Representation in Media
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Seeing Indians Outside Of Bollywood May Be More Likely Than You Think

The representation I never wanted to see is turning into something I can't get enough of.

115
Seeing Indians Outside Of Bollywood May Be More Likely Than You Think

Growing up, I watched all your typical kids' shows: "Wizards of Waverly Place," "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," "iCarly," "Victorious," you name it. I loved all of these shows as much as my little twelve-year-old heart would allow (I might still be a bit obsessed with them…you'll never know), but as much as I fervently kept up with each of these shows, I could never find anyone who looked and acted like me in them. Every time I saw an Indian character in one of these shows, they would always be super nerdy, have an extremely heavy accent, and be so frail and skinny that they, naturally, would be the prime target for bullies at school.

Let's get one thing straight: Indian kids are not like that. Asian kids are not like that. All of us went to school and found our own little niches to fit into. Me? I was athletic, I was outgoing, and I loved math. My friends were like me: we all (kind of) liked school, but none of us were so obsessed with it that we talked, slept, and breathed academics every second of the day. Most of my friends played at least one sport, and we all had different hobbies and interests, a far cry from what we all saw on TV growing up.

I watched a lot of Bollywood movies growing up (I still love them), so I guess I got my representation through that form of media, but it was a bit discouraging to see "Indian representation" in the media most readily available to me in the form of discriminatory and condescending screenwriting. Whenever I watched an American show with an Indian character, I couldn't stomach watching them on screen for longer than about five minutes—I would then find something else to watch, where I could pretend that I was the same as everyone else.

As I grew up, however, I noticed things changing, albeit slowly. I remember watching the movie "Lion" starring the one and only Dev Patel. Not only is he a brilliant actor, but he played the role of an Indian man who grew up in a place outside of India—he was just a normal guy, trying to find his origins, but he maintained the balance between where he came from and where he grew up. The story was fantastically written and I don't think anyone could have acted that role better than Patel did. The movie did not exoticize India in the slightest and did not present either country in the movie, Australia or India, as inferior to the other—they were presented as different, each holding a different part of Patel's character's life and identity. This was probably the best example of Indian representation in mainstream American media I have seen to date.

This past summer, Jon Chu's "Crazy Rich Asians" was released, and with it, a full Asian cast giving Asian Americans the representation they craved and deserve in the American media. This movie was absolutely brilliant—it brought two very different cultures together while maintaining the key aspects of both, striking close to home for a lot of Asian Americans who have had to find this same balance between their two cultures. The characters were not written to fit into boxes of crazy, nerdy, obsessive, and spoiled—to name a few Asian stereotypes I have come across in my time watching TV—but rather as people with multifaceted personalities, people with many motivations, dreams, and drivers behind their actions. Basically, we got some well-written Asian characters in a well-written movie, and I loved it.

Asian-American representation has admittedly gotten better through the years, but it still has a ways to go before every Asian person in the United States can say that they are as equally represented and valued as every other person living in this country. "Lion" and "Crazy Rich Asians" were major steps in the right direction, but I am excited to see what Hollywood comes up with next. Maybe a movie with a full Indian-American cast?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

38562
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

22931
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

949399
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

126589
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments