Draw Your Box

As someone who has just written a satirical play about corporate Australia, it may come as a surprise to you that some of my happiest years working were spent in a big office with town halls, no work from home days, and daily stand ups. When I first moved into analytics in 2015, I found something I never expected – a sense of belonging. In my field specifically, I felt surrounded by people whose brains worked similarly to mine.

Shabana Azeez’s latest TV role in The Airport Chaplain couldn’t be more different to the one that catapulted her to global fame on The Pitt. Yet, it’s exactly why she said yes to the new eight-part Aussie series that “captures the high-stakes world of a bustling international airport, told through the struggles and triumphs of the workers who keep it running”.

Standing before a regal and strong Vishnu carved out in sandstone, I realised this wasn’t going to be the art exhibition I had imagined. It had been 20 minutes since I had entered Avatar: Forms of Vishnu at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, an exhibition bringing to life 15 centuries of South Asian and Southeast Asian art devoted to stories of Hindu deity Vishnu, his various forms (as avatars), and his companions.

Indian cinema’s biggest stars, emerging filmmakers and acclaimed storytellers are set to head to Melbourne next month as the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) returns for its 17th edition in 2026. Running from 13 to 23 August, the festival has established itself as one of the largest celebrations of Indian cinema outside India, bringing together films, documentaries and series from across the subcontinent.

Born in India, I moved to Australia with my parents when I was three years old. Growing up, education was guaranteed. From pre-school through to university, I spent almost two decades with this ‘constant’ in my life – one that carried immense opportunity and privilege that I’ve never taken for granted. During these years, I would often hear family members telling stories about the intense academic pressures faced by students in India.

Sumeet Saigal rose to fame in 2024 when she competed on MasterChef Australia. The Punjabi cook from NSW resigned from her job as a sales manager in order to appear on the popular cooking show. Two years later, she’s released her own range of Indian simmer sauces called Masala Makers. Since moving to Australia from India when she was 21, Sumeet has has enjoyed seeing the evolution of the Indian food scene in Australia – complete with challenges and opportunities.

Whether it’s Diljit Dosanjh performing to a sold-out Madison Square Garden, Anirudh Ravichander making a global Spotify debut aside Olivia Rodrigo, or the influx of South Asian artists visiting Australia, it’s very clear that South Asian music is having a moment locally and abroad. The artists represent the diversity of the South Asian community, with some like Hanumankind hailing from South India’s Kerala, and others like Indian-American Vidya Vox forming part of the diaspora.

Based on the hit web series with more than 13 million views, the new film How To Talk Australians follows the students of the Delhi College of Linguistics as they travel to Australia for a study tour, only for things to unravel into a bit of a… well, what would you call it? A shit show. There’s no denying that comedy is central to the movie, offering an entertaining and lighthearted take on Australian culture through the eyes of a group of Indian call centre workers.

The author of is this article has chosen to remain anonymous. Media, arts and literature have always played an important role in questioning societal issues, sparking meaningful conversations, and helping us understand ourselves. And given the current political and social landscape overseas and in Australia – this year’s theme for the Sydney Writers’ Festival couldn’t be more fitting. The theme: ‘Show Me the Truth’.

For many South Asian Australians, food is more than just sustenance – it’s a bridge to family, culture, and memory. Venba, a narrative cooking game by Toronto-based Visai Games, captures this beautifully. Through the story of a Tamil family migrating from the southern state of India’s Tamil Nadu to a new country, it delivers a deeply emotional experience that will not only resonate withIndian Tamils, but the broader  South Asian diaspora.