Dishoom Loves Issue IV

Reading sublime poetry (alongside a hot cup of Chai) from poet and performer Ankita Saxena’s debut collection and recently-launched book – Mother | Line. Verses and odes swirl around the themes of female rage, endurance and compassion, drawing directly from Ankita’s own experiences and heritage. Over a decade’s worth of work is visible in this book – work that explores lineage at its core.

The British Film Institute (BFI) for a screening of The Luminaries. Directed by Sanvir Singh, it’s a history lesson, imparted by way of Dishoom King’s Cross. Upon the walls and corners, and through the decor of the café, lies the untold story of Indian Independence. As history teacher Shalina Patel and our co-founder Shamil walk around the space, they share dialogue over key events and inspiring figures. One such figure is India’s first female photojournalist – Homai Vyarawalla – whose photographs immortalised some of the most iconic moments in Indian history as they unfolded.

Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning podcast Brown Girls Do It Too. Sex and sexpectations. Love. Politics (of the family kind). And racism. Poppy and Rubina talk about it all with a heavy dose of humour and some very quick wit. This time we’re listening IRL, at a live-show in Soho Theatre. And we’ve been told, waiting in the wings are songs, sketches, a few gasps, lots of relieved sighs and belly-hurting laughs.

Getting the popcorn ready and gearing up to watch the newly-released Polite Society. As we do that, in the film, British-Pakistani teenager Ria Khan is gearing up to save her sister Lena from marrying the charming Salim. But why can’t she accept her sister’s choice? Is it just teenage angst or is there something sinister behind the scenes? Watch to see how it unravels. As the film puts it, “Big Trouble. Little Sister”.