Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Saachi Sen wins EasternEye Emerging Artist Award

Blending Indian Classical Roots and London Vibes, Saachi Sen’s Alt-Pop Journey Captivates Audiences Worldwide

Saachi Sen wins EasternEye Emerging Artist Award

At the prestigious Eastern Eye Art, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) 2025, Saachi Sen was honoured with the Emerging Artist award, recognising her unique contribution to the music scene through her emotive, lyrical alt-pop. Saachi’s artistry stands out for its rich blend of sweeping strings, expressive piano, and intricate harmonies, weaving heartfelt stories of identity, womanhood, and ambition. This award celebrates her ability to channel her cross-cultural background into a deeply personal and compelling musical experience.

Born in Mumbai and raised in London, Saachi Sen’s diverse musical roots run deep. A former chapel chorister and a trained Hindustani classical vocalist, her sound is shaped by a dual classical upbringing that fuses Western and Indian traditions. This foundation allows her to create music that resonates with authenticity and emotional depth. Saachi’s songs are not just melodies but narratives reflecting her journey and ambitions as a modern woman navigating multiple identities.


Saachi’s career is marked by impressive milestones and notable recognition. She has earned a PRS for Music award and was previously longlisted for the highly competitive Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition. She has graced renowned stages such as the Southbank Centre and Camden’s Roundhouse, sharing the spotlight with multi-platinum artist Tom Odell. Festival appearances include performing to a crowd of 10,000 at Pride in London in Trafalgar Square and opening the Cambridge Mela ahead of Punjabi MC at the Cambridge Big Weekend. Internationally, Saachi sold out a solo show at the Indian Embassy in Berlin, further solidifying her global appeal.

Under her artist project, saachisen, Saachi’s music is crafted with meticulous care, having been recorded at legendary venues like Abbey Road Studios. Her debut single has garnered acclaim from BBC Introducing, CLASH Magazine, and Wonderland, which praised it as “pop perfection.” In addition to her musical talents, Saachi’s work reflects her background as an engineer and her sharp mathematical mind, lending a distinct precision to her songwriting and composition. Her achievements include nods from the International Songwriting Competition, marking her as a rising star with both creative and intellectual depth.

More For You

Waris Hussein wins EasternEye Outstanding Contribution to the Creative Industry Award

Waris Hussein Honoured at ACTAs 2025

The Eastern Eye Art, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) 2025 has recognised legendary filmmaker and director Waris Hussein with the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to the Creative Industry award. This accolade celebrates Hussein’s pioneering achievements as the first Indian-origin director at the BBC and his extraordinary impact across film, television and theatre over a trailblazing career that spans more than six decades and three continents.

Waris Hussein’s journey began in Lucknow, India, and continued in post-war England, where he moved with his family at the age of nine. A gifted storyteller from an early age, Hussein was influenced by his mother, Attia Hosain, a writer, and his father, Ali Bahadur Habibullah, an Indian diplomat. After attending Cambridge and the Slade School of Art—where he studied theatre design—Hussein became the youngest director ever appointed to the Drama Department at BBC Television in the early 1960s, breaking new ground as the first of Indian origin in a domain then unfamiliar with South Asian voices.

Keep ReadingShow less
Staz Nair wins EasternEye Trailblazer Award

Staz Nair Wins ACTAs 2025

At the 2025 Eastern Eye Arts, Culture & Theatre Awards (ACTAs), actor Staz Nair was honoured with the prestigious Trailblazer Award for his outstanding contributions to film and television and for redefining South Asian representation on screen. He received the award for his powerful portrayal of DI Harry Virdee in the BBC One crime thriller VIRDEE, a performance that has earned widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers hailed Nair for bringing both gravitas and nuance to the complex character—The Guardian praised his “charisma” and described his portrayal as “ineffably cool,” while Digital Spy lauded it as “the best he's ever been.”

Staz Nair's rise to prominence is marked by an impressive and diverse career. He currently headlines VIRDEE, but his international profile soared with his lead role as Tarak in Zack Snyder’s epic Netflix sci-fi saga Rebel Moon. Both parts of the franchise stormed the global charts, topping Netflix's worldwide rankings in 92 countries. His ability to blend depth with star appeal has made him a standout figure in blockbuster storytelling.

Keep ReadingShow less
Professor Partha Mitter wins EasternEye Editor's Special Award

ACTAs 2025 Editor's Award: Prof. Partha Mitter's Art History Impact

At the 2025 Eastern Eye Art, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs), the prestigious Editor’s Special Award was presented to Professor Partha Mitter in recognition of his pioneering scholarship on Indian art and his role in transforming global understandings of art history. Professor Mitter’s work has been instrumental in reshaping the narratives around Indian artists within the broader context of modernism and postcolonial studies, bridging cultural perspectives between East and West with profound insight.

Professor Mitter, Emeritus Professor at the University of Sussex, holds distinguished academic positions worldwide, including Adjunct Professor at Carleton University, Canada, and membership at Wolfson College, Oxford. His illustrious career includes fellowships at some of the world’s leading institutions such as Cambridge University, the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, reflecting his international influence and scholarly standing.

Keep ReadingShow less
Curator Susan Stronge wins EasternEye Outstanding Contribution to the Arts Award

Susan Stronge: Arts Award Winner 2025

Susan Stronge, Senior Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Arts accolade at the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) 2025. The award recognises her lifelong dedication to illuminating the rich artistic legacies of South Asia, particularly through her curatorial excellence and scholarship in the arts of the Mughal and Sikh courts. Stronge’s most recent work, the landmark exhibition The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence, has drawn widespread acclaim for its depth, curation, and international collaboration, bringing together more than 200 rare and opulent objects to tell the story of one of history’s most artistically rich empires.

With a career spanning over three decades, Susan Stronge has established herself as one of the foremost authorities on South Asian courtly arts. As a Senior Curator in the Asian Department at the V&A, she has curated some of the museum’s most celebrated exhibitions. The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms (1999) was a groundbreaking display that brought global attention to Sikh heritage and visual culture, while Bejewelled Treasures: The Al Thani Collection (2015) showcased the opulence of Indian jewellery design and craftsmanship through centuries.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bradford 2025 wins EasternEye Community Engagement Award

Bradford 2025: ACTAs Community Winner

The coveted Community Engagement award at the Eastern Eye Art, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) 2025 was awarded to Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, in recognition of its transformative work in uniting communities through arts and culture. This honour celebrates the project’s exceptional achievements in fostering inclusive cultural participation and shining a spotlight on the diverse voices and rich heritage that define Bradford, one of the UK’s youngest and most vibrant cities.

Bradford officially began its year as UK City of Culture in January 2025, becoming the fourth city to hold the prestigious title following Derry~Londonderry (2013), Hull (2017) and Coventry (2021). Delivered by the Bradford Culture Company – led by Executive Director Dan Bates and Creative Director Shanaz Gulzar – the programme has revitalised the city’s cultural identity. Spanning 141 square miles, Bradford 2025 encompasses a wide range of events and artistic commissions that celebrate everything from the city’s industrial past and its designation as the world’s first UNESCO City of Film, to its dynamic contemporary arts, including theatre, music, film, dance, and food.

Keep ReadingShow less