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I grew up watching Bollywood. I lived for the rom-com storylines, the clandestine kiss on the forehead, and the mini-musicals during the three-hour film. I wanted to grow up to be the next Priyanka Chopra or the iconic Kajol and marry a man who would run through a yellow mustard field in a small town in Punjab to profess his love for me. Over time, I realized that Bollywood is more than just the unrealistic love stories that many are used to watching on the big screen — and today, movies and TV shows ranging from Netflix’s Tribhanga to Indian Matchmaker, Family Karma, and beyond show just how many South Asian stories are still out there to be told.
Slowly, Bollywood has made its mark into the screens and laptops of non-South Asian viewers by appealing to issues that are both universal yet still largely impact the South Asian community. For a South Asian woman like me, it’s been empowering to see those who share the same skin tone not only break in, but succeed in a difficult industry.
Thanks to the never-ending pandemic lockdown, I’ve had loads of time to watch a great deal of television, and I’ve found myself immersed in watching shows and movies that really capture South Asian communities: the nuances in tone and culture, the ways in which the main actors and actresses dress, what food(s) they eat, what music they listen to, and notably what issues they face in their daily lives. The Bollywood revolution is coming, and you’re going to want a front-row seat.
Read on for the most entertaining and powerful new TV series and movies that take a look at South Asian culture, from big Indian weddings to quiet family dramas and more.
A version of this article was previously published in February 2021.
‘Definition Please’
In Definition Please, former Spelling Bee champion Monica and her estranged brother reunite in order to take care of their ailing mother. But when the two siblings finally get together, emotions and long-held truths boil to the surface as the brother-sister pair try to reconnect at a difficult time.
Watch on Netflix.
‘India Sweets & Spices’
Upon returning to her parents’ afluent suburban New Jersey home from college, Alia Kapur starts to ruffle a few feathers with her newfound independence. During her stay, Alia befriends Varun — the son of a new Indian grocery owner — and invites him and his family to a posh (and extensive) family dinner. From there, Alia begins to learn truths about her parents’ lives, leading her to come to terms with who she is in this story about life in an Indian American family in India Sweets & Spices.
‘Spin’
Spin is the latest original TV movie to premiere on Disney Channel. The story follows 15-year-old Rhea and her multi-generational family. Rhea has a perfect schedule in her life that revolves around friends and family, but when Max enters the fold, she gets interested in DJing to get close to him. After Rhea’s friends enter her in a DJ contest, she begins to learn how much the music really means to her!
‘Never Have I Ever’
From co-creators Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, Never Have I Ever follows Indian-American teen Devi Vishwakumar as she navigates high school, love triangles, and more following the loss of her father. The touching series combines some dramatic beats with fun, awkward comedy that anyone who’s endured high school can relate to. The series recently debuted it’s second season and we can’t help but want more! So, here’s hoping for a third.
In the meantime, watch it on Netflix.
‘White Tiger’
Based on Aravind Adiga’s novel, this Netflix movie revolves around one poor man’s determination to break past India’s outdated caste systems and economic inequality by tapping into the world of the rich. It’s not about getting lucky on the road to rich, it’s about finding a way to stay there.
Watch here.
‘Tribhanga’
This 2021 Netflix film (named after an Odissi dance pose) tells the story of how an independent single mother reflects on her life filled with guilt, regret, and intergenerational trauma when her estranged mother becomes comatose. The movie celebrates the imperfections of women as the main character goes down memory lane to try to mend her current relationships.
Watch here.
‘The Big Day’
As someone planning a big Indian wedding, this series is pretty much my vision board. The Big Day is a Netflix series that examines two lavish South Asian weddings per episode and gives a glimpse into the expansive and colorful world of wedding planning. Each episode talks about the wedding process including the decor, catering, traditional or non traditional ceremonies, music selection, outfits, and more.
Watch here.
‘A Suitable Boy’
Set in North India in 1951, this limited series based on Vikram Seth’s novel follows a young university student who dismisses her mother’s attempt to marry her off to three “suitable” prospects. There’s romance, drama, and comedy all in the backdrop of a post-colonial India who is ravishing in its newly gained independence from Britain.
‘Four More Shots Please’
Get ready for the South Asian version of Sex and the City. Two seasons of this Amazon Prime series explores the lives of four best friends who go through the trials and tribulations of love, sex, relationships, careers, and family in millennial Mumbai.
‘Family Karma’
This Bravo TV docuseries that exploded in March 2020 (at the beginning of the pandemic outbreak) follows the lives of seven young Indian-American friends in Miami, Florida. The close group of friends eat, drink and party like the rest of us, while reflecting and shedding light on their cultural backgrounds and South Asian heritages.
‘Halwa’
This short film centers around an Indian-American mother who decides to rekindle her relationship with her childhood sweetheart through Facebook messages until her abusive husband finds out. Stream free here until April 2021.
‘The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives’
This Netflix original reality series that debuted in Nov. 2020 follows four women of the Bollywood inner circle joke, cry, and bicker while navigating their relationships, professional careers, children, and stylish social lives. Their lives are based in Mumbai, but they travel to lavish locations for quick weekend getaways.
Watch here.
‘The Sky Is Pink’
We’re bringing back a 2019 tearjerker! This movie is based on a true story of a young teenager who posthumously narrates the way her illness impacts her family and parents’ marriage after she dies of severe combined immunodeficiency and pulmonary fibrosis.
Watch here.
‘Kaali Khuhi’
We know Halloween isn’t for a few months, but catch this thriller/horror Netflix film that revolves around a 10 year old girl who is trying to save her cursed village and family after learning they are linked to a history of female infanticide.
Watch here.
‘Thank You, Come Again’
Thank You, Come Again (TYCA) is an experimental psychological drama about an undocumented Indian-American convenience store clerk who comes crashing into his subconscious as he grieves the death of his father from an attempted border crossing. The short film has been selected for viewing at South Asian Film Fest.
Watch here.
‘Indian Matchmaking’
Tired of swiping on Tinder? Take a break and witness other men and women in the US and India get set up by a Mumbai-based professional matchmaker on this Netflix show that started it all. This 8-episode reality series offers an inside look into the world of arranged marriage and the customs that still exist, and don’t, in today’s society.
Watch here.
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