Websites about South Asian culture

April 27, 2009 3:49 AM

Recommend me some neat blogs, websites or news sources about South Asian culture, please.

I read Sepia Mutiny and Ultrabrown, and am looking for more intelligent, entertaining commentary and news about South Asian culture (books, film, etc) along the same lines. Bonus points for blogs with a Bollywood-focus. Thanks for your help!

posted by Ziggy500 to society & culture (6 comments total)

Known Turf is a personal blog Annie Zaidi, an Indian writer, poet and journalist. Often entertaining, occasionally heartbreaking, always deeply insightful.

Tehelka is a weekly magazine with an intellectual, investigative bent.

Frontline is a national magazine but it might be more political than what you're looking for.
posted by embrangled at 4:12 AM on April 27

For Pakistan:

Pakistaniat. Not as sassy and witty as you may be looking for, but good for following what Pakistanis are talking about (ie not just politics), as well as a fair share of nostalgia.

If you're up for a paid news source, try The Friday Times. What Pakistan's English speaking elite are talking about. Excellent news and commentary with a liberal bent, slightly irritating and self-absorbed features (Disclaimer: I used to work for them).

I haven't followed Chowk in a long time, but there was a moment (10-15 years ago) when it was the place for Pakistan and its contact with India.
posted by tavegyl at 4:37 AM on April 27

Forgive my complete inability to type and/or parse sentences tonight. Known Turf is the personal blog of Annie Zaidi.
posted by embrangled at 5:05 AM on April 27

Freshly Squeez'd is by and about a young adult in urban India. Personal, coming of age anecdotes.
posted by netbros at 6:56 AM on April 27

Some Indian links for you, since I'm Indian:

My friend Amit Varma runs India Uncut, one of the most popular blogs in India. BusinessWeek recently called him one of the 50 most influential people in India.

Another friend, an American, strangely enough runs Filmiholic, a Bollywood blog.

Other blogs about India or related:
DesiPundit - metafilter'ish version for Indian blog posts, minus the discussions.

Middle Stage - book reviews

Gosh, there are lots of sites. Start with those. :)
posted by madman at 8:51 AM on April 27

Check out Another Subcontinent.
posted by trip and a half at 8:59 AM on April 27