 Nightlife: India, INC.
NEXT | April 21, 2011
The queer south-asian dance party desilicious celebrates nine years of bolly good fun... Read more
Documentary "Desigirls!" follows South Asian lesbians in America
AFTERELLEN.COM | May 13, 2010
Generally when one thinks of Indian women, the first thing that comes to mind is a midriff-bearing Bollywood heroine... Read more
Scene + Heard: Rain Nor Snow Deters Desilicious's Die-Hard Crowd
NEXT | February 8, 2010
Friday night’s Desilicious successfully brought the monthly South Asian party to a new venue despite trepidation over the looming... Read more
Bollywood Fabulous
THE NEW YORK TIMES | June 3, 2007
In the early morning hours, the D.J. blared remixed Indian folk tunes that drew revelers onto the dance floor... Read more
Depressed & Desilicious
THE TELEGRAPH | May 1, 2007
In London, the brush with a Bollywood sizzler sinks Jade Goody. In New York, Bollywood makes a party sizzle... Read more
DJ Top 10 - Ashu Rai
NEXT | March 20, 2007
Resident DJ and co-promoter of Desilicious, New York’s only monthly queer South Asian dance party, Ashu Rai toasts its fifth anniversary... Read more
Sholay Productions Heats Up the Gay South Asian Scene
Indian Electronica | August 8, 2005
They sing songs to each other, and the words are those that you would sing to your lover...
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Egoiste of the Week
EGO | August 8, 2005
We stopped by one night when Ashu was spinning to get a few answers on what really rocks her world.
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Gay Take-Away
NEXT | June 24 2005
DJ Ashu Rai serves up a variety of spice every time she hits the turntables. Read more
Dancing Loud and Queer
MANTRAM | March 2005
The extravaganzas boast saree-draped drag queens, dazzling visuals and revelers of all ethnicities gyrating to Bollywood and bhangra beats. Read more
Desilicious
EGO | Winter 2005
Leave your couture threads in the closet and check your inhibitions at the door, because we’re in for a night of pure unadulterated decadence – minus the attitude.
Desilicious is a monthly phenomenon featuring the frenetic gyrations and contortions of the dark and the beautiful. Orientation (sexual, political, vertical) be damned! Read more
South Asians Celebrate Halloween
GAY CITY NEWS | November 4 2004
Last Friday night, two nights before Halloween, Pepper, a lounge bar and club in Tribeca, saw exaggerated emotions, extravagant costumes and dramatic dance sequence – vital ingredients to any successful Bollywood film.
The audience cheered and whistled as the queens moved from traditional Bollywood-style-meets-Indian-semi-classical to somewhat of a hip-hop mood, reflecting the cross of cultures there that night. Read more
Desi Queens
HX | April 4 2004
The extravaganzas boast Saree-draped drag queens, dazzling visuals and revelers of all ethnicities gyrating to Bollywood (India’s musical movies) and Bhangra beats. It's all a spectacular nod to the queerness and culture of South Asia. Read more
Whistling in the Dark
Little India | March 2004
Says Ashu Rai of Sholay Events, which organized Lafforama where the four comics recently performed in New York: "The issues they brought up aren’t talked about in the mainstream media and comedy world — growing up in a bi-cultural environment, sexuality both South Asian and in the Diaspora, the anti-Muslim/anti-immigrant backlash. They put a humorous spin on it in a way that allows South Asians and others to connect and feel that it speaks to their own experiences" Read more
Wild Indians and Pakistanis,
Bangladeshis get down at Desilicious
NY Blade | August 15 2003
Most of the drag queens who frequent the Desilicious parties are newly arrived from Pakistan. They mostly imitate the appearance and behavior of Rekha, an ageless Bollywood star who represents classic beauty. "She's as popular as Madonna," said Toor.
Their parties involve fun and fund-raising for South Asians. "We celebrate our culture, our music and sex," said Rai, "all together and not at the Roxy."
To be sure, there’s a theme: think Bollywood, bhangra (percussive drums), house music and of course, drag queens. Read more
Bollywood's Beat Is Loud And Queer
Newsday | June 1 2003
While various art and dance club spectacles have promoted Bollywood concepts, she adds, "They just don't work. It's like, bellydancers."
As one of the founders of Sholay Productions, Rai stages Bollywood-and-beats-themed dance parties for gay and lesbian South Asians, complete with costumes and dance routines - inspired by the outrageous musicals that have long been the signature of the Indian film industry - drag queens and guest vocalists.
Sholay's events explore the culturally coded world that exists within Bollywood cinema. Read more
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