FUNNY UK TOUR
The tidal wave of top Indian stand-up stars touring the UK continues with upcoming shows by Shraddha Jain this July. The hugely popular comedian – who has over a million Instagram followers – will perform her family-friendly show Aiyyo So Mini Things at The Pavilion, Reading (4), the Ondaatje Theatre, London (5), and The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham (6). The 90-minute set promises an entertaining take on the mundane and uproarious aspects of everyday life.
Shraddha Jain
Acclaimed author Arundhati Roy will mark the publication of her hotly anticipated memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me with a live event at London’s Cadogan Hall on September 4. The Booker Prize-winning author of The God of Small Things will reflect on her life and work in what promises to be one of the year’s most compelling interview-based events. The evening will also include an opportunity for audience members to ask their own questions.
Arundhati Roy
Acclaimed author Onjali Q Rauf shared this great photo with historian William Dalrymple from the recent Hay Festival. What made this snap extra special is that they delivered Eastern Eye newspaper’s best two books of 2024. While Rauf wrote the year’s best fiction, The Letter With The Golden Stamp, Dalrymple delivered the greatest non-fiction book of 2024, The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World. Both brilliant books are highly recommended.
William Dalrymple and Onjali Q Rauf
Producing power couple Sargun Mehta and Ravie Dubey have scored another success with their latest release, Saunkan Saunkne 2. The Punjabi comedy sequel received critical acclaim and performed well at the box office. Actress Mehta was especially praised for her dynamic double role opposite Ammy Virk and Nimrat Khaira
This latest triumph adds to the growing list of achievements for the husband-and-wife team, who also run the entertainment platform Dreamiyata Dramaa. The YouTube channel, now nearing 1.4 million subscribers, continues to produce popular original TV serials.
Ravie Dubey and Sargun Mehta
One recent decision that made little sense was quietly dumping the 2023 Pakistani film Money Back Guarantee onto YouTube. With streaming platforms seemingly buying anything and a wide range of video-on-demand services available, the political satire heist comedy – headlined by Fawad Khan – surely deserved better.
YouTube is typically a last resort when all other options fail. What made the move even more baffling was the near total lack of promotion, leaving most film fans unaware that it was available to watch for free. Unsurprisingly, it generated little buzz or interest – another example of why Pakistani cinema is in the doldrums.
Money Back Guarantee
Despite a glitzy world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Indian film Homebound has failed to make a meaningful impact.
Unlike other festival favourites, it received little coverage from global media, prompting producers to share handpicked audience reviews instead. This meaningful movie with a message has also struggled to stand out due to its ill-judged title.
Not only does the English-language title alienate core Hindi-speaking audiences, it is identical to a 2021 British horror film that was widely savaged by critics. Several other films and TV shows with the same or similar name have appeared in the past 15 years, making it even harder for the film – starring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa – to find visibility.
Homebound
Recent reports suggest a biopic on legendary Bollywood actor and filmmaker Guru Dutt is in the works. This is not the first time a film based on his life has been discussed, but like earlier attempts – including those centred on icons such as Meena Kumari and Madhubala – the project has yet to materialise.
The reason is clear: telling an honest story would require confronting the darker aspects of their lives, making it difficult to secure life rights from those involved. Bollywood also has a tendency to whitewash difficult truths, which can compromise the integrity of such projects and limit their commercial appeal.
If a truly candid account of Dutt’s life were ever made, many film fans might find it hard to forgive the way he reportedly treated his wife, acclaimed singer Geeta Dutt.
Guru Dutt in Chaudhvin Ka Chand
The recently launched third season of Sex and the City spin-off And Just Like That has received more positive reviews than its previous seasons.
Sarita Choudhury’s glamorous realtor remains the standout new character, continuing to make such an impact that many feel she deserves far more screen time. The 58-year-old British actress is simply brilliant in the sassy role and looked stunning as she joined fellow cast members for a recent photocall in Paris.
She has seamlessly filled the space left by Kim Cattrall, and her performance is so compelling that a spin-off series focused solely on her character would be hugely entertaining.
Sarita Choudhury
Bollywood film Detective Sherdil is set to premiere on ZEE5 on June 20, following a high-profile announcement. Despite being headlined by Diljit Dosanjh and Diana Penty, one major red flag suggests this quirky detective mystery-comedy may fall flat: it is being released directly to a streaming platform, bypassing cinemas entirely. This often signals a lack of confidence in the project.
ZEE5 is typically seen as a last resort when bigger platforms like Netflix or Amazon decline interest – which further works against the film.
Although whodunnits are trending globally, the genre remains underdeveloped in Indian cinema, and that adds to the low expectations surrounding this release.
Detective Sherdi
Nigel Farage
Rupert LoweGetty Images
Rajan offers the pind daan in honour of his father and ancestors