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I've spent much of this year trying to figure out what comes next, armed with three years of culinary school and a mildly inconvenient number of interests. This week, food journalism has made its way into the mix of possibilities, and before I knew it, I had an opportunity and a flight to Calcutta booked. It's a city I've been trying to visit for the last three years, so it's funny how quickly a plan can go from hypothetical to having a departure time.
The rest of the week has been a funny combination of things going exceptionally well and my phone deciding to give up. I'm currently writing this at the airport, where my flight has been delayed for hours, which has given me plenty of time to think about the role luck plays in getting us where we want to go. I believe in the six degrees of separation theory with a slightly unreasonable amount of conviction.
The right place, time and person, an offhand conversation — any of them can open a door, and a plan you've been postponing for years can end up with a departure time. But what if your flight is delayed? Would I have met the people I've been talking to if I'd left on schedule? At what point does an inconvenience become a fortunate accident, and how much of what we call luck is actually a willingness to show up in the first place?
I don't have any particularly useful answers yet. I am, after all, writing this while waiting to get there. But it's been a week that's made me want to pay closer attention to where things lead, even when they take their time getting there. Here's this week in culture:
Restaurant Elder is bringing regional Indian flavors to traditional British chop house dining. The menu pairs aged meats and classic roasts with spiced reductions,roasted bone marrow gravies, and coastal South Asian marinades. By combining British butcher traditions with Indian spicing techniques, the kitchen creates a distinct dining concept that honors both culinary heritages while offering a fresh take on classic comfort food. Read more here.
Located in Mumbai’s Juhu neighborhood, restaurant Makaan celebrates traditional Gujarati hospitality with a menu centered on regional comfort dishes and family-style sharing. The kitchen focuses on slow-cooked vegetable preparations, seasonal hand-rolled bread, and balanced sweet-and-savory regional thalis. Designed to capture the spirit of domestic home dining, the venue offers diners a welcoming space to experience the rich variety of Gujarati home cooking in a modern setting. Read more here.
Gauri Awasthi’s short film 28 Days follows an Indian woman navigating the legal and administrative hurdles of seeking reproductive healthcare in the United States following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The narrative focuses on the isolation, tight timelines, and systemic barriers faced by immigrant women dealing with sudden policy changes far from home. Through quiet character moments, the film delivers a grounded look at body autonomy and international legal uncertainty. Read more here.
The announcement of a new voice actor for the character of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons has reopened discussions surrounding South Asian representation in Western media. Cultural commentators are examining whether recasting the role addresses fundamental issues with how Indian immigrants are written and portrayed in mainstream animation. The dialogue highlights the ongoing shift toward authentic casting and the need for dimensional South Asian storytelling behind the camera. Read more here.
A new interactive video game places players in the shoes of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) navigating rural healthcare delivery in India. The gameplay simulates the daily responsibilities, low pay, administrative delays, and logistical challenges faced by frontline community health workers. Designed as an educational tool, the project uses choice-based mechanics to draw attention to the essential labor performed by women in India's public health system. Read more here.
A collaborative design initiative titled The Onion Project is documenting the layered histories and everyday realities of urban street communities. Through photo archives, field recordings, and interactive maps, the project records the lives of street vendors, informal laborers, and long-term neighborhood residents.By peeling back the layers of city infrastructure, the project creates a comprehensive archive of urban public spaces and human resilience. Read more here.
Music project Ninaivu Maaligai delivers an experimental sound that merges vintage Tamil funk grooves with post-punk basslines and alt-pop synth arrangements. The release features driving percussive rhythms, echoed vocal tracks, and nostalgic melody lines reminiscent of 1980s South Indian cinema scores. The project showcases how regional genre blending can create a forward-thinking sound while remaining connected to heritage musical influences. Read more here.
Concert series Ruhbaru is bringing The Orchestral Qawwali Project to India this December for a live performance tour. The initiative pairs traditional Sufi devotional music and Qawwali vocal arrangements with full western orchestral instrumentation. Featuring sweeping string sections and traditional percussive accompaniment, the showcase brings a grandeur to classic Sufi poetry, offering audiences a rare live musical experience. Read more here.
Ahmedabad Cultural Week has announced its full line-up across multiple venues in the city, featuring contemporary art showcases, live music performances, heritage walks, and design workshops. The week-long program brings together local creative collectives, historians, and visual artists to showcase the city's rich architectural and artistic legacy, creating an accessible festival for residents and visiting art enthusiasts. Read more here.
Hip-hop showcase Max URBN Unmute is partnering with Spotify Rap 91 to bring a live regional rap concert to Chennai. The event features performances from prominent South Indian hip-hop artists and emerging lyricists, celebrating regional language rap and street culture. The gathering offers local youth and music fans a platform to experience live Tamil and regional hip-hop in an energetic concert setting.
