I'd be remiss if I didn't pass along the NYTimes story on MTV Desi from last week. There's a lot of different reactions this prompts from me, but perhaps the most important one to MTV is summed up in the story:
The three target audiences for the new MTV channels, especially Indian-Americans, are better educated and more affluent than average Americans, according to the census. The median family income of an Asian Indian in the United States was $70,708 in 1999, compared with $50,046 for all Americans; 64 percent held at least a bachelor's degree, compared with 24 percent for all American families.
Of course, I've been saying since I was in high school that I can't wait for the day when there's enough Indians in the mainstream media that we can complain about the offensive way in which we're depicted. Somewhere between Temple of Doom and Apu's appearance on the Simpsons (voiced by decidedly non-Indian Hank Azaria), I realized that even with only a small percentage of the U.S. population, we're still drastically underrepresented in television, radio, and film.
Lilia asked me the other day who the most famous U.S.-born Indian American is, and I had to think a bit. It's not Deepak Chopra, because I don't think he was born in the U.S., and I was told Norah Jones doesn't entirely count, since she's half Indian. My guess was that maybe it's Tony Kanal from No Doubt, but apparently he was born in the U.K. Maybe by this time next year it'll be Niharika Desai.
Hey, well, count yourself lucky... in Canada, the most well-known desi is likely Gurmant Grewal.
What about Kal Penn? Harold & Kumar and his casting in Superman have made him pretty famous.
Dhalsim from Street Fighter II.
Ha ha ha... I
How about M Night Shyamalan?
Duh! looks like he was born in Pondicherry, India too!
Norah Jones?
Bah, you said Norah. My bad. I think she counts, but maybe I'm using some kind of "one drop" rule ...
Others to rule out, btw:
Kalpana Chawla
Mira Nair
Zubin Mehta
Vinod Khosla
At least they qualify as well-known immigrants. Since my stab in the dark went bust, I guess I'll trot out the (obviously incomplete) Wikipedia list. Ooh ... Amar Bose. An example of being notable without being famous, though. There's linebacker Brandon Chillar and Soundgarden axeman Kim Thayil.
And US-born Bobby Jindal doesn't seem to be finished making his mark.
I think Norah Jones counts, but the terms of the contest weren't set by me. :) And, "Bobby" Jindal can kiss my ass.
What about Parminder Nagra? She certainly qualifies on the fame bit. I love her character on ER.
The other name that came to mind was Pepsi President and CFO, Indra Nooyi (powerful might be the word rather than famous for her).
Parminder's a Brit (from Leicester). Was I the only one who found certain parts of Harold and Kumar depressing (and I'm not even Desi)? And 'that episode' of the Office (US version)...
Well Said !!
Here's my addition to the deadly-Desi list...
~ The late Ismail Merchant (of Merchant-Ivory fame)
ishmail was born in pakistan
who said Norah Jones doesn't count because she's half? Hardly one-drop, she's HALF!
I'm not saying *I* don't think Norah counts, but I think the folks I was talking to didn't see her as identifying enough as Indian or something. I'm more than glad to give Norah the title. :)
What about fashion designer/stylist Faria Salman??? She has worked with Madonna during her "Indian" phase -
Yes - faria salman would be a good canidate! she's a fashion diva - really down to earth & not to mention HOT (for all u men out there) -
Interesting blog - i would like to do this! where can i apply! You've sparked my interest - what about that Vikram Chatwal guy in NY $$$$$
Norah Jones does not count.
You have to embrace your culture to be a media symbol for it.
...and by embrace I don't mean market yourself as Ravi Shankar's daughter inccessively when in fact the story goes that you grew up with your mom on the other side of the states.
According to me "I feel making beautiful clothes is an art and it requires creativity and time, to make somebody look beautiful".
Roli Singh
info@rolisingh.com
http://www.rolisingh.com
omg, I just say this Faria Salman, what a smoking body, did u see that gals lips! I just about died and gone to heaven!
OMG, I just say this Faria Salman in Las Vegas, what a smoking body, and I just about died and gone to heaven looking at those lips, angelina jolie ain't shit compared to Miss Designer gal!
Kal Penn, he did the Mira Nair directed "The Namesake" great film.
How about Mythili Prakash? She is a young lady born and brought up in LA...product of Beverly Hills High School and UC Berkeley. She is a leader in her field of Bharatanatyam dance not just in the US but also in India. She has performed world-wide. She is a dancer as well as a choreographer.