Site Navigation
Search
Latest Stories
Start your day right!
Get latest updates and insights delivered to your inbox.
Related News
More For You
The UK Asian Film Festival 2025 explores themes of love, identity, and belonging through South Asian cinema
gatty image
UK Asian Film Festival celebrates stories of longing and belonging in 27th edition
Apr 25, 2025
From May 1st to 11th, the UK Asian Film Festival (UKAFF) returns for its 27th edition, bringing an interesting line-up of films and events to London, Leicester, and Coventry. This year’s theme, “Longing and Belonging,” explores the universal human search for connection, identity, and purpose through South Asian cinema.
As the longest-running South Asian film festival in the world, UKAFF has always championed female voices and challenged patriarchal norms. This year’s selection continues that mission, presenting stories of displacement, love, tradition, and resilience.
The festival kicks off on May 1st at BFI Southbank with the European premiere of My Melbourne, an anthology film featuring four true stories of underrepresented voices in Australia, from a queer man reconnecting with his father to a refugee girl finding hope in cricket. Directors Imtiaz Ali and Onir will attend the event.
Closing the festival on May 10th is the London premiere of Pakistan’s Academy Award-nominated The Glassworker, a visually stunning tale of love and war set against the backdrop of a glassmaking studio. Director Usman Riaz will be present for the screening.
Special screenings and events
- Sholay: 50 Years Later (May 5-9, Nehru Centre) – An immersive exhibition celebrating the golden jubilee of the iconic Bollywood classic.
- Magical Memories: Raj Kapoor Centenary (May 9, Harrow Arts Centre) – A musical tribute to the legendary showman of Indian cinema.
- We Are Faheem and Karun (May 2, Coventry) – The first Kashmiri-language LGBTQ+ love story, directed by Onir.
- Her Right to Play (May 5, London) – A documentary following Pakistan’s women’s football team fighting for Olympic glory.
New voices and legacy honours
The festival also spotlights emerging talent through its Short Film Competition and Creative Minds of Tomorrow workshops. Meanwhile, legendary figures like music composer Biddu (receiving the Golden Flame Lifetime Achievement Award) and late filmmaker Shyam Benegal (honoured with a screening of Mandi) will be celebrated for their contributions to cinema.
Why this year matters
Dr. Pushpinder Chowdhry, UKAFF Founder, says: “In a divided world, these stories remind us of our shared humanity. British Asian filmmakers are finally getting the recognition they deserve, and this festival is a homecoming for their voices.”
With films that make you laugh, cry, and reflect, UKAFF 2025 is a celebration of the ties that bind us.
Festival runs May 1-11 across London, Leicester, and Coventry. Tickets and full programme at ukasianfilmfestival.com.
Keep ReadingShow less
Most Popular
Current Issue
VE Day 80 street parties, picnics and community get togethers are being encouraged to take place across the country as part of the Great British Food Festival. (Photo: Getty Images)
Public invited to attend VE Day 80 procession and flypast
Apr 25, 2025
THE 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day will be marked with a military procession in London on May 5.
The event will include over 1,300 members of the Armed Forces, youth groups, and uniformed services marching from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace.
The procession will begin at midday with an actor reciting Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech. A young person will pass the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace to Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Second World War veteran who served in the Normandy campaign.
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery will lead the march, followed by a tri-service group from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force. Cadets and other youth organisations will also participate.
The prime minister and veterans supported by the Royal British Legion will view the event from a dais at the Queen Victoria Memorial.
The event will conclude with a flypast over The Mall featuring the Red Arrows and 23 military aircraft, including Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets, a Voyager transport aircraft, and historic aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Commonwealth Armed Forces personnel have also been invited to take part, led by The Band of the Irish Guards. Bands from the Household Cavalry, Royal Marines, and Royal Corps of Army Music will be on parade.
Nationwide street parties and community events are being encouraged as part of the Great British Food Festival, led by the Together Coalition and the Big Lunch in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The procession and flypast will be broadcast live. On 8 May, a service will be held at Westminster Abbey followed by a concert at Horse Guards Parade.
Keep ReadingShow less
A scene from Thudarum showcasing Mohanlal and Shobana’s mature on-screen chemistry in this slow-burn family thriller
Instagram/thudarummovie
'Thudarum' review round-up: Mohanlal returns to form in a dark, emotional ride that’s winning hearts
Apr 25, 2025
Director Tharun Moorthy’s Thudarum has drawn attention not just for its gripping storyline, but for bringing back the Mohanlal audiences have longed to see: an actor rooted in emotion rather than spectacle. With critics praising both the writing and performances, Thudarum has emerged as a memorable addition to Mohanlal’s long filmography, with reviewers calling it a return to form.
Across the board, reviewers highlight how the film presents Mohanlal as Shanmugham (nicknamed Benz), a humble taxi driver and former stuntman who now lives a quiet life in a Kerala village with his wife, played by Shobana, and two children. His prized possession is his old black Ambassador car, a gift from a mentor which becomes central to the plot when it’s unknowingly used, setting off a chain of devastating events.
- YouTubeyoutu.be
What begins as a slice-of-life family drama slowly unravels into a thriller. Critics note the tonal shift is deliberate and effective. The first act is calm and intimate, allowing viewers to settle into the domestic world of Shanmugham, while the second half dives into more intense and emotionally charged territory. The transformation in both narrative and Mohanlal’s performance has been widely appreciated.
Reviewers also point out similarities to Drishyam, especially in the way an ordinary man is drawn into extraordinary circumstances to protect his family. But unlike the high-stakes, twist-heavy execution of that film, Thudarum leans more into the emotional consequences of its characters' actions.
The chemistry between Mohanlal and Shobana, though more mature and subdued than their past outings, is another strong point. Supporting actors Binu Pappu and Prakash Varma have been praised for their roles as corrupt policemen, bringing menace without going over the top.
The writing by Tharun Moorthy and KR Sunil has been described as tight and layered. There are clever callbacks to Mohanlal’s earlier films, both iconic and obscure, and touches of self-aware humour. The cinematography and background score also received nods, particularly for how they enhance the film’s moody and melancholic tone.
While some critics caution that the slow pace in the first half requires patience, the consensus is that Thudarum delivers a rewarding experience. As one reviewer noted, “Mohanlal in mundu, pathos in his eyes, and villains straight out of nightmares, Thudarum is the slow-burn thriller we didn’t know we needed.”
Keep ReadingShow less
A day before the attack, Chopra had announced that top javelin throwers, including Paris Olympics champion Nadeem, had been invited to the event on May 24.
Neeraj Chopra rules out Arshad Nadeem’s presence at Bengaluru event
Apr 25, 2025
INDIA’s Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has said that Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem will not be attending the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru next month. His comments came after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.
Chopra said the possibility of Nadeem’s presence was “completely out of the question” following the attack, which took place on Tuesday.
A day before the attack, Chopra had announced that top javelin throwers, including Paris Olympics champion Nadeem, had been invited to the event on May 24. He had said the event could help India host a Diamond League meet in the future.
However, the attack drew criticism of Chopra’s decision to extend an invitation to Nadeem, although reports said the Pakistan athlete was unlikely to attend.
“There has been so much talk about my decision to invite Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic, and most of it has been hate and abuse,” Chopra said in a social media post on Friday.
“The invitation I extended to Arshad was from one athlete to another — nothing more, nothing less. The aim of the NC Classic was to bring the best athletes to India and for our country to be the home of world-class sporting events.
“After all that has taken place over the last 48 hours, Arshad's presence at the NC Classic was completely out of the question.”
Media reports said Nadeem, who became Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, had already opted out of the event due to a clash with his training for the Asian Championships in South Korea next month.
Earlier this year, tensions between India and Pakistan had affected sports ties when India’s cricket team chose not to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. All their matches, including the March 9 final, were held in Dubai.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Keep ReadingShow less
Songs of the Bulbul: A Captivating Fusion of Sufi Myth, Dance, and Music at Leicester’s Curve Theatre
Sufi myth, dance, music at Curve
Apr 25, 2025
This April, audiences in Leicester are invited to experience Songs of the Bulbul — a powerful new dance production by acclaimed choreographer Aakash Odedra. Staged at the Curve Theatre, this evocative performance blends classical dance with spiritual storytelling, music, and visual elegance.
Inspired by an ancient Sufi myth, Songs of the Bulbul brings to life the haunting tale of a bulbul (nightingale) held in captivity. The narrative draws deeply from mystic symbolism, exploring themes of longing, freedom, and the soul’s journey through confinement and release.
Renowned Kathak artist Rani Khanam lends her intricate choreography to the piece, creating movement that reflects the emotional depth and poetic nature of the story. The musical score, composed by Rushil Ranjan, further enhances the experience with a stirring blend of traditional and contemporary sounds.
The collaboration between these visionary artists delivers a performance that is not only visually striking but also spiritually resonant — inviting audiences to reflect on the inner battles we face and the enduring desire for liberation.
Don’t miss this limited two-day engagement. Tickets and more information are available at www.curveonline.co.uk.
Keep ReadingShow less
Load More
© Copyright 2025 Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd & Asian Media Group USA Inc