Welcome back! Today we’re talking all things South Asian excellence at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. One of the stars who debuted on the iconic French red carpet was Raja Kumari, whose new album and rise we get into with a WatchList. Last but definitely not least, India’s wrestlers are protesting against the federation president, who is also a powerful BJP politician, on grounds of sexual assault. Read on.

— Rosh

South Asians Stunt at Cannes Film Festival

The 2023 Cannes Film Festival, an annual, star-studded event in the French Riviera that showcases the best of the best films from around the world, just came to a close. This year, South Asian stars including, but certainly not limited to, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Anushka Sharma, and Sara Ali Khan, made international headlines while gracing the red carpet in fine couture.

What is the Cannes Film Festival and why does it matter?

The Cannes Film Festival began during World War II as a small event celebrating global filmmakers but has since grown to become one of the most significant ceremonies showcasing cinema. Only about 60 films are chosen from the thousands of selections, and they then go on to compete for various awards. The event is incredibly prestigious, with the potential to launch newcomers, garner mass recognition for films, and decide which movies should be distributed internationally.

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Spent the past drooling over all the gorgeous Cannes red carpet looks…although here at Pardesi we’re especially OBSESSED with the looks fr... See more

Which South Asian films were featured?

1. “Kennedy” (Indian film directed by Anurag Kashyap, starring Sunny Leone)

2. “Nehemich (Always)” (Indian film directed by Yudhajit Basu and co-written by Prithvijoy Ganguly)

3. “Agra” (Indian film directed by Kanu Behl, starring Priyanka Bose)

4. “Ishanhou” (1990 film made by Aribam Syam Sharma, rescreened in the “Classics” section)

5. “Pehchaan” (Pakistani film made by Mohammad Ahsan, nominated for Best Human Rights Film)

6. “Noor” (Pakistani film made by Umer Adil for Best Health Film)

There is no denying the influence of the global film festival. Last year, “Joyland” made history as the first Pakistani film to be screened and even won the Jury Prize. It went on to become shortlisted at this year’s Oscars. South Asian media is currently more desired than ever. The Cannes Film Festival gives groundbreaking filmmakers the opportunity to put the subcontinent on the cinematic map.

WatchList: Raja Kumari and Her Global Rise

Raja Kumari is a fierce and magnetic rapper bringing powerful music that blends her Indian-American identities to our playlists. Using elements of hip-hop, pop, and traditional Indian music, her music has gained international recognition.

Raja Kumari began her life on stage at 6 years old, performing Kuchipudi across India. She later went on to become a songwriter, gaining recognition for her work with artists like Gwen Stefani and Iggy Azalea.

“City Slums,” her debut musical collaboration with rapper DIVINE, has gained 70M+ views on Youtube. The song delivers a powerful blend of Hindi and English verses over an infectious hip-hop beat while addressing the challenges and realities of urban life in India.

After her debut, her career took off with songs like “US” with Sidhu Moosewala and “SHOOK.” Her lyrics, which often touch upon themes of female empowerment and cultural identity, resonate deeply with her fanbase. This is apparent in her recently released album “THE BRIDGE.”

One of the songs on the album, “BORN TO WIN,” is an ode to her journey to becoming a strong and independent artist. You can watch her break down the context behind the lyrics in a new PopShift SUBTXT here.

2023 has brought Raja Kumari more than just her new album. She also debuted at Coachella and the Cannes Film Festival, arguably two of the most prestigious festivals of entertainment in the world. If you aren’t hooked on Raja Kumari’s empowering lyrical flow, what are you waiting for?

India’s Wrestlers Are Ready to Throw Their Medals Into the Ganges

Wrestling is one of the few sports where the country has achieved commendable success on the Olympic stage, but it has recently been embroiled in a fiery protest that has been unfolding since April. The country's wrestlers have taken to the streets to demand action against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing allegations of sexual assault from wrestlers themselves.

This protest has garnered mass attention due to the involvement of notable medalists such as Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat. Making an arrest though has been difficult, as Singh is a controversial yet powerful politician in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The tension reached its peak when the wrestlers threatened to throw their hard-earned medals into the sacred Ganges River as a form of protest. However, they postponed this dramatic act for a period of five days after being persuaded by Naresh Tikait, a prominent organizer of the farmers' protest, who promised a resolution within that timeframe.

This controversy is testing India’s democracy. No one should be above the law, and the alleged political interference in this case raises suspicions of foul play. As the wrestlers continue to fight for their cause, the outcome of this struggle could set the tone for how sexual assault allegations are handled in the future.

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Other Notable News

• Sid Sriram released a new track, “Dear Sahana.”

• 14-year-old Dev Shah wins Scripps National Spelling Bee

• Sima Aunty from Indian Matchmaking releases her first song???

• Sanjana released a new EP, “From Afar.”

• Bilaal Avaz released a music video for “Fallout.”

• Raveena released a music video for “Mystery.”

• Indo Warehouse announced a summer tour.

Listen to the PopShift Playlist on Spotify.

Writers: Saumya Monga, Nirvani Pathak, Henna Sahota

Editors: Raghu Alla, Roshni Lalchandani