Manali is a senior staff writer based in Mumbai. She writes on Indie music, culture and trends for HT48Hours.
Articles by Manali Shah
Mass appeal: Is TV eating up the web series?
The Indian web series found a niche audience with daring, offbeat content. Now, it’s getting overrun by big production houses, familiar faces, and family dramas
Updated on Dec 29, 2016 06:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah and Poorva Joshi, Mumbai
5 new-age protest music tracks to check out
Not just rap, even EDM is being used to spread political awareness
Updated on Dec 28, 2016 01:34 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
The ultimate guide to upcoming music festivals
The season of music fests is upon us. From now till February 2017, here’s the only guide you’ll need. By Luke Kenny.
Updated on Dec 22, 2016 08:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | As told to Manali Shah
Writer-director Annie Zaidi’s short film depicts a Mumbai without noise
Grudge Mumbai’s constant noise? What if someone took it away? Writer-turned-director Annie Zaidi’s latest short film asks this question
Updated on Dec 23, 2016 02:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
People find it easily digestible when guys are a little crude: Comedian Kaneez Surka
Improv artist and actor Kaneez Surka made a career out of speaking incorrect Hindi. Ahead of her show, this weekend, she talks about growing up in South Africa, her bold humour, and finally taking Hindi lessons
Updated on Dec 15, 2016 08:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
How singer Papon cracked the code to indie and mainstream success
His Assamese folk music fans call themselves Paponists, while Bollywood loyalists look forward to his playback songs. Singer Papon has pulled off the rare feat of being an indie music darling as well as a mainstream favourite
Updated on Dec 16, 2016 07:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
A dance theatre production critiques Section 377
A dance production explores the private lives of two men in a bedroom, and questions the relevance of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code
Updated on Dec 08, 2016 08:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
London Eye to shipping container in Australia: 5 quirky performance venues
Mumbai may be space-starved for performances. But it can learn from these quirky spaces around the world
Updated on Dec 01, 2016 03:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Compiled by Soma Das and Manali Shah, Mumbai
EXCLUSIVE: Poet Lang Leav talks about being an unlikely social media celebrity
Lang Leav kicked off the phenomenon of writing poetry for social media. In her first interview with an Indian publication, she talks about fleeing war-torn Cambodia, growing up as an immigrant, and leading a low-key life
Updated on Nov 25, 2016 07:02 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Enjoy tea with a side of poetry in Mumbai
Next Friday, a bunch of poets will gather at local chai stalls in the city and read out verses
Updated on Nov 19, 2016 09:10 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Change of address: Performance venue The Hive to shut and relocate
Bandra’s alternate performance venue, The Hive, is set to shut on November 30. Founder says they’re looking for a new address. Meanwhile, will collaborate with other venues on pop-ups
Updated on Nov 17, 2016 06:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
A recap of all the drama that preceded Coldplay’s gig
How to generate publicity for a concert in November? Start in July. All the rumours, madness and memes that preceded Coldplay’s first India gig
Updated on Nov 17, 2016 07:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Compiled by Manali Shah, Mumbai
Gig ready: The new music festival wardrobe
Crop tops at music festivals are so 2015. We get a celebrity stylist to put together new looks, and dos and don’ts for this year
Updated on Nov 11, 2016 05:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Talking point: How subcultures become part of the mainstream
An event this weekend will see an academician, a musician, an entrepreneur, a dancer, and a venture capitalist discuss the evolution of subcultures
Updated on Nov 10, 2016 09:38 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Meet Dhruv Sehgal, the actor best known for playing the boyfriend
Dhruv Sehgal co-wrote and acted in the viral sketches, Confusing Things Girlfriends Say, and Annoying Things Boyfriends Do. In person, though, he’s every bit the shy writer
Updated on Nov 03, 2016 05:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
10-point beard guide to No-Shave November
Ditch the regular styles for unique ones
Updated on Nov 02, 2016 12:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | As told to Manali Shah, Mumbai
5 international Instapoets you need to follow
Want an Instagram feed full of great poetry? Here’s who you need to follow
Updated on Nov 01, 2016 03:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Compiled by Manali Shah, Mumbai
5 plays to watch at the Prithvi Theatre Festival this year
Confused about which plays to catch at the upcoming Prithvi Theatre Festival? We pick five you must watch
Updated on Oct 29, 2016 09:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Meet India’s Tina Fey: Comedian Sumukhi Suresh
A 10-year-old with a runny nose who insults people. A stalker who ties up men and cooks for them: comedian Sumukhi Suresh is out to play female characters others won’t
Updated on Oct 22, 2016 06:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
EXCLUSIVE: You’ll never guess the music Nucleya grew up listening to
Ahead of his gig in the city, Delhi-based DJ Nucleya relives some defining moments of his life through music
Updated on Oct 13, 2016 08:45 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
20 years of Karadi Tales: From audio-books to e-videobooks
As Karadi Tales, the popular ’90s audio-book series, completes 20 years, we find their formats have evolved, but the stories remain Indian
Updated on Oct 13, 2016 08:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Poets of Instagram: How social media is making poetry hip again
Young, Indian Instapoets are writing poetry on a whole range of themes, landing book deals, and making poetry popular again
Updated on Oct 06, 2016 06:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Always wanted to make your own comic strip? Here’s your chance
Attend illustrator Abhijeet Kini’s workshop on creating comics. You might end up making the next Batman
Updated on Oct 09, 2016 10:59 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Why India’s original rock star Joe Alvares is singing at a Bollywood concert
Joe Alvares was one of the biggest names in Indian rock in the ’70s, and the face of English music on Doordarshan. So what’s he doing at a Bollywood concert?
Updated on Sep 29, 2016 06:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Ashmit Patel to Twitter trolls: I’ve been a DJ since 2015
Actor and DJ Ashmit Patel reacts to the social media trolling, compares DJ-ing to theatre, and criticises EDM
Updated on Sep 28, 2016 05:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
How social media is reviving book clubs
Reading is no longer an isolated act. Here’s how literature enthusiasts are making it a social activity.
Updated on Sep 22, 2016 06:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah and Poorva Joshi, Mumbai
The deviant artist: Jenny Bhatt on why she launched a web comic series
Jenny Bhatt once shocked the art community with irreverent slogan T-shirts. Now, she’s that rare established artist taking to social media
Updated on Sep 09, 2016 04:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Author Meghna Pant’s new book deals with women, violence and feminism
Meghna Pant is out with another short story collection, but says the format doesn’t find enough backing
Updated on Sep 01, 2016 08:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Island City: The making of an indie film
Director Ruchika Oberoi had the script for Island City, her film on Mumbai, ready in 2009. It finally gets its theatrical release today
Updated on Sep 01, 2016 03:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai
Exclusive: 45 child artists to pay a musical tribute to Michael Jackson
45 child artists from different parts of the world have collaborated online for Maati Baani’s Heal the World cover. To be released on Michael Jackson’s birth anniversary.
Updated on Aug 26, 2016 03:28 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Manali Shah, Mumbai