Episodes

  • Shankari Chandran: Rewriting who is ‘Australian enough’

    Shankari Chandran: Rewriting who is ‘Australian enough’
    Sep 17 2024
    Shankari Chandran has always turned to storytelling for refuge. Now, with four novels and the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award to her name, the Tamil-Australian author has claimed her place in Australia’s literary world—but it wasn’t without a fight. Once dismissed for her work not being 'Australian enough,' Shankari now calls for a reckoning, demanding a reimagining of Australia’s narrative—one that refuses to silence diverse voices. How do we break through? SBS Spice host Suhayla Sharif sits down with Shankari to uncover the transformative stories that will define the future of South Asian Australian literature.
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    29 mins
  • Qais Essar: Echoes of the Rabab

    Qais Essar: Echoes of the Rabab
    Sep 12 2024
    Qais Essar is hailed as a master of Afghanistan's national instrument, the Rabab. With a rich history spanning over 2,500 years, the Rabab has endured periods of silence, but Qais believes it is at its quietest today. How does an ancient instrument find its place in today’s world? In this episode, Qais joins SBS Spice host Suhayla Sharif from Northern Arizona to explore the art of blending the contemporary with the classic and how the Afghan-American artist is reinventing its sound to secure its legacy for future generations.
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    20 mins
  • Prateek Kuhad: In-between the lines and rhymes

    Prateek Kuhad: In-between the lines and rhymes
    Sep 9 2024
    A luminary in contemporary Indian music, Prateek Kuhad is distinguished for his deeply personal and evocative soundscapes. Crafting music that feels like an intimate conversation, his niche but devoted fan base weaves a global tapestry. Often hailed as India’s biggest sonic export in recent years, Prateek joins Dilpreet in our Sydney studios amidst his Australian tour to explore why he continues to write music for himself before others, delve into his artistic process, and discuss the slow but evolving perceptions of Indian artists in the West.
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    24 mins
  • SBS Spice Special: Four Years Later

    SBS Spice Special: Four Years Later
    Sep 5 2024
    Can you find your way back to someone you love after being apart for years? Set between India and Australia, SBS’s new original series 'Four Years Later' explores this dilemma in its eight-part journey, premiering on SBS on Demand on 2 October. Dilpreet from SBS Spice visits the set to speak with writer Mithila Gupta and lead actors Shahana Goswami and Akshay Ajit Singh, uncovering the intricacies of bringing this unique Indian-Australian romantic drama to life and find out if love can truly endure all.
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    9 mins
  • Bali Padda: Men, monuments and the Taj Mahal

    Bali Padda: Men, monuments and the Taj Mahal
    Aug 28 2024
    Set in 16th century India, as the Taj Mahal is about to be unveiled after years of meticulous construction, two best friends stand guard at dawn and face an unimaginable task. This is the gripping premise of Guards at the Taj, directed by Bali Padda and written by Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Rajiv Joseph. Yet, at the heart of the play is neither the monument nor the era, but a profound friendship between two brown men. Bali Padda joins Dilpreet in the studio for an intimate conversation about the play's deeper themes and the bonds that drive it.
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    18 mins
  • ASHWARYA: Sonic, homegrown, unbound

    ASHWARYA: Sonic, homegrown, unbound
    Aug 26 2024
    As we were baking banana bread and trying dalgona coffee during COVID, our guest was making music videos out of her garage. Rooted in her Indian heritage and Australian upbringing, Melbourne-based singer and songwriter, ASHWARYA, flourishes in the rich blend of her dual identity. She joins Suhayla Sharif as we explore not just the unboxing of South Asian talent, but also the urgency of breaking through identity labels to find the true sound of the Australian music industry.
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    26 mins
  • Dr Samia Khatun: Australia's Blak and brown history

    Dr Samia Khatun: Australia's Blak and brown history
    Aug 23 2024
    Discovering a mislabeled book in a Broken Hill mosque set our guest on a path to unearth cultural encounters between South Asian and Aboriginal communities in the 19th-century Australia, culminating in her groundbreaking debut monograph, 'Australianama'. Dhaka-born, Australia-bred feminist and cultural historian, Dr Samia Khatun focuses on the experiences of colonised peoples across the British Empire. Joining Ria Pandey for this episode, she challenges us to rethink the very foundations of how we understand our past, engage with our present, and envision our future. Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that this program includes the name of a deceased person.
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    26 mins
  • Anasuya Sengupta: The audacity of dreaming

    Anasuya Sengupta: The audacity of dreaming
    Aug 2 2024
    Anasuya Sengupta made history as the first Indian actor to snag the Best Actor award at Cannes. But she doesn't see it as her personal win: "It's a win for all of us," she says. Anasuya's heart never left acting, even during her years as a production designer. So when Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov came calling with 'The Shameless,' she didn't waste any time. Join host Dilpreet as Anasuya delves into the magic that happens when we allow life to shape us rather than over-strategising.
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    23 mins