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.
Dec 11, 2020 20:00 IST
How to update a classic: After being closed for about a year, Machan reopened in October in a new...
Fri, Dec 11, 2020
Dec 05, 2020 12:30 IST
An uncomplicated, quick recipe for a tasty, sweet and sour guava...
Sat, Dec 05, 2020
Dec 05, 2020 03:50 IST
Conventional meat still dominates the market, and industry lobbies have been fighting to hold on to...
Thu, Dec 10, 2020
Dec 03, 2020 07:33 IST
The spicy fermented pickle, kimchi, has created some bitterness in China-South Korea trade...
Thu, Dec 10, 2020
Dec 01, 2020 19:26 IST
The Federal Bureau of Land Management’s Utah office announced that the Red Rock Country monolith...
Wed, Jan 06, 2021
Nov 28, 2020 12:30 IST
A recipe for this easy, tasty snack, plus how to tell the difference between khaman and...
Sat, Nov 28, 2020
Nov 25, 2020 21:16 IST
Lijo Jose Pellissery directorial Jallikattu is India's official entry for the 93rd Academy Awards...
Wed, Nov 25, 2020
Nov 23, 2020 18:26 IST
A new “food biography” of India examines how the stunning diversity of our culinary traditions...
Mon, Nov 23, 2020
Nov 01, 2020 07:00 IST
There’s no doubt that the humble idli is one of India’s most consumed breakfast dish. But what...
Sun, Nov 01, 2020
Oct 31, 2020 10:20 IST
Liven up your breakfast of idli or dosa with this spicy podi. It also goes very well with...
Sat, Oct 31, 2020
Oct 25, 2020 18:00 IST
A new space in Delhi has some answers for how safety can be an organic, non-intrusive feature of...
Sun, Oct 25, 2020
Oct 25, 2020 07:00 IST
It had been proposed that calling plant-based food ‘steaks’, ‘burgers’, and ‘sausages’...
Mon, Oct 26, 2020
Oct 24, 2020 18:40 IST
Follow these easy, science-backed steps to perfectly season your cast-iron tawas and...
Sat, Oct 24, 2020
Oct 23, 2020 08:10 IST
The study is based on archaeological finds from Kotada Bhadli, located in modern day-Gujarat’s...
Fri, Oct 23, 2020
Oct 21, 2020 18:52 IST
Around the world, many countries hold public debates during general election campaigns as a way for...
Thu, Oct 22, 2020
Oct 18, 2020 04:38 IST
Malayalam film actor Kani Kusruti on her award-winning performance in Biriyaani and the lessons in...
Sun, Oct 18, 2020
Oct 12, 2020 18:20 IST
Within a month of opening, Perch in Mumbai was forced to shut due to the lockdown. As it reopens,...
Mon, Oct 12, 2020
Oct 10, 2020 13:25 IST
This hot-sweet-sour chutney will liven up the blandest of foods - and yes, that includes...
Sat, Oct 10, 2020
Oct 03, 2020 12:46 IST
This classic Kerala preparation goes well with chicken curry, egg roast, or even vegetarian dishes...
Sat, Oct 03, 2020
Sep 26, 2020 17:30 IST
Made with rice, jaggery and banana, unniyappams are a popular snack and ritual...
Sat, Sep 26, 2020
Sep 24, 2020 11:40 IST
Coco Ichibanya, which opened its first outpost in Gurugram, will serve the Japanese take on curry...
Thu, Sep 24, 2020
Sep 20, 2020 06:20 IST
A bookseller and a tennis player, a doctor and a child, among others, recall the shape of life...
Sun, Sep 20, 2020
Sep 19, 2020 17:20 IST
Pulikachal, or tamarind rice paste, can be stored in the fridge for two to three...
Sat, Sep 19, 2020
Sep 12, 2020 17:25 IST
Soft and sweet shallots contrast beautifully with the sourness of the tamarind-based...
Mon, Sep 14, 2020
Sep 05, 2020 12:33 IST
Made with shallots, this chutney’s taste is further enhanced with coconut...
Sat, Sep 05, 2020