by LAUREN CODLING
AN ANNUAL arts festival celebrating the “unique” links between the UK and south Asia returns to London next month.
The Alchemy Festival at the Southbank Centre will feature dance performances, comedy, DJs, music, food and film.
Rachel Harris, the creative producer at the Southbank Centre, told Eastern Eye that the festival is “brilliant” opportunity for audiences to realise how forward-thinking the artistic work is in south Asia.
“It is great for London to not be complacent that the West equates to contemporary and the East is very traditional,” she said.
“The festival is about contemporary work – although there are moments in the programme where we do have classical artists – but where something is exceptional or where it is rarely seen in this country, then it is important the festival invites that work.”
The four-day event will explore cultural links between Britain and south Asia, drawing in communities who perhaps are not given major profiles in the arts sector.
Highlights include performances from the Mercury Music Prize-winning composer and tabla player Talvin Singh; comedy from Muslim comic Tez Ilyas; music from India’s first Ska band The Ska Vengers and dance theatre piece The Troth, which tells the untold story of sacrifices made by Indian soldiers in the First World War.
Harris has worked on the festival, now in its ninth year, since its launch. She revealed the event aimed to provide platforms for Asian artists who may not have had the opportunity to showcase their work in the UK, and acknowledged the difficulties that British Asian artists may feel they have in terms of finding a place in the industry for their work.
However, she believed that Alchemy allowed individuals to share their talent and emphasised how important up-and-coming artists were to the festival.
“I’m sure if you were to speak to British Asian artists, they would say there is still a lack of opportunity,” Harris said. “This is why the festival invites people at the beginning of their careers as well as those who are world renowned. It is very important to give people opportunities all along the way.”
“We are also looking at celebrating the creative impact of British south Asian artists,” she added. “It is unique to hear how music, mainstream music, and popular culture has
been impacted by the second and third generation of south Asians.”
Harris said festival organisers wanted to achieve a balance so artists in all the countries in the subcontinent, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, have an
equal platform to showcase their talent.
In addition to the wide range of acts, three Southbank venues have been reopened this year to host some of the artists on the programme. The venues, originally constructed in
the 1960s, include the Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Hayward Gallery and the Purcell Room.
“It is definitely a special year for Alchemy,” Harris said.
In her role as creative producer, Harris revealed she had to ensure audiences from every age range had something to interest them. She also had to help “shape” the event, making sure she listened to the artists and gathered ideas from them.
There are a number of free events, including an interactive production of The Magic Fish, told through beat-boxing and dance, and a Bollywood dance workshop, open to all levels of experiences.
On the festival’s impact, Harris hoped it would show audiences how interconnected the world is.
“The world is smaller than we think – we are all interconnected, through politics and ideas and economics,” Harris said. “Alchemy is about breaking down barriers, allowing people to see things they may not have seen before, mixing audiences up and allowing people to connect.”
The Alchemy Festival will be running at the Southbank Centre from May 4-7. For more information about events and tickets, see www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/alchemy
A scene from The Thursday Murder Club, where four retirees turn amateur detectives in a quiet British village shaken by a real murderInstagram/NetflixUK
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.