POETIC UK DATE
SPOKEN word poet Priya Malik has made such a huge impact that she now has over 569,000 followers on Instagram. She will be sharing her wonderful words with UK audiences at The Camden Club in London on June 1. The solo poetry show will feature some of her best works and will likely leave audiences feeling inspired. It is also a rare chance to see a different kind of live performance from a top Indian talent.
Priya Malik
COOL KAAVISH CONCERT
THEY may have been going strong since 1998 and delivered great songs during that time, but acclaimed Pakistani band Kaavish perhaps have not received the global recognition they deserve.
UK audiences will get to experience their signature sound on stage this week, with shows at Aviva Studios in Manchester next Wednesday (23) and Barbican Theatre next Sunday (27). The contemporary semi-classical band, led by Jaffer Zaidi and Maaz Maudood, will deliver hit songs blending diverse influences, including Bachpan, Tere Pyaar Mein, Moray Sayyaan, Faasle and Nindiya Re. Their music has rightly been described as deeply moving and timeless.
Kaavish
HUGE BIOPIC PROBLEM
A BIG problem with Bollywood biopics is that they bend the truth. Instead of focusing on what happened, films usually cater to the ego of their lead star and do a disservice to actual events.
That is why there are not high hopes for this week’s big Hindi cinema release Kesari: Chapter 2, which is based on the aftermath of the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where peaceful Indian protestors were locked into an enclosed space and gunned down.
From the trailer, it is already apparent that with lead star Akshay Kumar’s overly glorified portrayal of a lawyer, producers have attempted to commercialise the massacre of hundreds and likely added elements that did not happen.
This is one historical event that should be presented in a real manner and not tampered with.
Kesari: Chapter 2
MORE PLAGIARISM CLAIMS
INDIAN Oscar entry Laapataa Ladies was accused of copying the old TV movie Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol last year. It has now also been suspected of plagiarising key parts of its plot from the 2019 French-Arabic short film Burqa City.
With Laapataa Ladies producer Aamir Khan having a very long track record of starring in copied movies across more than three decades, it cannot be discounted that this was also a rip-off – although writer Biplab Goswami has strongly denied it.
Laapataa Ladies
TERRIFIC QAWWALI TOUR
BRILLIANT brothers Rizwan and Muazzam Ali Khan have entertained UK audiences for more than 25 years with thrilling concerts.
The nephews of late music icon Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan will return with their incredible qawwali group in May for what promises to be another great UK tour. You can catch them at Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (14), Royal Festival Hall, London (18), Birmingham Town Hall (23) and Bristol Beacon (25).
Rizwan Muazzam told me: “We’re really looking forward to this tour and the opportunity to perform our new album At The Feet Of The Beloved to the UK. It’s also a special moment for us to pay tribute to our late uncle, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, by presenting some exclusive songs from his recently released album. His legacy continues to inspire us, and we’re proud to carry it forward.”
Jaswinder Singh from tour organisers Asian Arts Agency added: “Sufi and qawwali music continue to resonate deeply and grow in popularity here, and we’re thrilled to be producing this national tour – bringing this powerful, spiritual musical tradition to major UK venues and festivals.”
Rizwan Muazzam
INDIAN IDOL WINNER
NEWLY crowned Indian Idol 15 winner Manasi Ghosh will deliver her first big international performance in the UK this May, with shows at Indigo at The O2, London (9), De Montfort Hall, Leicester (10) and Blue Room Sports Venue, Harrow (11).
The talented singer will be joined on the line-up by fellow finalists Anirudh Suswaram and Sneha Shankar.
Looking ahead, Ghosh has already recorded her Bollywood debut song with Lalit Pandit and Shaan. She also has a duet lined up with rapper Badshah and plans to produce solo independent songs.
With big names lining up to work with her, music fans will be hearing a lot more of the young sensation.
Manasi Ghosh
KAVYA DELIVERS SUPERB SONGS
IN TERMS of quality, UK-based record label Sufiscore is consistently delivering some of the finest songs. The top tracks, connecting contemporary music to classic traditions, are also giving a great platform to stunningly talented singers.
The latest of these wonderful vocalists is Kavya Limaye. She teamed up with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and a great creative team for a stunning cover version of the classic Bollywood song Rahein Na Rahein Hum, taken from the album Boundless Melodies.
This follows on from her other recent fabulous release with Sufiscore, Intezar-e-Saba, a mesmerising ghazal from the forthcoming album Nuqoosh, due for release in May. In February, she teamed up with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for an incredible cover version of the classic qawwali Tere Bin Nahi Lagda, which also featured the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. These songs have shown that Limaye is a music star on the rise, and Sufiscore is a record label that is becoming a world leader.
Kavya Limaye
MALAYALAM MEGA-HIT
CERTAIN corners of right-wing politics in India have been so desperate to destroy the recently released Malayalam film L2: Empuraan that they have inadvertently turned it into a record-breaking hit.
Being forced by the government to make cuts in the movie, which most agree were unjustified, has given the Mohanlal-starrer huge global publicity, including for the unedited international release. The hit sequel got further attention when it was reported that its director and producer had seemingly unjustified investigations launched against them.
This desperation by powerful forces to crush the movie and those involved with it has led it towards becoming the highest grosser in Malayalam cinema history.
L2: Empuraan
RAHAT RETURNS
RAHAT FATEH ALI KHAN resurrected his reputation with his recent UK tour, and a large part of that was due to him teaming up with top British live concert producer Vijay Bhola.
The qawwali maestro had been on the back foot after a deeply damaging video resulted in widespread negative media attention in 2024, but he turned that around with stunning sold-out concerts produced by Bhola.
The new dream team showed that Rahat has quite comprehensively reconnected with making good music again. He also interacted with the media and fans in what turned out to be a great tour.
An added extra-special touch was a refreshed Rahat introducing his talented son Shah Zaman Ali Khan to UK audiences.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
One evening, I am invited to dinner at the Bengal Club by a friend, Devdan Mitra, deputy editor of the Telegraph, an English-language newspaper. The club, the oldest in India, will celebrate its 200th anniversary in February 2027.
Devdan’s position as a member of the food sub-committee is an exalted one, for the Bengal Club prides itself on its culinary excellence. It has a reputation for its lobster thermidor, though I am happy with the grilled beckti.
The beckti, or barramundi fish, is known by many names around the world, including giant perch and Australian seabass.
“Our beckti is the fresh river variety, not sea beckti, which isn’t as nice,” says Devdan.
The Calcutta Club
For dessert, I am persuaded to share a soufflé with him.
Once upon a time, Indians were not allowed into the club, as Lord Minto discovered when he invited Sir Rajendra Nath Mookerjee, a Bengali nobleman, to dinner in 1906. “But he’s my guest,” protested Minto when the doorman barred the Indian from entering the premises.
The doorman was not impressed that Minto was viceroy and governor-general of India (from November 1905 to November 1910).
“Rules are rules,” he said.
An embarrassed Minto promised his guest: “I will get you the land to start your own club where there will be no discrimination.”
In such a manner was the Calcutta Club born in 1907. Its first president was the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, Sir Nripendra Narayan. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, had lunch at the club on December 28, 1921.
Today, the club has a ‘Nirad C Chaudhuri corner’, housing rare books, paintings and awards that had once belonged to the eminent author who spent the last decades of his life in Oxford.
The Bengal Club lawns
In fact, I actually rescued his belongings when they were about to be stolen and arranged for them to be shipped to the Calcutta Club after the author died in Oxford in 1999. But that is another story.
Meanwhile, in the dining room of the Bengal Club, the turbanned waiters were moving about like Jeeves. I asked Devdan about one of the several portraits of Englishmen that still hang in the club. It was that of Charles Metcalfe, the son of a major general who was the club’s second president and held the post for 11 years until 1838.
The Bengalis have decided not to take down the portraits of those who once lorded it over India.
“They are part of our history,” Devdan points out.
As I leave, I notice a marble plaque which says the Bengal Club had once been Lord Macaulay’s house. He had considered it to be “the best in Calcutta”.
I believe it’s the same (Thomas Babington) Macaulay who once boasted: “A single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia.”
Part of me wishes the British had settled in India and, in time, said the opposite of Rishi Sunak: “Of course, I am Indian.”
The great power conflict which Orwell imagined differs from our emerging world disorder. As the cold war alliances of his era took shape, Orwell put America, Russia and China in rival blocs. So Orwell had “Eurasia” stretching from Russia across all of Europe, though Stalin’s successors only went on to control the eastern half of the continent in the decades to 1989. Orwell’s London was no longer a national capital. Britain was simply “Airstrip One” to signal its subservience within the English-speaking world that Orwell labels “Oceania”.
Yet the Trump-Putin axis is key to Washington’s rejection of the core assumptions of western security and economic policy.So what is Trump up to? Almost every economist has explained the irrationality of his tariffs – if they are considered in economic terms. The theory of comparative advantage explains why trade can be of mutual benefit. But Trump is a zero-sum thinker for whom there must always be a winner and a loser. So these were not so-called “reciprocal tariffs”, where the US might emulate the tariffs that it faces, as a bargaining chip to try to negotiate them away. Instead, a crude blanket global formula reflected the Trump trade doctrine that any country managing to export more to America than it imports must be “cheating” at trade – and that the optimum trade balance with every country, however rich or poor, is zero. A president who campaigned on lowering inflation will hike up prices for Americans – on the false prospectus that it is foreign countries who pay for tariffs.
Trump's tariffs are ultimately about political power, not economics. Trump’s protectionism is the power play of the protection racket. The invisible hand of the market is replaced by the presidential power to grant favoured access, to countries abroad or sectors and institutions at home, prepared to pledge loyalty and offer fealty to Trump. Modi’s India may be Washington’s top target for showing there are still deals to be done. Smaller developing countries, like Bangladesh, which faces a 37 per cent tariff, will be hit hard, as sky-high tariffs follow deep cuts in development aid too.
Britain has often been cast satirically as America’s 51st state – though Trump now pushes that label on a deeply unwilling Canada. His likely reward there looks set to be the backlash of an anti-Trump landslide in this month’s Canadian election. Seeking a mandate on the campaign trail, Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, has been the leader to speak most clearly about how much has changed. British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and opposition Conservatives leader Kemi Badenoch sound much less sure about how to respond. Both declare that this is the end of an era – and that it will be important to keep calm and strike a sensible trade deal with Trump. Starmer hopes to reset the UK-EU relationship too.
The genius of Orwell’s fictional depiction of a post-truth world was its insistence on always aligning the past with the present. When allies and enemies change sides, enormous effort goes into rewriting newspaper archives. In reality, adapting to foundational shifts is much harder to come to terms with. America has been a partner for Britain and Europe for decades in security, trade and multilateral institutions. But the Trump administration is not merely retreating into isolation. Its disdain for NATO, appetite for trade wars and social media attacks on erstwhile allies go much further. Leaders and the public alike lack a mental map or language for an unfamiliar world in which an American government appears to present a new threat from the West to our peace, prosperity and democracy.
Despite the dystopian fears of Nineteen Eighty-Four, the post-war era in which Orwell wrote was a time of hope, too. The constructive creativity of that age shaped peace and prosperity in its time. Avoiding the nightmare scenarios today may depend on how far democratic leaders can somehow revive that spirit.
Sunder Katwala is the director of thinktank British Future and the author of the book How to Be a Patriot: The must-read book on British national identity and immigration
At independence in 1947, some 565 princely states joined the Indian union. As an inducement, the rulers were promised they would be allowed to keep their titles and given an annual privy purse.
His Highness Arvind Singh Mewar preferred to be called by an affectionate term of respect – “Shriji”.
I see from my notes that he attended two events organised by the Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA) in the UK.
On June 21, 2013, he was present at a lunch at Lord’s, where the IJA launched a book, Pataudi: Nawab of Cricket. Shriji did the formal honours at the event, with guests including Pataudi’s wife Sharmila Tagore, and their children – daughters Soha and Saba as well as actor Saif Ali Khan – and his wife Kareena Kapoor Khan.
A month later, the IJA hosted a lunch for Shriji at Carluccio’s, behind Oxford Street, where he talked about water being a scarce resource in an arid state like Rajasthan.
His portrait in the City Palace
Far from behaving like a Maharana – the title signifies he was one step up from being a Maharajah – he went round the table, greeting each journalist and gifting them a copy of a book he had written about the House of Mewar, which claims descent from the Sun God.
On one occasion, someone asked him what he thought about the British royal family.
“Very good family,” he quipped, “but a bit new.”
He regarded himself as a “custodian”, rather than a ruler. He was 76th in a dynasty whose origins date to AD 566 (in contrast, the House of Windsor came into being in 1917, replacing the historic Germanic name of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha).
Like many erstwhile rulers, Shriji went into running hotels, in his case in partnership with the Taj Group. The Lake Palace, which is probably the most magical hotel in the world, is one of his properties.
On a previous trip, he had invited me to go round for drinks in a corner of the City Palace he occupied with his family. He didn’t like to say, “Come to my palace.” Instead he said, “Come to my place.”
When I casually mentioned to a friend I was thinking of sending him a message this time, he showed me on the internet on his mobile that Arvind Singh Mewar had died on March 16 at the age of 80.
This was very upsetting.
The following morning, high up in the Aravalli Hills above Udaipur, I spoke to some locals about their beloved Maharana.
“All the development you see around Udaipur was because of him,” remarked one man with a sweep of his hand.
There was a huge turnout out for Shriji’s funeral.
As I went round the City Palace, I took note of Shriji’s portraits and those of his ancestors.
Preparations were already under way for the coronation of his son, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar.
Although Mrs Gandhi scrapped the old princely order, considering it to be an anachronism in modern India, Air India is bringing back its Maharajah service.
When I routinely flew Air India from Heathrow to India as an undergraduate – those were the days of the legendary Maneck Dalal – the airline’s famous symbol was a bowing Maharajah.
That is considered too subservient for today’s India, I have been told, but the nation’s flag carrier aims to return Air India to the glory days of old.
The moment served as a reminder that many senior figures in Indian cinema – including Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman – regularly browse YouTube, offering both newcomers and established artists a real chance to be discovered.
Platforms like YouTube have become vital bridges between emerging talent and the entertainment industry’s veterans. Whether it's an impromptu cover or an original track, content uploaded online has the power to transcend borders, genres, and generations.
Pakistani artist Moazzam Ali Khan caught the attention of Bollywood legend Javed Akhtar with his soulful YouTube cover of Yeh Nain Deray Deray
BIG JOHN FLOP
When it was announced that the John Abraham-starrer The Diplomat would be released in cinemas, I – like many others – predicted it would flop.
Despite being an obvious misfire, the team behind the film still chose to pour money into its production and push for a theatrical release.
As expected, it turned out to be a colossal failure and only reaffirmed what has been clear for some time – John Abraham is no longer a bankable box office star.
In an industry increasingly driven by content and evolving audience tastes, star power alone isn’t enough to guarantee success. The Diplomat serves as yet another reminder that audiences expect more than just a familiar face on the poster.
John Abraham to headline action thriller Tehran
Getty Images for DIFF
AWESOME ART EXHIBIT
This year is turning out to be a strong one for art lovers, with standout exhibitions taking place across the UK. One to look out for is (Un)Layering the Future Past of South Asia: Young Artists’ Voices, opening at the SOAS Gallery in London next Friday (April 11) and running until June 21.
The culturally rich exhibition showcases work by 26 emerging and established artists from six South Asian countries, including several newly commissioned pieces. Curated by Salima Hashmi and Manmeet K Walia, the show explores a wide range of themes through diverse mediums such as painting, sculpture, textiles, photography, video, and installation.
Among the featured names are Ashfika Rahman, winner of the Future Generation Art Prize 2024, and Kubra Khademi, the Hazara artist who was forced to flee Afghanistan following her controversial 2015 performance Armor.
Tikri Border, Haryana-Delhi by Aban Raza
HARMZ HOT NEW TUNE
British talent Harmz Matharu revealed that his newly released single Tera Deewana was inspired by the idea of exploring deep emotional connections and vulnerability within relationships.
The Birmingham-born singer added that he wanted to delve into themes of hope, intimacy, and the beauty of shared moments, while also showcasing his versatility as an artist by experimenting with different melodies and compositions. The track, which features DXL, is accompanied by an eye-catching music video.
A student of the legendary Ustaad Ajit Singh Mutlashi, Harmz shared,
“I want the song to resonate with people and draw from the emotions we feel when we are in a relationship – navigating the highs and lows of love.”
He added,
“As for the audience, I think it will connect with anyone who has experienced the joy and complexity of being in love, whether they are in a new relationship or reflecting on a past one.”
Harmz Matharu
BACHCHAN’S BAD MOVIES
The recently released film Be Happy is yet another example of how poor project choices have derailed Abhishek Bachchan’s career. The poorly made musical drama was quietly dropped onto streaming platform Amazon Prime.
Considering his deep industry connections, it remains baffling that no one – including his father, Amitabh Bachchan – has steered him towards better roles. He will next appear in Housefull 5, part of a painfully mindless franchise.
Abhishek Bachchan in Be Happy
COLLABORATION IS A WISTERIA WONDER
One of this year’s most captivating tracks is the recently released single Wisteria. Talented singer-songwriter Devika has collaborated with legendary Grammy-nominated composer and producer Michael Brook on the poignant Punjabi ballad, which blends traditional music with a contemporary western feel.
A heartfelt exploration of longing, the song touches on universal themes of unrequited love and restlessness. At the heart of this breathtaking track are Devika’s blissful vocals.
Wisteria will leave listeners wanting to discover more about the San Francisco-based, New Delhi-born artist, who has previously released two solo albums and collaborated with global icons such as Bohemia.
She said:
“With Wisteria, I wanted to create something timeless and deeply impactful.”
Devika's soulful vocals shine in her new Punjabi ballad Wisteria
INDIAN IDOLS EXCITED ABOUT LONDON SHOW
Talented Indian Idol participants Sayli Kamble, Nitin Kumar, and Nachiket Lele are teaming up for a show at Sattavis Patidar Centre on April 19. They will perform much-loved musical hits at an evening that also includes a three-course meal.
Kumar is looking forward to the event and told me:
“I am very happy and extremely excited to return to the UK after a long time. This time, you will see a different side of Nitin Kumar, with a unique mood, sound, and energy. You have heard me sing Bollywood songs and Punjabi tracks before, but in this show, I am bringing a special blend of qawwali, Sufi, and folk music. It will be a memorable experience for all music lovers!”
Indian Idol star Nitin Kumar promises a soulful mix of qawwali, Sufi, and folk music at his upcoming UK performance
JOKE CAUSES TROUBLE
Right-wing supporters of a politician vandalised a venue in Mumbai after taking offence to a joke filmed there.
The joke appeared in Indian stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s show Naya Bharat, which was released on YouTube.
The mob who damaged the venue inadvertently gave Kamra massive global publicity, helping his stand-up special gain millions of views online.
Kamra refused to apologise and summed up the situation best in a statement, saying:
“Attacking a venue for a comedian’s words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes, because you did not like the butter chicken you were served.”
Kunal Kamra during his show
Wikipedia
BOMBAYMAMI FIRE IS BURNING BRIGHT
One of this year’s breakout stars has been Swiss-Indian singer BombayMami. The eye-catching music video for her track Fire in Delhi went viral earlier this year, thanks to the fearless artist snowboarding down a mountain while wearing a traditional Indian lehenga.
The unique visual drew widespread attention to her music, which blends diverse influences with style and originality.
Alongside her catchy sound, she is also emerging as a symbol of girl power – known for her bold fashion choices and fearless approach. She is set to build on this momentum with the release of her album Peaceful Attitude later this year. She said:
“I want to keep merging music and fashion in ways that feel unique to me.”
Swiss-Indian singer BombayMami is making waves with her bold style and sound
FAKE AWARD FIASCO
Overseas celebrities regularly get fooled into thinking they are receiving a UK government honour at the Houses of Parliament in London. In reality, a politician usually books a room, invites a few friends, and presents the clueless celebrity with a fake award.
Last year, Mahira Khan and Karan Johar were given such dubious honours with zero value or any connection to the official British government. Recently, Pakistani actress Hania Aamir also received a worthless plaque and proudly shared it across her social media.
A clear sign of how absurd the award was came just a week later – when Feroze Khan, who has faced reported allegations of serious domestic abuse, was given the exact same one.
Hania Aamir receives a questionable honour in London
