It has been a difficult week, yet again, with everything happening in our country and across the world. I have broken down in the middle of work, cooking, folding laundry, and nearly every other mundane chore.
Kristen Stewart once said in an interview, "Being a woman is a violent experience." The more I read and the more I experience, the harder it is not to believe that. And to be entirely honest, I am getting tired. And I am only 22.
When I was younger, I never quite understood why my parents were so paranoid whenever I was out late. I didn't understand why my mum would beg me to carry pepper spray, or why my dad insisted on picking me up from wherever I was, no questions asked, once it was past 10 pm. Unfortunately, now I do. The worry of being a parent never ends, but being the parent of a girl must be harrowing and nerve-racking. It has never been easy to be a woman, and it feels even harder now.
So this weekend, please check on the women around you. Reading the news is nothing short of death by a thousand cuts, and in times like these, the least we can do is listen: let them vent, cry, be angry or whatever else they need.
Here's what we have for you this week:
Here's a curated cross-country tour of five landmark gallery shows in New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. Spanning a century of Indian art, the guide spotlights seminal modernists, such as Amrita Sher-Gil, Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, and Satish Gujral, alongside prominent contemporary figures like Arpita Akhanda and Ashok Bhowmick. Through diverse mediums ranging from painting and sculpture to paper weaving and cross-hatching, these exhibitions engage with themes of modernism, memory, displacement, and cultural heritage. Read more here.
'In Another Mode: Sudhir Patwardhan's Drawings 1970–2000' highlights a major exhibition curated by R. Siva Kumar at Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi. Gathering over 200 drawings spanning three decades, the exhibition explores how Patwardhan's background as a radiologist and self-taught artist informs his spare, forensically attentive line work. Read more here.
Filmmaker Rahul Roye's 15-minute short film, Aman, premiered in the 'Short Cuts' competition at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Starring queer activist Kabir Maan in his acting debut, the narrative follows Aman, a trans man who discovers he is pregnant on the eve of his gender-affirming surgery. Set against the realities of trans life in India, the film focuses on his bond with his roommate and caregiver Sirat, a trans woman nurse played by Sirat Taneja, to illuminate forms of kinship and chosen family built beyond biological relationships. Read more here.
CANINDIAN, the latest release by Canada-based musician Samant, who channels childhood memories of found cassette tapes and family history into a nostalgic album. Inspired by his grandfather's vintage tapes, his father's cassette collection, and his mother's CDs, the project blends retro Bollywood compositions with hip hop beats to spark an intergenerational dialogue. Read more here.
Project Mohalla, a Delhi-based cultural initiative documents neighbourhood histories, oral traditions, and mohallas through the lived experiences of everyday residents. Its sister project, the Home Chefs Collective, preserves culinary lineage through domestic recipes, food storytelling, and supper clubs, such as a Kashmere Gate gathering that paired local historical accounts with Old Delhi dishes prepared by neighbourhood home cooks. Read more here.
Bangalore's Humming Tree now has a daytime side. Subko is setting up inside the venue, serving freshly brewed coffee, handcrafted bakes and artisanal chocolate in a space that has always championed music at its roots. It's a tribute to South Asia's rich musical heritage, with something good to sip and snack on. Know more here.
Open to both emerging and established photographers across the Indian subcontinent, the IPF Portrait Prize encourages lens-based storytellers to submit portraits that move beyond surface likeness to explore identity, culture, and human connection. Submissions are open until 25 October 2026, offering cash and equipment worth INR 2,00,000, a feature exhibition at the 12th Indian Photo Festival in Hyderabad, and potential international tour exposure. Read more here.
MAX Fashion's URBN UNMUTE returns for its third edition to Bengaluru on October 3rd, turning Indian hip-hop into a multi-city tour. Catch Reble, MC Bijju and Rahul Dit-O live, plus the Rap Hunt winner opening the night. Between customisation and merch zones, live graffiti and interactive experiences, it's where rap, street culture and fashion meet. Get your tickets here.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:
Why We Should All Be Reading Bhagat Singh In 2026
Mumbai's Neighbourhood Festival Is Building An Archive Of Memory, Culture, & Community
'Real Kashmir Football Club' Is Now An Emmy-Nominated Reminder Of Kashmir's Tenacity