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.
Aug 30, 2020 16:03 IST
Now that you know how to cook a sadhya, a quick guide to the different courses of this delectable...
Sun, Aug 30, 2020
Aug 29, 2020 12:50 IST
Avial and Olan are the two dishes in an onasadhya that allow coconut, one of the key ingredients in...
Sat, Aug 29, 2020
Aug 28, 2020 15:00 IST
When you’re shopping for your homemade sadhya, remember to add ash gourd and elephant foot yam to...
Fri, Aug 28, 2020
Aug 27, 2020 02:15 IST
The EOHO is an economic recovery measure by UK to support hospitality businesses as they reopen...
Thu, Aug 27, 2020
Aug 26, 2020 14:10 IST
Inji thayir, puli inji and parippu are simple dishes that play very important roles in the onam...
Wed, Aug 26, 2020
Aug 22, 2020 15:33 IST
On the first day of Onam, here are two recipes to make your own festive spread at...
Sat, Aug 22, 2020
Aug 20, 2020 17:30 IST
The restaurateur on how the pandemic hastened the digitisation of Indian restaurants and what the...
Thu, Aug 20, 2020
Aug 08, 2020 12:50 IST
This tasty Gujarati snack can also be a very healthy and filling breakfast and can include any...
Sat, Aug 08, 2020
Aug 06, 2020 20:00 IST
By embracing delivery-only services, the hospitality sector is expanding its options to stay in...
Thu, Aug 06, 2020
Jul 31, 2020 13:34 IST
Best-selling crime-fiction writer Harlan Coben on his latest book and why he is prone to an...
Fri, Jul 31, 2020
Jul 30, 2020 12:30 IST
You can have this rasam as a soup or with some fresh, steamed rice, ghee and papad. Either way,...
Thu, Jul 30, 2020
Jul 26, 2020 23:52 IST
Cells derived from Henrietta Lacks made medical history, but her story says a lot about the history...
Tue, Jul 28, 2020
Jul 22, 2020 19:10 IST
This quick, improvisational recipe uses very little effort to deliver delicious...
Wed, Jul 22, 2020
Jul 20, 2020 19:10 IST
The actors, who turned vegetarian four years ago, say that their products will have the taste and...
Mon, Jul 20, 2020
Jul 15, 2020 19:10 IST
Locho, which literally means “mistake”, is an ode to the inventiveness and "Anything Goes"...
Wed, Jul 15, 2020
Jul 12, 2020 17:30 IST
What does it take to launch a restaurant in a pandemic? Chef Vikramjit Roy on having to fix tiles...
Sun, Jul 12, 2020
Jul 09, 2020 09:10 IST
These dosas are the lighter, fermented version of the lentil-based classic South Indian tiffin...
Thu, Jul 09, 2020
Jul 04, 2020 17:30 IST
Parippu pradhaman is a kheer-like dessert made from a mix of moong dal and chana dal in a coconut...
Sat, Jul 04, 2020
Jul 02, 2020 17:42 IST
Statues representing oppression and injustice are being toppled around the world. Is their...
Thu, Jul 02, 2020
Jul 02, 2020 13:20 IST
Versatile and delicious, this sauce can be had with noodles, as a salad dressing or as a dip or...
Thu, Jul 02, 2020
Jun 25, 2020 19:10 IST
These chutneys are hot, delicious and very...
Thu, Jun 25, 2020
Jun 20, 2020 13:20 IST
This is a great way of using up leftover rice and is light enough to be part of any meal, including...
Sat, Jun 20, 2020
Jun 19, 2020 21:14 IST
Social distancing, costs of operating in an expensive location and the economic uncertainty in the...
Fri, Jun 19, 2020
Jun 17, 2020 18:20 IST
All it takes is a little planning and you’ve got a dessert that is as delicious as it’s...
Wed, Jun 17, 2020
Jun 15, 2020 15:00 IST
Directed by Nicholas Kharkongor, the film shows how insidiously prejudices weave themselves into...
Mon, Jun 15, 2020