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South Asians at the Emmys X WWE Having Brown People In A Chokehold
Numerous South Asians land Emmy noms, unpacking the chokehold of the WWE on brown people & more.
This week we’ve got a stacked lineup of stories from around the globe, including breaking down WWE’s popularity in India, celebrating a number of South Asians Emmy noms, tons of new music & more.
— Rumneek
Why does the WWE have a chokehold on brown people?!
WWE's popularity in India has been skyrocketing in recent years, with India becoming the biggest fanbase for WWE outside the USA. In fact, the WWE in India has over 335 million unique television viewers annually. WWE's Facebook engagement and YouTube viewership in India even surpasses those in the USA. In 2018, it was the most watched sport in the country, even over cricket).
This raises the question: Why do so many Indian people love wrestling?
The Entertainment Aspect
The popularity of WWE in India can be attributed to the storytelling and larger-than-life characters. The dramatic storylines, intense rivalries, and charismatic personas are extremely similar to familiar “masala” Bollywood movies that resonate deeply with the Indian audience. The Undertaker, who is also known as “The Deadman,” is just one example of a character that captivates the imagination of fans. WWE's ability to blend entertainment and athleticism has grabbed the attention of the Indian audience.
Wrestlers of Indian Origin
Although India itself is not necessarily known for their pro wrestlers, but wrestlers like Jinder Mahal, the first wrestler of Indian origin to hold the WWE Championship in 2017 and the Great Khali, a World Heavyweight Champion, brought pride to the Indian audience but also inspired a new generation of aspiring wrestlers.
Furthermore, the inclusion of Kavita Devi as the first Indian woman to compete in a WWE trial ring in 2017 further solidified the connection between Indian fans and the sport. Her participation broke barriers and inspired young women across the country to pursue their dreams in wrestling—something that may have been unthinkable two decades ago.
The Indian Market
WWE has recognized the immense potential in the Indian market and has made strategic efforts to cater to the local audience. With an exclusive deal with Sony, WWE programming is now available on Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 3, and Sony Max, attracting about 90 million weekly viewers. WWE content is broadcasted in four languages expanding its reach and WWE NOW India, a weekly digital show in Hindi, demonstrates WWE's commitment to engaging with the Indian fanbase.
WWE's efforts to connect with its Indian audience extended to hosting the first-ever try-outs in India in 2019. The large-scale try-outs in Mumbai attracted 80 potential contenders, including 20 women, showcasing the company's dedication to nurturing local talent and providing opportunities for Indian wrestlers to shine on the global stage. With its continued engagement and commitment to the Indian audience, WWE's popularity in India is likely to grow even further in the coming years.
Dozens of South Asians Score Emmy Nominations
South Asians are bagging Emmy Nominations, but with SAG and WFA strikes in full force, will these creatives make it from screen to stage?
Here’s a list of some of the South Asians Nominated for the 2023 Emmys:
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie —
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series —
Andrij Parekh (“Succession”: America Decides)
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program —
Tan France, Host (“Queer Eye”)
Padma Lakshmi, Host (“Top Chef”)
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special —
Rishi Rajani, Producer & Others (“Being Mary Tyler Moore”)
Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series Or Special —
Padma Lakshmi, Executive Producer/Host & Others (“Taste The Nation With Padma Lakshmi”)
Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking —
Mohammed Ali Naqvi, Producer/Director (“The Accused: Damned Or Devoted?”)
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program —
Smriti Mundhra & Others (“Indian Matchmaking”)
Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series —
Pratima Mani, Writer & Others (“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”)
KC Shornima, Weekend Update Writer & Others (“Saturday Night Live”)
Watchlist: Shevya Awasthi
Meet Shevya Awasthi – the emerging Desi fusion artist who’s gaining recognition through TikTok. She started training her voice in Hindustani classical music at the age of ten.
With 100K+ followers on TikTok, and 20K+ monthly Spotify listeners, Shevya uses her platform to share her music with the South-Asian community through Bollywood song covers, original music, and musical commentary. Besides her TikTok, Shevya is most known for her 2022 single, Nasha. With 750K+ Spotify streams, Nasha highlights Shevya’s ability to blend western pop with her Indian roots.
@shevthehev One of my favorite videos from last year 😭 #desi #soty #bollywood #desitiktok #aliabhatt
As an artist who is still on the rise, Shevya’s creative career is one to follow as she creates more music that fuses Bollywood nostalgia with Western pop music. Check out her latest single, Chaand, if you want a taste of her music!
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🎵 New Music
Raja Kumari’s “King Khan” is the theme song for SRK’s film “Jawan.”
AP Dhillon drops video for new track “Sleepless.”
Hasan Raheem and Abdullah Kasumbi drop “Khila.”
Ezu announces new track with Jay Sean, “Tu Hi Tu” dropping next week.
Listen to the PopShift Playlist on Spotify.
Writers: Nirvani Pathak, Aneesa Khan & Rumneek Johal
Editor: Rumneek Johal
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