Page 3 - Masala Lite Issue 176 August 2025

CONTENTS

4 Calendar
Which events to check out in Bangkok this month.

6 Fashion

Contents May Vary: A seasonal peek inside the wardrobes of those who
know their totes from their top-handles, and exactly what they’re carrying
through life right now.
8
8 Munching
Of Smoke, Salt, and Spain: Pura Brasa sets ablaze the culinary glow of

Spanish embers.
10 Trending Now

The Devil Wears Kolhapuri: A list of Western fashion adopting South
Asian cultural attire has drawn a jagged line between appreciation and
appropriation. On the cover, Varin Sachdev keeps the value of
12 Life’s a Stage: For multi-talented Varin Sachdev, the passion for media and
10 Covered media alive and thriving.

entertainment runs deep. ISSUE 176 |August 2025
14 Spill the Chai CHAIRMAN

Keeping Cultural Voices Alive: The community keeps their connection to their

cultural roots alive by teaching their children their mother tongue. Ram Sachdev
16 In Focus PUBLISHERS
Raghav Sachdev
12 The Reel Dream: Homegrown talent Nihal Singhsachathet went from Raksha Sachdev Singh

creating stop-motion films at the age of 10 to finding a home for his feature

film at Amazon Prime Video over a decade later.
SUB-EDITOR
Ain’t Nobody Like These Desi Girls: Bridging the gap between tradition and Mahmood Hossain

modernity might not be as difficult as it seems. JUNIOR WRITERS

20 What’s Up, Bangkok? Grace Clarke

All the latest offerings in Bangkok you need to know about.

. Apoorva Mahajan
22 Nama-Slay! ART DIRECTOR
14 Celebration the Indian Mother: Sumati Huber honours all desi mothers who Jan Lorenz
love and care for us in their own unique ways. SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
24 Masala Recommends Alend Razavi
GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Scoop Du Jour: Beaming for something chilled with a twist? We’ve got the
inside scoop on how to stay cool this season with Masala’s curated picks of Watchara Teeracharuwan
unconventional ice creams worth the melt. PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER
26 Beyond the Ritual Thananat Thanaphirat
16 Kripa Singh explains the meaning behind the ritual of Yagna. Pumipat Usapratumban
28 Cash Course with Atul WEBMASTER
Jinn Thapsakul
Atul Sethi, CEO of Farnam Tree, unravels the illusion of stability, from

finance to everything else in life. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Gurdev Singh
30 Real Talk DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER
INDIAN OCEAN’S Phuket Numbers Fly: Vimol Kogar guides you through the prospects of Narisa Sethichaiyen
investing in Phuket..
18 Musings of an Aunty that tells us that we each are SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
PREMIER INTEGRATED 32 beautiful, in our own unique ways Elamarie Carmel Dante Mission

LEISURE DESTINATION Dolly Koghar cautions against slander and criticism which erodes both the PROJECT COORDINATOR
Nikki Kumar
perpetrator and the victim.
33 The Sassy Side of Sixty CONTRIBUTORS
Be a world away at our three world class resorts, Dolly Koghar says never underestimate the power of your mother to Nina Phichitsingh
understand you!
stunning yacht marina, state of the art event spaces, 24 Hot Shots INTERN
Rani Kothari
and over fourteen exquisite dining experiences. 34 Happenings captured through the Masala lens.

Experience a lifetime of extraordinary moments. Creativity pours @MasalaOnline
@masalamagazine
August brings with it torrential downpour which may result in cancelled plans and soaked clothes but it is also a time to capture
Book Your Escape fleeting joys, from singing in the rain to spending cherished time with loved ones. In this spirit, we’ve compiled a list of stories +66 63 270 8009

www.crossroadsmaldives.com sure to delight. Our Cover Story (page 12) turns the camera to a well-seasoned performer, Varin Sachdev – a lecturer, voiceover EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICE
talent, MC, and ex-RJ. That is quite the repertoire! Creatives, the world is your oyster. In today’s increasingly visual world, we

explore different mediums of visual media. Our In Focus stories, Nihal Singhsachathet (page 16) discusses his first feature film and 85/3 Sukhumvit Soi 12, Klongtoey,
Desi Me girls, Harpriya Bajaj and Yashvi Shah, (page 18) explore what it means to be desi in today’s online world. The world may Bangkok 10110 Thailand.
be online but we carry worlds of our own in our bags. Our Fashion story (page 6) takes a peek at the coveted bags people have in Tel: +(66) 2 253 9660 Fax: +(66) 2 653 3755
rotation these days. On another fashionable note, Trending Now (page 10) looks to the world of high-fashion and their consistent For editorial enquiries, contact
inspiration from Indian culture. Is it appreciation or appropriation? You decide. Looking for a new place to eat? Great! Munching mahmood@masalathai.com
(page 8) takes you on a gastronomical journey to Spain with Pura Brasa at One Bangkok. To cool down from the heat or wrap up For advertising enquiries, contact
a delicious meal, turn to Masala Recommends (page 24) for the scoop on the city’s most offbeat ice creams. This and much more advertising@masalathai.com

www.masalathai.com
ahead. Happy reading!
Another quality publication of Premier Print & Products Co., Ltd.
ALL-ACCESS INTO BANGKOK’S CONTEMPORARY INDIAN LIFESTYLE