Celebrations are in order. The lunar calendar popped off last week, marking the occasions of Ramadan, Navratri, Ugadi, Cheti Chand, among other significant cultural festivities.

Also celebrating is Mindy Kaling. The star recently received an award from the POTUS himself, but is that enough for South Asians to finally embrace her? We also sat with Indian rapper King, who breaks down his new song with Nick Jonas for PopShift in a new SUBTXT. Finally, following their first event of the year, we reflect on the rise of Indo Warehouse.

— Rosh

Joe Biden Loves Mindy Kaling… Do You?

Mindy Kaling does it all. A writer, comedian, producer, and actress, she has established herself as a household name in American entertainment. You may recognize her from her early days as Kelly Kapoor in “The Office” or Mindy Lahiri in her self-titled “The Mindy Project.” Or maybe you know her from her most recent credits as the creator of “Never Have I Ever,” “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” and “Velma.” Or after two decades in Hollywood, perhaps you most recently saw her receiving the United States’ highest creative honor.

What happened?
President Joe Biden presented Kaling with a National Medal of Arts, the most prestigious award given to artists and art patrons by the federal government. According to the NEA’s press release, Kaling was chosen because her “work across television, film, and books inspires and delights—capturing and uplifting the experiences of women and girls across our Nation.”

While Kaling may have won over the White House, she has yet to win over her own South Asian-American community. The star remains largely controversial amongst the diaspora audience, with many criticizing her works and disavowing her as representation entirely. It has people questioning… Does Mindy deserve the award?

What her haters say:
Kaling is accused of everything from lazy writing to internalized racism. This is predominantly because her characters tend to recycle through the same, tired “brown girl” tropes. Whether we call her Devi or Bela, she’s probably an Indian girl, is likely embarrassed by her culture, points to her distinctly South Asian features when loathing her appearance, and has a self-validation that hinges on the attention of white men.

What her fans say:
Others argue back and are quick to note that Kaling’s characters are a reflection of her own individual experience growing up with a multicultural identity, and that her audience is not entitled to dictate her artistic expression. Asking Kaling to accept the onus of writing about all types of South Asians, when every lived experience is so unique, is an impossible burden to place on the producer.

Whether you think she’s done more damage by pushing one-dimensional narratives of the immigrant experience or more good by undeniably having an impact in American media diversity, we can all agree that South Asian stories deserve to be told. Are you tired of Kaling telling them? Let us know below.

Watchlist: King and His Bold Rap Flow

If you couldn’t get enough of Indian rapper King’s “Maan Meri Jaan,” you’re in for good news. He recently dropped a new rendition of the song, which features India’s jeeja – Nick Jonas. The new single quickly picked up traction as fans were excited to hear Jonas collaborate with King and sing a song from his adopted culture.

Arpan Kumar Chandel, AKA King, got his start on the reality TV show “MTV Hustle,” where he amazed judges like Raftaar and Raja Kumari. Since 2019, King has released a series of phenomenal songs with strong R&B beats and bold lyrics. His hard work established him as a prominent and rising force in India’s hip-hop scene.

With 14M monthly listeners on Spotify, King is on his way to ruling Indian rap. Watch him break the down the context behind the lyrics of his and Jonas’ “Maan Meri Jaan (Afterlife)” with PopShift in a new SUBTXT.

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The Rise of Indo Warehouse

Indo Warehouse hosted its first marquee event of the year – Indo Warehouse: Festival of Love – at the legendary Avant Gardner in Brooklyn, NY this last Saturday. Partners Kahani and Kunal Merchant were joined onstage by Indo Warehouse residents Payal Jay and AREUBLUE, alongside special guests Foozak and Meedy. The impressive lineup sold out the Great Hall, with the artists playing for an audience of 3,000+ fans.

It’s magical to witness. Just one year ago, Indo Warehouse was coming off the high of throwing their first event, a humble gathering of no more than 250 curious music-lovers in the Lower East Side. As the fanbase grew, so did the scale of their events. Whether they’re hosting international talents like Tech Panda and Kenzani or local, emerging stars like Ethyr, Indo Warehouse is no ordinary rave.

You’re immersed in a very intentionally curated experience from the second you enter. Culture is at the heart of it all. People dress up for Indo Warehouse, creating Indo-western looks that match the energy of the blended, global sounds. Visually stunning backdrops stand out underneath garlands of marigolds and laser lights. Despite the packed room, the community feels intimate.

If you’re feeling the FOMO, don’t worry. Indo Warehouse recently signed with United Talent for worldwide bookings and will be taking their unique and epic shows on tour this year. Until they’re in a city near you, you can experience the energy of their beats here.

Other Notable News

• Jai Wolf released a new track, “Want It All (feat. Evalyn).”

• Skinny Local released a new album, “GAMES.”

• Raja Kumari released a new track, “Run It Up.”

• FINESSE released a new track, “DND in ATL.”

• Sundeep Morrison is directing “Your Love,” a Punjabi-Sikh queer love story set to the Khanvict track of the same name.

Listen to the PopShift Playlist on Spotify.