This was the film that showed me that you didn't have to have a special occasion for henna, you could just wear it for decoration!

Kama Sutra tells a tale of obsessive love and revenge in 16th Century India and offers you henna in some of the very first scenes. This is a Film Four production and it shows through the sumptuous production (silks, clothing, people, places - diwali lights), restrained humour and compelling storyline.

This is the Bollywood equivalent of Romeo and Juliet - lovers pushed apart by caste and status. It is a film of EPIC proportions with lavish sets and gorgeous costumes that are complimented with Indian dancing and song of the highest quality. Wedding preparations and soul searching abound and I defy you NOT to be screaming 'NOOOOO' at your TV by the last scene.

This is the story about a family from Kabul and how the last 20 years have affected them. There is a wonderful description of the night of the henna and some insights into wearing the veil. Within the tales of succession against oppression there are horrors that will frustrate and upset you but you will read this book understanding a little more about the culture. This is a great accessible book for giving you a 'snapshot' of Afghani life and would be a good starting point for a deeper foray into the complexities of the culture and life in Afghanistan.

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Monsoon Wedding - is full of great characters and is concentrated on the few days preparations for an Indian family wedding. Although the film addresses difficult issues there are genuine moments where you are glad that a sub plot ended 'happily'. The harrassed, marigold munching wedding planner is an absolute delight. The Directors commentary is invaluable for explaining culture and traditions.

East is East - has no henna but perfectly captures the relationship between a white woman and her fish and chip shop owner husband (who longs for a traditional life back in Pakistan) in northern Britain. The humour is spot on and there are plenty of surprises. Some scenes will have you laughing out loud for ages but some of you may not appreciate the 'harsh reality' that this film portrays - it does not pull any punches when addressing a number of issues. The acting is absolutely spot on.

Bhaji on the Beach - Another Brit / Bolly film - watch stereotypes get blown apart and you see Asian women differently to how they are usually portrayed in the media.

I know that this book probably should be in the 'Monday Munchies' section, but it is much more than a recipie book. As well as delicious Asian/british fusion cooking (not modern fussy fusion but things like spicy scrambled eggs and Indian style fried eggy bread) there is a constant commentary about the origins of recipies, how they evolved and how to use some of the more exotic vegetables and spices you come across.