No! No! Honey Singh. Blogger Laina Dawes examines recent protests against Indian hip-hop artist, Yo! Yo! Honey Singh, and asks important questions vis-à-vis the increased objectification of women. Last month, a Canada-based Sikh organization attempted to thwart the Punjabi rapper (unsuccessfully, might we add) from performing in Toronto, citing his violent and misogynistic lyrics as detrimental to youth. [BlogHer]
The Recession Special. For Bollywood, the snow-capped peaks of Switzerland may be swapped for the palm-flanked shores of Sri Lanka, as hinted by a VP from Yash Raj Films. Thanks to the tumbling rupee, far-flung locations will be one of the first things to be nixed in entertainment budgets — filming in “dollar” destinations has already declined by 30 to 35 percent in the last four months, according to a report by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. [Business Standard]
Street Cred. Incensed by crumbling infrastructure and monsoon-ravaged roads, residents of Raipur, a central Indian city in the state of Chhattisgarh, have officially named three massive potholes (via ceremonies conducted by Hindu priests, of course) after “prominent officials” in an attempt to call for action. Here’s hoping. [The Guardian]
Indian Silhouettes, Revisited. Lakme Fashion Week, which wrapped up in Mumbai last week, saw two classics — the sari and the lehenga — dramatically reconstructed. While the former got the gown treatment, the latter shrank in size (read: the “half lehenga”), complete with sexy slits and crop tops. [Vogue India]
Aarti Virani is an arts and culture writer based in Hoboken, New Jersey. She has written for publications including Vogue India, The Wall Street Journal and Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @aartivirani.
