Student Board Blog: Mindy Kaling, Never Have I Ever
Written by Amara Kapur ‘23-‘24 Student Board Member
Never Have I Ever is a series on Netflix about a young Indian American girl, who is trying to balance her culture, school life, friends, and many high school related problems while also dealing with the death of her dad. The show first came out in 2020, and since then has gained a lot of attraction.
Vera Mindy Chockalingam, known professionally as Mindy Kaling, is a comedian, screenwriter, actress, and producer. The first show she gained recognition for was her role in the show The Office as Kelly Kapoor. Since then, she has won numerous awards, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her two young kids. Mindy Kaling was the main writer for the show Never Have I Ever, and had a big role in producing and directing it as well. According to NPR, “Kaling drew on her own high school experiences to co-create the Netflix series.” and in doing so she found that she was “not alone.” Drawing on Kaling’s high school life included breaking stereotypes. Devi, the main character, is a hot-headed, impulsive, loud and outspoken teen, a trait Indian American characters don’t often have in films. Elenor is another Asian American girl who loves theater, and ends up pursuing a career in film as a director.
In an interview with the New York Times, Kaling shared that “For all of us in the writers’ room, particularly those of us who were the children of immigrants, which comprised most of my staff, it was about sharing those stories of feeling ‘other.’” She also said that she would be open to a show set in the 1980’s or 90’s, but she really wanted to speak to kids now. She wanted her high school students of Sherman Oaks to look and feel as realistic as possible, while addressing problems that teens of color commonly face.
This goes to show that this series was not only relevant to Kaling’s life, but also the lives of many others who reflect her experiences. The dramatic romcom Never Have I Ever made viewers laugh, cry, and learn what it is to live in the shoes of Devi Vishwakumar, as she is constantly learning as well.