Newham is set to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month from 18 July to 17 August with a vibrant and diverse programme under the theme 'Free to be Me.'
The month-long celebration aims to raise awareness and honour the rich British South Asian heritage in Newham. It promises a rich cultural experience, with events catering to diverse ages and interests.
The celebratory events will include diverse activities, promising a rich cultural experience. There's something for everyone, from spoken word to music, art exhibitions to storytelling, film screenings, and much more.
The programme starts with 'Chai Chronicles: Exploring the History of South Asian Tea' and finishes with 'Desi Daydreams: A Throwback to the 1980s South Asian Rave Scene' at Old Town Hall Stratford.
Mohamed Hammoudan, Assistant Director for Resident Engagement and Participation, said: "We are proud to offer a diverse range of exceptional events that shine a light on the rich history and vibrant diversity of South Asian people in our borough. Through our close collaboration with local artists, venues, and businesses, as well as the active participation of our residents, we've witnessed the profoundly positive impact these celebrations have had on our community throughout the years. We invite everyone to join us in being part of these events as we come together to showcase stories of South Asian Heritage."
The events within the programme include:
Chai Chronicles: Exploring the History of South Asian Tea
At this launch event, Shaheen Kasmani and Heiba Lemara will delve into the rich history of tea and guide us through a tea-tasting experience. Maryam Huq will showcase a collection of art pieces inspired by tea, inviting attendees to embark on a journey that intertwines art and taste.
Me on a Tee Workshop by Momtaz-Begum Hossain
Learn about the history of slogan t-shirts and customise your own in this creative workshop that explores identity and self-expression with colour therapist and crafts expert Momtaz Begum-Hossain.
The History of Bharatanatyam
Learn about the history of Bharatanatyam dance and its origins in ancient Sanskrit texts of performance arts, followed by a performance.
Chai Chronicles: A Talk with the Curators
Artist and curator Shaheen Kasmani will talk us through her process of research, inspiration, and execution, shedding light on what goes into creating meaningful community gatherings. Tea brewed from locally grown herbs in the garden will be served.
Chai Chronicles: Design Your Own Teapot Workshop (4yrs+)
Children aged 4+ are invited to design their own teapot, drawing inspiration from the vibrant hues and intricate patterns of South Asian cultures. Led by local artist Maryam Huq who will be exhibiting a collection of art inspired by tea crockery.
The Queen of My Dreams Film Screening
In collaboration with the London Indian Film Festival, Newham is screening Fawzia Mirza’s The Queen of My Dreams. Against the backdrop of a shared obsession with Bollywood fantasy, Mariam, a Pakistani Muslim woman, and her Canadian-born daughter Azra come of age in two different eras.
Stories from Central-South Asia by Khayaal Theatre (Families)
Khayaal Theatre will bring us tales from the Central-South Asian region using vivid storytelling and props, inspired by millennium and centuries-old Muslim theatre traditions.
Wellbeing in the Garden: Nature to Help You Stress Less
A refreshing summer walk in the community garden followed by journaling, a discussion on holistic wellbeing and ways we can help ourselves to reduce stress in our busy bustling lives.
Sounds of South Asia in Green Street
Experience a mini-musical extravaganza celebrating the sounds of the subcontinent, featuring talented local musicians from Newham.
Stories of Freedom in Spoken Word & Music by Khiyo
A spoken word celebration curated by East London-based writer and filmmaker Jamal Mehmood. Followed by music from Khiyo who are renowned for their captivating fusion of Bengali folk melodies, classical compositions, and contemporary sounds.
A Walk Through the History of South Indian Clothing
Residents will present a mini fashion show and explain the rich history behind iconic garments such as sarees, shalwar kameez, and more.
Monkey Man Film Screening + Q&A
Directed by Dev Patel, this movie follows an anonymous young man who unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systematically victimise the powerless.
Desi Daydream: A Throwback to the 80s South Asian Rave Scene
Step back in time to the underground daytime Bhangra scene of the 1980s. Desi Daydream recreates the legendary daytime raves beloved by second-generation British Asians across the UK.
For decades, Shah Rukh Khan’s ocean-facing mansion, Mannat, stood as the pinnacle of Bollywood royalty. Located in Mumbai’s upscale Bandra area, the house wasn’t just a home—it was a symbol. Fans from around the world still gather outside its gates, hoping for a glimpse of the man often called the “King of Bollywood.”
But the crown for the most expensive celebrity-owned home in India has now passed on.
Kapoor-Bhatt mansion takes the lead
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, one of Bollywood’s most celebrated couples, have completed work on a sprawling new bungalow in Bandra, reportedly worth over ₹250 crore—approximately €27 million. This figure eclipses the estimated value of Mannat, which stands around ₹200 crore or €22 million.
This isn’t just a luxurious residence. It’s a bold statement of the couple’s rising status in the industry. Their new property signals that a new generation of Bollywood royalty has arrived.
Personal touches and prime location
The Kapoor-Bhatt bungalow blends cutting-edge architecture with personal design choices. Both actors were deeply involved in shaping the interiors and layout, working closely with architects to ensure the space reflected their tastes and lifestyle.
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt outshine Shah Rukh Khan Getty Images
The home’s location adds further weight to its emotional and symbolic value. It is situated close to Krishna Raj Bungalow, the former home of Ranbir Kapoor’s late father Rishi Kapoor, preserving a connection to the actor’s heritage and childhood memories.
A shift in Bollywood’s property powerhouses
While Mannat remains an iconic destination undergoing renovation, it no longer holds the top spot in Mumbai’s ultra-premium celebrity housing market. Other high-profile residences, like Amitabh Bachchan’s Jalsa in Juhu, are estimated at around ₹125 crore (€13.5 million), making Ranbir and Alia’s mansion the clear front-runner in terms of value.
Mannat remains an iconic destination undergoing renovationGetty Images
This €27 million investment isn’t just about luxury—it marks a turning point in how star power is defined in modern Bollywood. Kapoor and Bhatt, both at the top of their careers, are not only dominating cinema but also influencing lifestyle trends and property benchmarks.
A family home for the future
The couple are reportedly planning to make the mansion their permanent residence, raising their daughter Raha in one of Mumbai’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. The property offers them privacy, security, and all the comforts needed for their growing family.
The design also reflects a desire for permanence—this isn’t a status symbol to flip or rent, but a long-term home meant to reflect their legacy.
A new chapter in Bollywood’s legacy
The purchase of this home is being seen as symbolic of the shifting tides in Bollywood. While Mannat and Shah Rukh Khan continue to command respect and fan devotion, there’s no denying that the torch is being passed.
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s new home is not just Mumbai’s most expensive celebrity bungalow—it’s also a sign of the generational shift taking place in Indian cinema. The glamour, wealth, and global reach once associated with SRK are now being matched by the power couple of the new era.
This isn’t just a real estate story. It’s a reflection of changing icons, growing ambitions, and the evolution of stardom in Bollywood.
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Wilson built bridges between styles that rarely met
Brian Wilson, who died this week aged 82, is best remembered as the sonic architect of the Beach Boys and the laid-back "California sound" that swept the world in the 1960s. But to stop there would be to miss the scale of his ambition. Behind the striped shirts and sun-soaked harmonies was a composer and producer who transformed pop music, often by refusing to stay in one genre.
From symphonic pop to soul and psychedelia, Wilson built bridges between styles that rarely met. Here’s a look at six genres that define his legacy and show how much more there was to the man who gave us Good Vibrations.
1. Surf music – but deeper than it seemed
Wilson may have helped define surf rock, but his early work was far from novelty. Tracks like Surfer Girl and In My Room carried emotional weight and complex arrangements, showing Wilson’s desire to blend catchy hooks with rich harmonies. The Beach Boys' 1963–65 catalogue offered a polished, heartfelt counterpoint to the rawness of garage bands and early rock’n’roll.
2. Baroque pop – Pet Sounds and pop perfection
If one album changed the idea of what pop music could be, it was 1966’s Pet Sounds. Incorporating strings, woodwinds and intricate vocal layering, Wilson created a lush, introspective masterpiece that directly influenced The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper. God Only Knows is still considered by many, including Paul McCartney, to be one of the greatest songs ever written.
3. Psychedelic experimentation – Smile and beyond
If one album changed the idea of what pop music could be, it was 1966’s Pet SoundsGetty Images
Wilson’s most ambitious project, Smile, was meant to be a “teenage symphony to God”. Though shelved for decades, its fragments (like Heroes and Villains and Surf’s Up) revealed a composer playing with modular recording, avant-garde techniques, and surreal lyrical structures. When Wilson finally completed it in 2004, it was hailed as a lost classic of psychedelic pop.
4. R&B and soul – stripped back and heartfelt
By the late 1960s, the Beach Boys had shed their surfboards. Albums like Wild Honey (1967) reflected Wilson’s love for rhythm and blues, with tracks like Darlin’ showing a rougher, more soulful edge. The stripped-down production was a deliberate pivot away from the excess of Pet Sounds, but still brimming with melody and feeling.
5. Americana – the spiritual core of Smile
Even as he experimented, Wilson remained fascinated by America’s musical past. Smile included references to spirituals, cowboy songs, and folk traditions, blending them into a surreal journey through the country’s cultural memory. Cabin Essence and Wonderful offer glimpses into a deeply introspective version of American identity, filtered through Wilson’s fragile genius.
6. Adult pop balladry – the gentle strength of Love and Mercy
As dementia affected his final years, it’s this kind of understated emotional honesty that enduresRolling stone
In later years, Wilson’s solo work embraced vulnerability. His 1988 single Love and Mercy has become his personal anthem—gentle, aching, and hopeful. As dementia affected his final years, it’s this kind of understated emotional honesty that endures. “There’s a lot of people out there hurting,” he once said. “And it really scares me.”
A final chord
Wilson’s music lives on—not just in sun-drenched nostalgia, but in the emotional complexity he brought to modern music. His impact stretches from the Beatles to Bowie, from punk to dream pop. His life was often marked by personal turmoil, but his compositions soared beyond it.
Brian Wilson didn’t just soundtrack the beach. He gave pop music a soul, a brain, and occasionally, a nervous breakdown. And through it all, he kept writing.
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Weinstein is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in California
Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of committing a criminal sexual act against one woman in his New York retrial. The 73-year-old was acquitted of another count of the same charge relating to a second woman.
The jury did not reach a verdict on a third charge of rape involving a third woman. Weinstein had pleaded not guilty to all three charges, maintaining that all sexual encounters were consensual and denying any assault.
Conviction follows overturned 2020 verdict
The retrial followed a decision by a New York appeals court to overturn Weinstein’s 2020 conviction last year. Prosecutors presented three charges during the retrial—two of which were from the original trial, and a third added last year, accusing him of forcing oral sex on a separate woman.
The charges related to incidents in 2013, including the alleged rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a New York hotel room and sexual assaults against two other women.
Courtroom tension as jury deliberates
The partial verdict came after a tense day in court. The jury foreperson asked to speak to the judge privately about an unspecified “situation”. Earlier in the trial, the same juror had raised concerns about pressure within the jury room and discussions straying beyond the scope of the charges.
The 73-year-old was acquitted of another count of the same charge relating to a second womanGetty Images
Weinstein addressed the court directly before any verdict was announced, pleading: “My life is on the line and you know what? It's not fair... It's time to say this trial is over."
This week also saw calls for a mistrial from Weinstein’s legal team after a juror complained another was being treated unfairly. The judge denied the request.
Weinstein is already serving a California sentence
Weinstein is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in California after being convicted of rape in 2022. He also denied those charges.
The former film producer became a central figure in the #MeToo movement after multiple women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct nearly eight years ago. Some of these allegations led to criminal convictions on both US coasts.
Weinstein faces further sentencing in relation to the latest New York conviction.
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Ten buzzworthy indie films that could shape the TIFF 2025 conversation
As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025 draws near, a wave of independently made films is already dominating conversations among critics, programmers, and distributors. These are not your typical star-studded blockbusters. In fact, they’re character-driven, stylistically bold, and often politically or emotionally charged stories. Many have already premiered at Cannes or Sundance, while a few are TIFF-bound discoveries. One Indian film, in particular, is catching the attention of international curators with its quiet force.
Here’s a look at 10 indie titles being talked about before the TIFF line-up is even announced.
Kristen Stewart steps behind the camera for her first feature, adapting Lidia Yuknavitch’s emotionally intense memoir. The story centres on a young woman navigating trauma, sexuality, and swimming, all told through a non-linear, stream-of-consciousness narrative. Imogen Poots plays the lead, and the film’s visual style has already drawn comparisons to Derek Cianfrance. It premiered out of competition at Cannes 2025 and is generating serious interest from indie distributors.
Lynne Ramsay’s return after an eight-year hiatus is being hailed as one of the most anticipated auteur-driven works of the year. Jennifer Lawrence stars in this adaptation of Ariana Harwicz’s novel about a woman struggling with postpartum psychosis. The script is by Alice Birch, and early responses from Cannes suggest this is Ramsay at her most unrelenting. A24 and Apple reportedly battled over rights, hinting at serious awards potential.
After Beau Is Afraid, Ari Aster switches tone again with this “modern Western,” featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal. The film debuted at Sundance 2025 and won the Grand Jury Prize, making it a serious contender for further festival attention. The story follows two estranged brothers forced to reunite in a post-capitalist landscape. It’s moody, slow-burning, and already being called one of Aster’s most emotionally mature works.
Solondz is back with a genre twist. Dangerous Animals takes on his trademark bleak humour with a surreal, body-horror narrative that drew comparisons to Julia Ducournau’s Titane during early Cannes market talks. It follows a child star turned recluse who becomes the subject of a bizarre suburban experiment. Programmers expect this one to land in TIFF’s Midnight Madness section due to its provocative tone and overall risk-taking structure.
Celine Song’s follow-up to Past Lives is a sharp, darkly comic look at art, commerce and class. Starring Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal, Materialists premiered at Cannes 2025, where its razor-sharp satire of luxury culture and beauty standards won Best Screenplay. Industry insiders say its strong aesthetic and festival reaction make it a top Vanguard or Discovery pick for TIFF 2025.
A quiet surprise from India, Sabar Bonda is the first Marathi-language feature to screen in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic section. Directed by queer filmmaker Rohan Kanawade, it explores the relationship between a young boy and his teacher in a rural village, subtly exploring themes of gender, caste, and queerness. With TIFF’s history of championing regional Indian cinema, especially post-All We Imagine As Light, this is one of the most likely South Asian entries to break through.
Linklater’s latest film is a love letter to French cinema, both stylistically and thematically. Nouvelle Vague is set in 1960s Paris and follows a young American student who becomes entangled in a world of cinephiles, protests, and fleeting romance. It's less a plot-driven film and more an ode to a particular cinematic moment. Industry insiders say it’s tailor-made for TIFF’s cinephile crowd, possibly as part of a Cinema Makers tribute.
Wes Anderson returns with a twist on the heist genre. The Phoenician Scheme features an ensemble cast trapped in a fictional desert state during a crumbling political regime. It was screened privately during Cannes Village and quickly became one of the most talked-about titles among buyers. TIFF might host its North American premiere, offering a major red carpet moment while still fitting its indie tone due to Anderson’s distinct auteur status.
Scarlett Johansson’s first feature as a solo director was selected for Cannes Jury Screening and was met with strong praise. The story follows a reclusive former stage actor navigating grief and late-life reinvention in New York City. It’s intimate and character-focused, with a restrained visual style that allows its performances to shine. TIFF’s interest in debut directors makes this a strong candidate for a Platform slot.
Trier reunites with Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, a film that builds on the emotional resonance of The Worst Person in the World. The narrative centres around a family dealing with the return of a long-absent parent, told with Trier’s signature emotional clarity and subtle humour. It received warm reviews at Cannes and could emerge as one of TIFF’s most acclaimed European entries.
Why this matters?
Unlike blockbuster-heavy seasons, TIFF 2025 is shaping up to be a filmmaker’s festival. From deeply personal stories to hybrid genre experiments, this year's buzzed-about indie titles reflect a shift toward narrative risk and regional specificity. And with the inclusion of Sabar Bonda, there’s a clear sign that Indian independent cinema is no longer confined to the margins. It’s earning its seat at the global table.
TIFF 2025 runs from 4–14 September, with the official lineup dropping later this summer. Until then, these are the names to watch.
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Arjun Rampal says Rauf is the darkest character he has portrayed
Arjun Rampal has stepped into a deeply unsettling place with his portrayal of Rauf in Netflix’s Rana Naidu season 2. The actor, known for playing intense characters, says this role was unlike anything he’s done before.
“He’s the most terrifyingly real character I’ve ever played,” Rampal said. Rauf is unpredictable, violent, and entirely devoid of empathy, yet not completely soulless. What sets him apart is a surprising emotional sliver: the fierce love he holds for his niece. “She’s the only one he protects without question,” he explained. “It’s the only time you see something human in him.”
For Rampal, the challenge wasn’t just about playing a violent man. It was about showing the emotional contradictions buried under that rage. “The fine line between menace and vulnerability is where Rauf lives. That’s what made him so difficult to portray,” he said.
A new layer of conflict in Rana Naidu season 2
In the latest season, Rampal’s character is a new addition to the already explosive dynamic between Rana Daggubati and Venkatesh Daggubati, who play a feuding son and father. Rauf’s entry heightens the emotional stakes, bringing in a cold, calculated energy that shifts the entire tone of the show.
Directed by Karan Anshuman, Suparn Verma, and Abhay Chopra, and produced by Locomotive Global Media, Rana Naidu continues to explore themes of loyalty, power, and personal demons, with Rampal’s Rauf adding a new layer of darkness.