Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

New initiative Lila charts a new path for South Asians in UK music industry

Lila’s first venture sees it as a funding partner of Bobby Friction's cultural platform, Going South, a key player in curating the Arrivals stage at Glastonbury’s Shangri-La, showcasing South Asian talent.

New initiative Lila charts a new path for South Asians in UK music industry

Lila, a newly launched initiative designed to reshape the equities of South Asian participation in the UK music industry and bridge the gap in representation and support, was launched in partnership with the Center for Music Ecosystems, a global research and development organisation.

Lila's first venture sees it as a funding partner of Bobby Friction’s cultural platform, Going South, a key player in curating the Arrivals stage at Glastonbury's Shangri-La, showcasing South Asian talent.


Music producer and entrepreneur Vikram Gudi founded Lila (Sanskrit: divine play) with a mission to bridge the gap between South Asian talent and inclusion in the UK music industry. Lila believes that South Asian artists and industry professionals should be able to thrive at the forefront of the UK music industry.

Lila’s willingness to confront inequities and uplift artists directly has helped deliver the first-ever dedicated South Asian space at Glastonbury’s Shangri-La, the festival's radical area known for celebrating underrepresented art and culture. The 'Arrivals' stage, programmed by cultural organisations Dialled In, Going South, and Daytimers, will showcase over 50 hours of South Asian live music and DJs including Bobby Friction, Anish Kumar, Nabihah Iqbal, Raji Rags, and Nikki Nair. Lila is a proud funding partner of Bobby Friction’s Going South’s showcase of South Asian creativity. This collaboration represents an important first step towards platforming South Asian voices and talents within the music industry.

Increasing diversity in the music industry has been a refrain for decades. However, the gap in representation remains, particularly for South Asians. Lila's founder, Vikram Gudi, is tackling this issue head-on with the passion of an artist-inspired, and a global team of experts. In partnership with the international nonprofit Center for Music Ecosystems, Lila will develop research-backed initiatives to narrow the participation gap. Increasing access to professional development resources, scholarships, recognition, and collaborations will enable South Asian musicians and industry professionals to reach new heights within the industry. The result is a more inclusive industry that benefits everyone.

Lila intends to deliver:

  • Quantitative research and analysis on South Asian participation in the industry.
  • More recognition in the UK for South Asian cultural heritage.
  • A central resource and catalyst to support South Asian music.
  • Increased global opportunities for South Asian artists, including at showcase events that feature UK artists.
  • Developing research and monitoring tools to understand Lila’s impact in real-time, in partnership with the Center for Music Ecosystems.

Vikram Gudi, Entrepreneur and Founder of Lila, says: “The idea of Lila has been in the back of my mind throughout my music career. I’ve always known that I wanted to do something more, after seeing a distinct lack of funding, initiatives, and infrastructure for South Asian musicians and music professionals. I had few role models from my own background to look up to, and I sensed that there was more I could do in the future. There’s an overwhelming amount of South Asian talent in the UK, and we want Lila to act as an accelerator. I’m excited to work with CME; and have the wealth of experience and passion of Shain behind us. There’s a sense of optimism around the South Asian music community and now is our opportunity to move the needle significantly.”

Shain Shapiro, PhD - Founder and Executive Director of Center for Music Ecosystems adds: “The more diverse our music industry is, the better it will be financially, socially and holistically. This means intentionally working to enhance all forms of diversity. It is a privilege to be working with Vik on this initiative, which we hope will start in the UK and evolve to include many more countries and industries around the world.”

Bobby Friction, Founder of Going South says: “It's been an epic journey and a joy working with Lila & Vikram. Vikram and I are so obviously aligned with what we want for South Asian music in the UK and globally; plus his boundless optimism is infectious. Organisations like Lila are sorely needed at the moment and its timing couldn't be better. So much of the structure around charities and NGOs within the music ecosystem doesn't focus on the British Asian music community, but Lila’s efforts for equality across the entire music industry can change that.”

Ammo Talwar CEO Punch Records / Chair UK Music Diversity Taskforce says, “The South Asian diaspora has always had deep cultural and creative musical sounds.  I’m very excited about Lila’s mission around supporting the next wave of UK talent and how that manifests.”

More For You

Cierra Ortega

Cierra Ortega addresses her Love Island USA exit in a TikTok video

Instagram/cierra.ortega

Cierra Ortega apologises after Love Island USA exit over resurfaced racist post

Highlights

  • Cierra Ortega has exited Love Island USA after a past social media post using a slur resurfaced.
  • The 25-year-old content creator said she “had no idea” the word was a racial slur.
  • Ortega apologised to the Asian community and said she accepts being removed from the show.
  • She revealed her family has been threatened and immigration authorities were called on them.

Cierra Ortega, a contestant on this season of Love Island USA, has publicly apologised after an old social media post containing a racial slur resurfaced, prompting her sudden exit from the popular reality series.

The 25-year-old Los Angeles-based content creator addressed the controversy in a video, expressing regret for using a derogatory term towards Asian people in a post made last year. Ortega, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, said she was unaware of the word’s offensive meaning at the time but took full responsibility.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rashmika Mandanna joins Allu Arjun

Rashmika Mandanna teams up with Allu Arjun again in Atlee’s next

Getty Images/Youtube Screengrab/Sun Pictures

Rashmika Mandanna joins Allu Arjun and Deepika Padukone in Atlee's sci-fi spectacle 'AA22xA6'

Highlights:

 
     
  • Rashmika Mandanna to star opposite Allu Arjun in Atlee’s big-budget sci-fi project AA22xA6.
  •  
  • The film already features Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor, and Mrunal Thakur.
  •  
  • Rashmika has completed a look test and body scan in Los Angeles.
  •  
  • Film to release in multiple languages by late 2026 or early 2027.
  •  
 

Rashmika Mandanna is officially part of director Atlee’s highly ambitious sci-fi feature, tentatively titled AA22xA6. With Allu Arjun headlining the project, the casting of Rashmika not only reunites the Pushpa duo but also strengthens what is being called one of the biggest star ensembles in Indian cinema today. The Sun Pictures production already boasts names like Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor, and Mrunal Thakur, and now Rashmika’s addition has significantly heightened the buzz.

 Allu Arjun teams up with Atlee for 376 million sci-fi  Director Atlee and Allu Arjun brainstorm futuristic concepts with top Hollywood VFX studios in LA  Youtube Screengrab  

Keep ReadingShow less
Hugh Grant falls asleep

Hugh Grant wearing sunglasses naps behind Queen Camilla during the quarterfinal

Twitter/talkingtennis/Getty Images

Hugh Grant falls asleep during Wimbledon 2025 match while seated behind Queen Camilla

Highlights:

  • Hugh Grant was spotted napping during the Djokovic vs Cobolli quarter-final at Wimbledon 2025.
  • The actor sat in the Royal Box just behind Queen Camilla and her sister.
  • Social media erupted with memes, jokes, and criticism, calling it the “£700 (₹74,200) nap.”
  • Novak Djokovic made history in the match, advancing to his record-breaking 14th Wimbledon semi-final.

British actor Hugh Grant unexpectedly stole attention from Wimbledon 2025’s quarter-finals, not for a performance, but for taking a mid-match nap. The 64-year-old was captured on camera dozing off in the Royal Box on Wednesday, 9 July, during Novak Djokovic’s high-stakes match against Flavio Cobolli.

Wearing dark sunglasses and seated next to his wife, Anna Elisabet Eberstein, Grant leaned into a deep slouch with his hands in his lap. What made the moment even more of a social media spectacle was his location, just behind Queen Camilla and her sister, Annabel Elliot.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kajol

Kajol says star kids face harsher pressure as Ibrahim Ali Khan gears up for Sarzameen

Getty Images

Kajol defends Ibrahim Ali Khan amid trolling, says star kids today face a do or die reality

Highlights:

  • Kajol says today’s star kids face intense pressure to succeed immediately.
  • She compares their experience to her own, where she had time and space to evolve.
  • The actor is starring as Ibrahim Ali Khan’s mother in the upcoming film Sarzameen.
  • Kajol stresses the importance of reinvention and praises new actors for adapting beyond films.

Kajol believes the new generation of star kids in Bollywood are under far more pressure than actors from her era. The actress, who will soon be seen in Sarzameen alongside debutant Ibrahim Ali Khan, said young actors today are expected to prove themselves instantly, and harsh judgement follows if they don’t.

 Kajol  Kajol discusses star kids and the changing rules of BollywoodGetty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Cardi B wears blooming 3D flowers

Cardi B continues her bold fashion streak with floral runway glamour

Instagram/rahulmishra_7

Cardi B stuns in a 3D floral Rahul Mishra gown at Paris Couture Week

Highlights:

  • Cardi B wore a ruby-red custom Rahul Mishra gown with sculptural 3D flowers at Paris Couture Week.
  • The outfit followed her earlier dramatic appearance at Schiaparelli in a fringe dress with a live crow.
  • She’s currently working on her debut album Am I the Drama? and a beauty venture with Revolve.
  • The look featured diamond accessories, a sculpted bun, and smoky makeup to match the theatrical dress.

Cardi B took her fashion game to new heights in Paris, stepping out in a dramatic Rahul Mishra creation that fused red carpet glamour with runway sculpture. The rapper’s custom-made gown, featuring 3D blooming flowers and a shimmering ruby base, was a highlight at Paris Haute Couture Week, making it one of her most talked-about looks this season.

 Cardi B wears blooming 3D flowers Cardi B's red gown features 3D sculpted flowers and intricate embroideryInstagram/rahulmishra_7

Keep ReadingShow less