The West is cheating on us with China.
For decades, our caucasian brethren were obsessed with yoga, turmeric in lattes, breathwork, neem, oil pulling, and really, really colourful pants. But now, there’s a new Eastern culture in town, and everyone seems to be on board the train of Chinese lymphatic drainage routines, hot-water mornings, Tai chi stretches, gua sha massages, and that one chest-pump move that can get you a snatched waist. The trend that has taken over all over feeds goes by the caption, “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life”, which is funny because it frames culture as a phase we go through momentarily.
Our pusherman, bringing it all to us though, is still the West. We may have the ancient wisdom and a rich heritage of a plethora of cuisines, craft practices, and folklore, but the world will only recognise it in the collective consciousness with affection, as we do with the trends we love, when it’s distributed or reintroduced to us through the West. The power is still centred there. Any aspect of our culture is only as cool as Uncle Tom says it is. And when he does, we will defend the Kolhapuri Chappal from the culture-appropriating claws of Prada with all our might. Even if at home we remain indifferent to our caste problem to a violent degree, and the marginalised communities from which this craft emerges.
If only we had a girlfriend like Casey from ‘27 Dresses’ who could slap us out of our toxic relationship with cultural imperialism.
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Tasha Marikkar’s six-part series Jayaflava uses food to explore Sri Lanka’s layered histories and plural identities. Across episodes built around dishes like kottu, crab curry, hoppers and lamprais, Marikkar speaks with chefs, home cooks and cultural voices about how these recipes travelled through migration, trade and colonial routes before becoming everyday staples. The series connects flavour to labour histories, regional politics and community memory, bringing Sri Lankan stories to Indian screens.
Find more about it here.
The Coolest Person In The World from Bombil Films tells a breakup story in reverse. We follow Nikhil, a young writer whose ego and insecurity slowly steer his relationship off course. As the time moves backward, we see the small moments that built up into resentment. The film captures that specific kind of early-adulthood pride where you want to be admired more than understood.
Watch it here.
Iss Tarah brings Chaar Diwaari and Sonu Nigam into the same sonic space with a collaboration that feels like a marriage of two worlds. Chaar Diwaari’s production leans into trap percussion, and layered synth textures and, while Nigam’s voice carries the melody of devotion. The pairing reflects a growing exchange between independent artists and established playback singers, where streaming platforms, film projects and live circuits are increasingly overlapping.
Listen to it here.
With Raag, Kartik Kumra leans into Indian classical music as a starting point for his latest Kartik Research collection. The garments draw on ideas of rhythm and repetition, translated through handwoven fabrics, natural dyes and relaxed tailoring. There’s a clear intention to how the clothes are made — the sourcing, the dye processes, the finishing. The collection feels thoughtful and grounded in material work, while also asking what it means to reference Indian tradition within a global fashion system.
Check it out here.
Nivaala is a digital app designed to help families record and preserve their recipes. Founder Shruti Taneja built it after realising how quickly home-cooked traditions disappear when they aren’t written down. Users can record recipes in their own voice, convert them into text and store them as shareable files. It’s a simple idea with emotional weight — a way to keep family dishes from fading across generations.
Read about it here.
Pause Workshop – Edition 3 takes place at Cuckoo Forest School near the Javadu Hills from 3–5 April 2026. Curated by photographer and filmmaker Balaji Maheshwar, the residency focuses on slowing down and rethinking your creative process. Participants spend three days in conversation, reflection and guided shooting exercises. The setting encourages time away from constant output and attention toward long-term practice.
Sign up for it here.
This 7-Day Carpentry Retreat takes place in Manmuqi Village where Participants learn to build teak furniture under guided instruction, working on pieces such as a tea table or medicine cabinet. The retreat includes tools, materials, accommodation and meals, and places emphasis on patience, craftsmanship and understanding how a piece of furniture moves from raw wood to the finished object.
Register here.
Homegrown Music, the next-gen label launched by Homegrown in collaboration with Atlantic Records, hosts its first HGM Showcase during the revival weekend of The Humming Tree in Bengaluru. The night is headlined by the Northeastern rapper Reble, along with Rae Mulla marking the return of The Humming Tree in a 12,000 sq. ft. purpose-built space in Indiranagar, re-establishing it as a key cultural hub in the city.
Book your tickets here.
Pravaha 2026 — Bengaluru
Pravaha 2026 returns to Bengaluru with a city-wide arts programme built around the human body and the five senses. The festival brings together visual artists, performers and installation-makers to explore touch, sound, sight, taste and smell through exhibitions, live acts and interactive works. Audiences are encouraged to move through the spaces, experience the works up close and pay attention to how their own bodies respond. The programming treats sensation as something active and immediate, bringing perception itself into focus.
Register here.
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