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On the Punjabi or Bhangra playlist you'll get a sampling of what Samar and Uncle Sandeep were listening to in SHINE, COCONUT MOON.
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What Do You Think?
Q. What are some of the most recent books you’ve read for fun? Which ones did you like the most?
Chitra: Twilight – I enjoyed it the most.
Ritu: The Harry Potter series seem the most fun to me but
I have not read any other recently.
Pinku: Daughters of the Moon books & Alex Rider
books. I liked them both, they were
really good.
Nikhal: I don’t read for fun. King Lear
Touria: The Tweneith Wife. I love creative stylistic
novels. I also enjoy autobiographies.
Kamil: I liked Tomorrow Never Ends, The Jester, 4th
July, Memories of Midnight, Books by Sidney Shewlon and James Patterson
H.S.: 2pac
Q. What are some things that make you want to buy a book?
Chitra: Storyline
Ritu: The
description; horror and mystery books are my favorite
Pinku: The
story
Nikhal: Music production
Touria: The author
Kamil: Nice
themes, real life experiences, more non fictional theme
H.S.: I
don’t buy books.
Q. So, what are things that make you put a book down?
Chitra: If its just too serious or confusing
Ritu: Too
much detail
Pinku: The
author
Nikhal: Title, cover
Touria: When I cannot understand it
Kamil: Hard
to understand themes, book that deals with no major topic
H.S.: The
cover
Q. How do you feel about blunt sex talk in books for teens?
Chitra: I think it’s disgusting, more porn
than literature
Ritu: It’s
good to be aware of everything.
Pinku: I
don’t mind.
>Nikhal: Not cool
Touria: I feel comfortable
Kamil: No
probs
H.S.: Its
alright
Q. What about swear words?
Chitra: Depends how much and where
Ritu: It
used in everyday lives
Pinku: I
don’t mind.
Nikhal: Just not cool
Touria: I feel comfortable as well
Kamil: No
probs…either…
H.S.: Its
all good
Q. Do you have a favorite genre of books, i.e. fantasy/sci-fi
(like Harry Potter, Golden Compass, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, etc.),
romance, action/adventure, drama, comedy?
What is it/are they?
Chitra: Twilight series, romance/adventure
Ritu: Harry Potter, horror, romance and
mystery
Pinku: Fantasy/sci-fi
Nikhal: Not really but I liked goosebumps
Touria: Autobiography, Shakespeare
Kamil: I
like mystery, adventure, thriller and romance
H.S.: Romance,
action
Q. Do you feel that there is currently an accurate portrayal of
South Asians in books, TV and the media?
Why or why not?
Chitra: Not really frequently
Ritu: No. They show them poor and the show
Pinku: No,
not really. They kind of just put them
in there like a joke.
Nikhal: Yes, they offer book and media
advice
Touria: Only at times.
Novels are more accurate than the media because the media is more narrow
minded and stereotypical
Kamil: I do not think so because it only shows some cultures
of many existing in
H.S.: .
. .
Q. What kind of representation would you like to see of a South
Asian teen? What qualities would s/he
have?
Chitra:
Ritu: A smart, educated person because not all South
Asians should be portrayed as poor, living in slums.
Pinku: Strong,
kind.
Nikhal: Someone who is straight forward,
nice and kind.
Touria: South Asian teens (girls): youthful,
independent, cultured
Kamil: I like South Asian teen trying to cope in a white
American society this quality would be confident, confused and questioning.
H.S.: .
. .
Q. What kinds of issues do the South Asian teens in your life face
that are not depicted on TV, in films, or in books? What would you like to see addressed?
Chitra: Their family lives, rules, culture
Ritu: Prejudism
Pinku: Peer
pressure, religion vs. society
Nikhal: Racism, how South Asians are being
blamed for 9/11
Touria: Parent/sibling conflicts; peer
pressure
Kamil: I would like to see South Asians influenced by Western
lifestyle and struggling to choose the right one.
H.S.: family
problems, relationships and etc.
Q. Do you watch Bollywood films? What do you like/not like about them?
Chitra: Not really
Ritu: I
did, but I stopped now because they are all the same story.
Pinku: Yes,
the stories are the same
Nikhal: Not really. Love
Touria: Yes, I like the songs and some storylines. I do not like that they are becoming similar
to
Kamil: No,
because I don’t understand Hindi
H.S.: hell
no.
Q. How would you compare Bollywood films with
Chitra: I don’t really watch bollywood
movies
Ritu:
Pinku: I
think
Nikhal: Bollywood: love;
Touria: Bollywood videos are mostly about
love.
Kamil:
H.S.: . . .
Q. How do you feel about dating? Why?
Chitra: I don’t mind, I think it’s fun
Ritu: It should be allowed b/c if the kids are not then
they’ll do it behind the parents back.
Pinku: I
don’t mind if you really like the person.
Nikhal: I don’t have a problem because it is natural for two
people to have a relationship
Touria: Dating is something that is not
necessary, but is not bad.
Kamil: Those
of the same with less sex scenes
H.S.: Its
all good
Q. How do you feel about marriage? Are you for or against arranged marriage—why
or why not?
Chitra: Yes, I think love and understanding and definitely
knowing the person is important
Ritu: I’m against arranged marriages. I feel marriage should be between two people
who love each other, not learn to love each other.
Pinku: It
depends on your life experiences.
Nikhal: My parents don’t force much pressure. The thing they say is please don’t mess up,
let her be Indian.
Touria: I am 100% for arranged marriage because I feel
as if it provides a solid foundation for the future
Kamil: I
don’t know…my religion doesn’t allow it
H.S.: Its
all good
Q. What are your thoughts on inter-cultural, inter-faith, or
inter-racial marriage?
Chitra: I don’t mind them. I actually want
to marry out of my culture
Ritu: Its
up to whoever you fall in love with
Pinku: I
haven’t thought about it much.
Nikhal: I don’t have any thing against it. My aunt is from a Hispanic decent and we are
Indian, nothing big.
Touria: They are acceptable but really
difficult to go through with
Kamil: I’m neutral because many arranged marriages last
longer with love and compassion; with love marriage is out of its magic….to
continue
H.S.: Its
all good
Q. Who are your main role models (of any background)?
Chitra: J.K. Rowling, Ghandi, my teachers
Ritu: My
sister (Indian)
Pinku: My
parents.
Nikhal: Not sure
Touria: My mother
Kamil: The Prophet (even though I do not follow him currently I still believe his way is the right way).
H.S.: . . .