Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology....Read More
Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology.
Editorial Focus & Expertise
Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique.
Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment.
Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms.
Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy.
Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics.
Multimedia & Podcasting
Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs.
Notable Recent Works
Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity
Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House.
Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value.
Professional Presence
Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights.
Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile.
Nov 24, 2019 06:01 IST
A look at the condiment that is a household staple and its long history in the subcontinent....
Sun, Nov 24, 2019
Nov 05, 2019 00:30 IST
The UK-based authors met the subjects of their book through the volunteer work they do with Asha,...
Tue, Nov 05, 2019
Nov 01, 2019 00:29 IST
The Delhi hotel that once housed India’s most famous restaurant reopens with a new look and a new...
Fri, Nov 01, 2019
Oct 18, 2019 00:06 IST
The Aajeevika India Food Court brings popular as well as little-known dishes from across...
Fri, Oct 18, 2019
Oct 11, 2019 06:15 IST
Some hitches apart, Savya Rasa makes a laudable attempt at displaying diversity in south Indian...
Thu, Oct 10, 2019
Oct 04, 2019 03:26 IST
A book by the Indian ambassador in the Netherlands highlights the historical and current exchanges...
Fri, Oct 04, 2019
Oct 01, 2019 01:15 IST
There are a couple of questions that I wished to explore when I began photographing Gandhi’s...
Tue, Oct 01, 2019
Sep 27, 2019 03:55 IST
Remembering Boman Kohinoor, owner of Mumbai’s iconic Britannia & Co, who passed away on...
Fri, Sep 27, 2019
Sep 26, 2019 00:50 IST
The experience doesn’t come cheap. Currently, the price per seat is Rs 2499 from Monday to...
Thu, Sep 26, 2019
Sep 08, 2019 06:01 IST
In most meals, the chutney is on the margins of the plate as an accompaniment. But, in its variety...
Fri, Mar 10, 2023
Aug 29, 2019 16:24 IST
At a time when political "strong men" in several countries are seen as larger-than-life heroes (or...
Thu, Aug 29, 2019
Aug 28, 2019 00:52 IST
Costume designer and stylist Indrakshi Pattanaik Malik on what went into the National Award-winning...
Wed, Aug 28, 2019
Aug 25, 2019 06:30 IST
Keerthy Suresh was one of the many who doubted that she could pull off the role of Savitri Ganesan...
Sun, Aug 25, 2019
Aug 24, 2019 18:30 IST
If Sex and the City (1997) took a caustic, unsentimental approach to the dating scene of a certain...
Sat, Aug 24, 2019
Aug 07, 2019 03:39 IST
The cheese that we make at Begum Victoria is inspired by Europe, but like with wine, the terroir...
Wed, Aug 07, 2019
Aug 02, 2019 06:00 IST
At Tenali, one can enjoy a good and unhurried meal of Andhra...
Fri, Aug 02, 2019
Jul 26, 2019 00:30 IST
It is the little things like this that made our lunch at the Diva Spiced interesting. The...
Fri, Jul 26, 2019
Jul 24, 2019 00:38 IST
Vanshika Bhatia and Nitin Tewari are playing host to the second round of this collaboration —...
Wed, Jul 24, 2019
Jul 20, 2019 11:30 IST
Anger is a powerful emotion, but it seems a little reductive that a show of female power should...
Sat, Jul 20, 2019
Jul 18, 2019 00:15 IST
This breakfast dish has recently been in the news, thanks to an application made by the Indori...
Sat, Jul 20, 2019
Jul 14, 2019 06:20 IST
Jitish Kallat's interests lie in celestial cycles, circadian rhythms and the mysterious orbital...
Mon, Jul 22, 2019
Jul 12, 2019 00:13 IST
Food isn’t just meant to be sweet or spicy: umami is an essential, but underestimated aspect of...
Fri, Jul 12, 2019
Jul 07, 2019 05:00 IST
The story of rice in India is complex, influenced as much by geography as by taste, faith, politics...
Sun, Jul 07, 2019
Jul 05, 2019 00:41 IST
Making poee, the staple Goan...
Fri, Jul 05, 2019
Jun 21, 2019 00:18 IST
Nut and Bowls, a raw vegan cafe in Delhi, is hit-and-miss with its food and...
Fri, Jun 21, 2019