Ritwik Ghatak’s films are frenetic, heartfelt and heartbreaking, as agonized and without any final answers as life and existence itself. Yet with their tales of partition and loss, of refugees and homelessness, of changing families, of pain and ultimately hope, they touch a chord within contemporary audiences and are relevant even – perhaps especially – now.
Author: Lavina Melwani
Lavina Melwani
Lavina Melwani is a New York-based journalist who writes for several international publications. Twitter@lavinamelwani & @lassiwithlavina Sign up for the free newsletter to get your dose of Lassi!
What can you, an immigrant who came with nothing but a battered suitcase filled with bits and pieces of a disappeared life, offer this new country? What gift can you give America on its Independence Day celebration? A Punjabi immigrant love story.
New York is the city for reinvention, for doing old things in new places, unexpected things in unexpected places and so here was I, right in the middle of Times Square with about a million other unknown people standing and doing surya namaskar in the middle of traffic – honking cars, buses and an unending stream of pedestrians.
Women photojournalists highlighted at the Newswomen’s Club of New York Spring Photography Show and Auction.
Calling all yoga devotees! It’s the International Day of Yoga and your chance to learn more about this healthful life-affirming practice which is so highly regarded around the world.
“Pride was so powerful for many of us. We Bhangra’d and garba’d our way through the gay district of Chicago, Boystown. Not only has it been 50 years since the riots at Stonewall, but it is the first pride for me after IPC 377 was overturned,”
They are summer’s dazzling foot soldiers – nothing can keep them down. Having lain dormant in the soil through winter, snow and deprivation, they rise and rise, showcasing their beauty and color.
There are several Indian-American chefs and restaurateurs shortlisted for the James Beard Foundation Awards – the Oscars of the food industry
RRR takes you back to when you were a kid and movies were the real deal, a magic potion where you were held totally captive by action, high drama, enchantment and raw emotions.
Children’s Hope India Celebrates Spring and Strong Women
Mona Sinha honored as CHI Woman of Distinction
Portrait of a mother – as this young artist, who is very close to me, has depicted in this art from the heart, may the flowers always bloom for you, the sun shine on you and your lives always be full of love. Roses, gifts, visits to the spa, jeweled baubles, lunches and dinners, lots of pampering – you deserve them all! A perennial post I love to share on Mother’s Day.
A perennial favorite that I like to share on Mother’s Day.
Mothers, Sons and Daughters…
To all the wonderful moms – Happy Mother’s Day! As this young artist, who is very close to me, has depicted from the heart, may the flowers always bloom for you, the sun shine on you and your lives always be full of love. Roses, gifts, visits to the spa, jeweled baubles, lunches and dinners, lots of pampering – you deserve them all!
Sharing a wonderful video tribute to mothers by SNL’s Tina Fey!
The much-awaited New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) which is presented by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) – a must-see during the summer – is once again coming to town. This time, with the changing times, it is a hybrid model with films being shown by zoom and also in person.
It entailed a helicopter ride from Washington, secret service personnel and caused traffic jams in New York but in spite of all these hassles, the most powerful man in the world, President Barack Obama, still made it to a Broadway show, ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’, right in the heart of Times Square. As he told reporters, “I am taking my wife to New York City because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished.”
Such is the lure of Broadway, that all-American icon of theater!
For art lovers, Asia Week is a great space to learn more about Asian art and understand the complexities of the art world from museums to art galleries and auction houses.
Intercultural Marriages are Becoming More Common – “I think the combination of two different backgrounds offers a unique insight in life, the hard working immigrant story mixed with the confidence of belonging. I also think intercultural children are generally better looking!”
The ceremony was a mix of prayer and laughter and there were a lot of moments that we will remember forever. After the ceremony was over, it felt so cool to walk down the aisle as a married couple and be showered by rose petals.
Don’t you just love love stories and happy endings? When I first did the story with chocolatiers on their own sweet romances, it was a popular post. This year I thought I’d go back and see if there were any romantic updates. Yes, there were – including an adorable baby!
Shefalee Patel, our only chocolatier who was single had found true love and Aarti Mahtani Raman who had just got married now has a baby boy!
So here is a Valentine’s Day Treat – true love stories!
As Wordle has skyrocketed in popularity, multiple media outlets have published articles that explore the best word to use as your initial guess. Here are some winning strategies
Have you eaten Beetroot Kofta Curry or Lal Maas recently? How about Chocolate Bebinca or Pear Jalebi – all without traveling to India, right in the heart of New York City? Try NYC Restaurant Week!
What happened to the New York model who became a nun?