Draw Your Box

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.

Over the years, Mother’s Day has held a lot of mixed feelings for me. I have a great relationship with my mother, so that part of the day has always been about celebrating her and making sure she knows how much I appreciate everything she has done for me. But for me, Mother’s Day has also carried something else. Something quieter, a little less wholesome. I got married more than a decade ago and from that moment, the day began to hold a kind of grief I didn’t expect.

Project Hail Mary is already proving to be one of the surprise theatrical success stories of the year. The Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi adaptation opened to roughly and one of the strongest openings for a non-franchise original film in recent years. The film has also drawn strong reviews and audience scores, reinforcing the appetite for large-scale original science fiction at the box office.

As Heartbreak High comes to an end with its third and final season, actor Ayesha Madon is proud of the messages the show will leave behind. Since premiering in 2022, the Netflix reboot has put a contemporary spin on the iconic 90s drama. From a more diverse cast, to a deeper exploration of themes such as sexuality, mental health and identity, the show has strived to mirror the raw, real and often messy experience of being a teen in Australia.

Community and connection has always been at the heart of sisters Basmah and Hareem Qazi’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Australia. As they continue traditions since childhood of feasting, family time and exchanging gifts, the daughters of Pakistani immigrants look forward to eating their mum’s delicious biryani today, just as much as they did growing up.