THIS WEEK
ON KULTUR’D

Murder Victims Get More Protection Than Cassie—and She’s Alive

by Meera Estrada

In a media culture obsessed with clicks, controversy, and viral commentary, murder victims often receive more dignity and protection than survivors of abuse who are still alive. This is dramatically obvious in the current trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Disturbing, graphic, and often traumatic details of alleged rape, abuse, and sex trafficking are being laid bare in the courtroom —yet the woman at the center of it all, Cassie Ventura, is being treated more like clickbait than a survivor.

Tarsem Singh Dhandwar has directed hundreds of commercials, music videos, and Hollywood films such as The Cell, The Fall, Mirror Mirror, and Immortals. Dear Jassi is a story that Dhandwar has wanted to tell, and share with the world for a long time. He described the feeling as a monkey on his back, knowing he needed to tell this story, and thus returned to India to make the film.

Guneet Monga and Karan Johar’s super thriller Kill recently hit the Midnight Madness TIFF Series. Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment have formed a strategic partnership that started back in 2013 with the Lunchbox. And now they have produced a film like no other. Kill is an action thriller film starring debutant Lakshya as the protagonist hero, Tanya Maniktala as Tulika, and Raghav Juyal as the antagonist.

On a sunny day, amid the bustling streets and whirlwind of the Toronto International Film Festival, I sat down on a quiet bench with Academy Award Winning producer, Guneet Monga before the premiere screening of her second film at TIFF, Yellow Bus. Monga is the founder of Sikhya Entertainment, a production house based in Mumbai. She has produced 30-35 feature films, including Monsoon Shootout, Masaan, and Gangs of Wassseypur. She is no stranger to film festivals, having had premieres at Cannes, Sundance, and TIFF.

Director Kiran Rao is back after many years of Dhobi Ghat (TIFF ’10) with comedy Lost Ladies. The film is set in Madhya Pradesh (MP), a state which has a rich history of theatre acting.

These influencers are drawing on traditional South Asian fashion and reimagining it with a modern twist. The result? Plenty of unique takes on Indo-Western fashion, sari-styling and other Indian-inspired elements that will make you want to do the same. Here are five influencers to follow to inspire your own South Asian style.

These influencers are drawing on traditional South Asian fashion and reimagining it with a modern twist. The result? Plenty of unique takes on Indo-Western fashion, sari-styling and other Indian-inspired elements that will make you want to do the same. Here are five influencers to follow to inspire your own South Asian style.

Nowadays, your Instagram feed is more than keeping up with friends and family. From celebrities to meme pages to content creators, there’s a lot of content being shared and consumed on a daily basis, which means you should be mindful of what you’re scrolling. Here are some content creators worth following who share positive messages and create a safe space on social media no matter their niche.

Many of us have become increasingly concerned with making the best choices possible when it comes to what our families eat. This means choosing nutritious, quality food that’s good for us and the environment.

Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar seem to have an instinct for recognizing cinematic potential, and Superboys of Malegaon is no exception. The film is based on a 2008 documentary called Superman of Malegaon directed by Faiza Ahmad Khan. The documentary centres around Nasir Shaikh, who is frustrated by his family’s struggling video parlour, and decides to recreate Hindi movies featuring local talent from his own city. He gets inspired to make a feature film for the people, by the people of Malegaon, a city in north Maharashtra known for its hand-loom industry. What starts as a parody of the iconic film Sholay, becomes a very powerful series of subsequent films over time.

Little Jaffna is Lawrence Valin’s debut film in Tamil and French. It is based on a short by Valin back in 2018. Valin not only directs, but also stars in the film as a lead character. Valin plays a police officer from a Tamil family in Paris, who has to infiltrate a local criminal group that is sending money to the Eelam liberation movement in Sri Lanka. The film stars Lawrence Valin, Puviraj Raveendran, Vela Ramamoorthy, and Kawsie Chandra. The film had its debut at the Venice Film Festival right before it came to TIFF 2024.  The movie is about identity, diaspora, family, community, and conflict.

Sujata Day’s debut feature film, Definition Please, follows former spelling bee champion Monica Chowdry (played by Day) as she struggles to find focus in her life and navigates family relationships. This film tackles themes of the model minority myth, grief and mental health– all of which come together in an accurate depiction of the modern first-generation South Asian household.

Maybe you’ve seen the term ‘Ayurveda’ for the first time scrolling your feed, or you’ve grown up immersed in Ayurvedic practices. Either way, these five Ayurvedic beauty tips are sure to reveal beautiful skin, no matter your dosha skin type.

Did the holidays leave you feeling full and sluggish? Give yourself a fresh start in 2022 with a healthy breakfast. This quick and easy smoothie from registered dietitian Abbey Sharp is packed with protein, healthy fats and fibre, which will give your body the energy it needs to go about your day.

As a parent, you want to ensure your children learn to help the people around them. This valuable teaching will build strong character and hopefully follow them through to adulthood.

The start of the year is a great time to re-evaluate our lifestyle habits. This includes the food we eat, so we can make sure that we’re nourishing our bodies. While it can seem hard to get started, try these simple and achievable resolutions for 2022.

Sometimes it seems like the world is moving at a faster and faster pace. Between news cycles and constantly changing digital trends, it can be hard to keep track of it all, including your kids’ behaviour online.

Many people will tell you that it’s often the little things that really make the holiday season, not big-ticket gifts or luxury splurges. So, start celebrating right now with these positive, cheerful ways to experience and share the holiday spirit.

New York City is renowned as one of the world’s fashion capitals. From numerous designers and boutiques lining the streets to the city’s very own New York Fashion Week, there’s one more fashion fairytale left to discover.