabic music into her signature desi-pop sound.
Read Disha's take here.
Gaijin, Bandra's Newest Food Joint, Is For Those Who Want Japanese Comfort Food With A Mumbai Flourish
Gaijin is a newly launched Japanese restaurant in Bandra, Mumbai, offering a bold reinterpretation of Japanese cuisine through an Indian lens. The name 'Gaijin', meaning 'outsider' in Japanese, reflects its philosophy of honouring traditional techniques while embracing creative rebellion. Helmed by Chef Anand Morwani, Gaijin's curated menu encourages freeform grazing with a variety of cold and hot plates, nigiri, gunkan, maki, mains, and desserts.
Follow Gaijin for more information.
Tito's 'Habitat', A Collaborative Video Installation, Studies The Contrast Between The Man-Made And Natural World
Created in collaboration with filmmaker Ayush Sayalkar and Hyderabad-based electronic artist Aswin Narayanan (Somnium Monkey), this video installation unfolds across a montage of urban structures and forested landscapes. 'Habitat' presents a choreography of hands with textures of architecture and nature, drawing attention to the inherent dialogue between human presence and the spaces we move through.
Read Disha's thoughts here.
Devika Mahajan's 'Aaj Shanibar' Is A Cinematic Peek Into The Complex, Messy Beauty Of Female Friendships
A moving portrait of female friendship, 'Aaj Shanibar' follows Farheen (Aiman Mukhtiar) and Rhea (Farzana Palathingal) as they share what they call their "last girls' night out" together in Mumbai. But as time passes, a night that was meant to be fun and frivolous slowly spirals into an existential conversation that unspools everything they weren't trying to talk about.
Watch the film here.
Villa Swagatam Is A Fully-Funded Cross-Cultural Residency Connecting Artists & Writers Based In France & South Asia
Villa Swagatam was established as part of the roadmap commemorating the 25th anniversary of the France–India strategic partnership in 2023. Since its inception, the programme has supported nearly fifty artists and writers through fully-funded one-to-three-month immersive residencies in India and France. Now in its third year, the programme includes Sri Lanka alongside India and Bangladesh, bringing together around thirty institutional partners and reinforcing France’s commitment to meaningful artistic and literary collaboration. Learn more about the programme here.
Homegrown Label lahoS’ Latest Collection Wrestles With The Very Notion of Masculinity
'lahoS' is a reclamation of the expectations often tied to diasporic Punjabi identity. It undoes the limitations established by Western depictions of luxury, success and appearance, and has created an organic, hybrid aesthetic that fuses Eastern silhouettes with contemporary tailoring and street sensibility," Fathima writes. Read her article about why you should pay attention to this homegrown label here.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:
Van Bhoj: Stay At A One-Of-A-Kind Luxury Eco-Retreat Mud House In Delhi NCR
Liberation, Not Lululemon: 'The Anti Yogi' Exposes The Absurdities Of Western Yoga
Durbar: Inside A Festival Mindfully Intersecting Craft, Culture, & Regional Storytelling