August 15 marked India’s Independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, and while many mark the occasion as a day of celebration, others in and outside of India have raised the question of whether or not there is something to celebrate. The hashtag #UnHappyIndependenceDay has been seen on Twitter, and the day often brings big conversations about the country’s past, present and future—including about the Partition.

In today’s newsletter we talk about what the heck Diljit is up to, the latest season of a hit Prime Video show, highlight a rising Tamil musician, & more.

— Rumneek

Diljit’s Album Is Going To Be Fire

Diljit Dosanjh has been seen in the studio with some high-profile artists and rappers recently—and we for one, are pumped.

After absolutely crushing the stage at Coachella earlier this year, Diljit has shown he is able to hold is own no matter what the audience.

More recently he’s had a series of studio linkups that have fans wondering what he’s cooking up.

Yesterday, Diljit’s manager Sonali Singh shared an image of him in the studio with NLE Choppa.

Before this, Diljit was seen recording with Diplo, Saweetie, ABoogieWithAHoodie, and SIA.

It begs the question of whether or not Diljit will be able to bring Punjabi music to the mainstream in a major way, and if he can be to Punjabi music what Bad Bunny has quickly become for Latin music.

Either way, we absolutely love to see it.

We Can’t Get Enough Of Big Fat Indian Weddings

After a four-year hiatus, the critically acclaimed Amazon Prime series, “Made in Heaven” is back with Season 2!

"Made in Heaven" is more than just a show; it's a mirror reflecting the intricate layers of contemporary Indian society. Tackling complex issues such as gender, class, and tradition with finesse, the series dives into the lives of two wedding planners navigating the extravagant world of Indian weddings while dealing with their own personal struggles.

The show's creators, Zoya Akhtar, and Reema Kagti, have masterfully woven a tapestry of emotions and societal dynamics, and viewers are eager to see how the story will evolve. The second season takes place six months after where season one ended and is just as messy.

In this season, the creators dove deeper into the aftermath of season one and the lives of the charismatic protagonists, Tara and Karan, portrayed brilliantly by Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur.

The meticulous attention to detail, coupled with the series' signature lens into the ugly reality behind the ‘big fat Indian wedding’, has kept audiences hooked from the very first episode. With its intricate storytelling, stellar performances, and thought-provoking themes, "Made in Heaven" has definitely set a high bar for Indian content on streaming platforms.

Are you watching Season 2?

Watchlist: Priya Ragu

Meet Priya Ragu – a Swiss-South Asian artist whose music is taking over the UK with over 200K monthly Spotify listeners.

She first gained acclaim through her 2021 single “Good Love 2.0” which holds over 5M Spotify streams today. Her debut album, Damnshestamil, blends Tamil folk music, hip hop, R&B and pop together, pushing normal conventions of Western Pop.

Priya Ragu has gone on to be featured on NME’s list of 100 essential emerging artists, and as one of Vogue’s ‘six musicians about to blow up.’ She has graced stages at events like TEDx Zurich, Montreux Jazz Festival and The Great Escape, where her dynamic performances left audiences spellbound.

With melodic South Asian beats and eye-catching visuals in her music videos, Priya Ragu's passion for honoring her heritage while pushing creative boundaries is palpable.

On Tuesday, Ragu announced that her debut album Santhosam will be dropping on October 20th.

Listen to Priya’s latest single, “Vacation” for a glimpse into her world of music.

📣 Other News:

@popshift

did you know about the #punjabi #mexican connection? #learnontiktok #history #southasian #punjabimexican #animation

• Mindy Kaling and Dev Patel to executive produce ‘To Kill A Tiger’ Documentary From Filmmaker Nisha Pahuja

• “Punjab 95” Biopic starring Diljit Dosanjh mysteriously dropped from Toronto International Film Festival Lineup.

• Everyone is blindsided about the Blindside. Former NFL player from Sandra Bullock film The Blindside alleges he was exploited by his family who never actually adopted him.

• Maui is still reeling from the devastation of the recent wildfires.

Listen to the PopShift Playlist on Spotify.

• Watchlist: Hot Takes: Mindy Kaling is Not Problematic, You Are

• We tried Burger King’s “Butter Chicken Burger”

• The Punjabi-Mexican Connection

Writers: Aneesa Khan, Rumneek Johal & Nirvani Pathak

Edited by: Rumneek Johal