The Weekly Muse: Illuminate Your Diwali 🪔 ✨
Happy Diwali to all our community that resonate and celebrate this festival. 🪔 Diwali is a time of togetherness, joy, and the triumph of light over darkness, so as we embrace the festival of lights, we reflect on the representation within the South Asian community — both in their homelands and the diaspora across the globe. 🌎 đźĄ
In recent years, we’ve witnessed a heartening surge in the representation of South Asian cultures in literature and cinema. This slow but steady increase is a testament to the power of authentic storytelling, and, in a world where South Asian communities have often been misrepresented through biased stereotypes, the importance of these authentic narratives cannot be overstated. 🙏
At Narrative Muse, we are committed to amplifying diverse voices and narratives that reflect the true essence of every community. As we celebrate Diwali, let’s continue championing authentic representation and creating a world where every voice is heard and valued. 🎯
Parched: Set in rural Rajasthan, this powerful film explores the lives of four women as they navigate societal norms and strive for independence and freedom.
You could appreciate a solid drama that rustled some serious feathers in its homeland.
Parched is an intimate portrayal of four women wishing to step away from the Indian traditions that confine them. It’s about friendship, sexuality, and gender. It seamlessly unravels as both drama and comedy. And yes, it caused a tidal wave of concern in India that it “adversely affected the honor and reputation” of a community. But ultimately, this is a story of women’s right to desire sex and the ownership of their own bodies. We loved it.
LOEV: A nuanced exploration of love and relationships, this LGBTQ+ film offers a fresh perspective on human connections.
Ready for a heart-breaking glimpse into the lives of two young queer people on the Indian continent?
When childhood friends Sahil and Jai decide to spend a weekend together, the sexual tension is palpable. But while Sahil is out, Jai is struggling to accept his identity. We watched this with our insides pretzeled, feeling as uncomfortable as Jai but also with a deep sense of empathy for both characters. The snippets of India were wonderful and the portrayal of how power exerts and affirms itself in societal and formal spaces was refreshing to see. A challenging but moving watch. Triggers: sexual violence, physical violence, and homophobia.
English Vinglish: A heartwarming tale of self-discovery and empowerment, following the journey of an Indian housewife as she explores her identity in the face of societal expectations.
Searching for a feel-good story to get you inspired? Try this tale of an Indian housewife’s self discovery.
While traveling to her niece’s wedding in America, Shashi decides to challenge her family’s jeering comments — she’s going to learn English. However, alongside the complex grammar and unfamiliar script, Shashi learns that she can be depended on in her social role as a woman, and as a friend. This beautiful film was shortlisted for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2012 and received wide praise both in and out of India. It made us feel all the good feels; and it made the Indian women here at Narrative Muse feel seen!
Before We Visit the Goddess: This multigenerational saga beautifully weaves together the stories of women across time, exploring the enduring bonds of motherhood and family.
You could enjoy being transported to another world.
Before We Visit the Goddess spans multiple generations of three women in an Indian family — daughter, mother, grandmother. Under the guise of honor, these women tear the family apart. Time unfolds non-linearly. Things are left unsaid. Each must find strength in themselves and in each other. This one was a heart-wrenching look at the trauma that being in a family can bring, but we absolutely reccomend it.
When Dimple Met Rishi: A delightful and heartwarming YA romance that challenges cultural expectations while celebrating love and individual aspirations.
You’re ready for a sweet escape, a refreshing love story of the cutest degree with truly original characters.
When Dimple Met Rishi is a warm hug of a story that made us smile, clutch the book to our wee chests, and sigh with joy. As Indian-American teenagers, the two characters have their share of cultural obstacles to navigate, but their courage and grace through it all melted our hearts. When we finished the book, we immediately placed it in the hands of a friend who needed it most. This is a story we simply can’t help but share.
The Inheritance of Loss: A powerful exploration of identity, migration, and the complexities of modern life, this Man Booker Prize-winning novel takes us on a profound journey.
Maybe you’d like to immerse yourself in one of the first decolonial novels to come out of India.
Jemubhai is an old Anglophile who rejects his roots for “civilised” English mannerisms, even while the English look on his origin culture with the same contempt. Entrenched in his mountain home, he has his routine upset by the arrival of his granddaughter, Sai. Meanwhile, Biju, the son of the family cook, is trying his luck far away in New York City. Shuttling between an anglicized Indian girl and an Indian in the States, Desai’s writing lulls us into a false sense of security… with well-timed humor that cushions the blow of harsh truths of postcolonial divisions.
Want more recommendations like these? Explore Narrative Muse and discover new stories by (and about) intersectional underrepresented folks.
P.S. Have a story you think more people should know about and want to share with your fellow Musers? Sign up to be a curator!
P.P.S. Share this article with someone you think might enjoy these recommendations and let’s explore the vast universe of genres together.
