Culture Corner
By IQRA AHMAD — arts@theaggie.org
Song: “Piya Piya Calling” by Delara, Kaifi Khalil and Karpe ft. Quick Style (2024)
“Piya Piya Calling,” released as part of Coke Studio Pakistan’s 15th season, brings together several artists and an assortment of languages and cultures across the world to tell a story of love across great distances. The title introduces this theme: “piya,” a term meaning “beloved” or “lover,” and turns the repeated phrase “Piya Piya Calling” into a call for someone who is so close, yet so far. The song is led by Karpe, a Norwegian rap duo consisting of Chirag Rashmikant Patel, who is of Indian and Norwegian heritage; and Magdi Omar Ytreeide Abdelmaguid, who is of Egyptian and Norwegian heritage. They are joined by Pakistani artist Kaifi Khalil and Norwegian-Indian singer Amanda Delara. The music video also features hip-hop group Quick Style, founded by Norwegian-Pakistani twin brothers Suleman and Bilal Malik. Through a blend of Norwegian, Gujarati, Arabic, Urdu, Farsi and Balochi, the artists describe loneliness, yearning, separation and the desire to return to a loved one. References to “ajnabiun,” meaning “foreigner” or “stranger,” also suggest that love not only crosses physical distance but cultural boundaries. The diversity of languages featured mirror the experiences of loving someone across languages, places and time.
TV Show: “Adults” (2025)
FX’s “Adults” follows five friends attempting to navigate their twenties together and transition into adulthood. Samir, Billie, Issa, Anton and Paul Baker wound up living together in Samir’s childhood home without his parent’s knowledge as they learn to deal with relationships, unstable careers, financial pressure, healthcare and the everyday responsibilities that seem to tally up with time. Although the title suggests that the characters have already reached adulthood, the show explores a notion that the reality of adulthood means rarely being prepared for it.
The characters depend heavily on one another, making all kinds of mistakes along the way. They demonstrate the messy and embarrassing parts of growing up, often making situations worse despite having the best intentions at heart. Whether it’s Samir too happily mooning his interview panel, Billie discovering how her fake ID has been passed down from owner to owner in a strange “lineage,” Issa’s “weird little guy” impression, Anton’s back-and-forth messages (and even a call) with a criminal or Paul Baker’s seemingly endless encounters with street interviews in New York, the group constantly finds itself in absurd situations. Yet, the portrayal of friendship and support throughout the show relay that adulthood is a continuous process of growth, uncertainty and learning how to show up for those around you.
Book: “Candide” by Voltaire (1759)
Written by French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire, “Candide” follows the story of a callow and guileless young man named Candide. His mentor, Pangloss, is a devoted optimist who dogmatically insists that they live in “the best of all possible worlds.” However, Candide is forced out of his home, after which he must journey on a quest to reunite with his lover, Cunégonde. Along the way, his faith in Pangloss’ teachings is persistently challenged as he is confronted with the harsh, miserable realities of the world, including war, violence, greed, corruption and people characterized by their malice and selfishness. By the end of his journey, Candide ultimately rejects the philosophy of blind optimism and determines that “we must cultivate our own gardens.” “Candide” reflects that people must actively focus on what is in their control. The novel demonstrates that people must not passively let life fly by or drain them out, but should work on themselves instead and be secure through their own effort.
Written by: Iqra Ahmad — arts@theaggie.org