MUST READ
Highly-anticipated books of the month:
Forest of Noise
Forest of Noise is a striking collection of poems by Mosab Abu Toha, written amidst the chaos of the Gaza conflict. Despite his house being bombed and his community library destroyed, Abu Toha continued to write, capturing moments of survival, love, and loss with striking clarity and beauty. With its mix of lyricism and resilience, Forest of Noise is a powerful work of art born from unimaginable circumstances.
The Story of Eve: Selected Poems
Zehra Nigah is a pioneering figure in the male-dominated world of Urdu poetry, known for her classicist style and urgent, contemporary themes. This collection features her best-known nazms and ghazals, tackling topics such as sexual war crimes, female infanticide, repressive laws, and the plight of child soldiers, alongside poignant poems about love, family, and the emotional life of women. With translations that honor both the poet and the English-speaking reader, this selection offers a powerful introduction to the work of one of Urdu poetry's most significant voices.
The Answer Is No
In The Answer Is No, Fredrik Backman delivers a hilarious short story about Lucas, a man whose perfect night consists of video games, wine, pad thai, and solitude—until the apartment board rings his doorbell. Demanding to see his frying pan after one is found near the recycling room, they set off a series of absurd events that spiral Lucas’s peaceful life out of control.
Muses Over Mumbai
Muses Over Mumbai explores the vibrant lives of the city's inhabitants, each shaping its soul. Among the characters are Major Anirudh Sood, a war hero caught in a housing feud; Shraddha, a mother protecting her daughters; Anuradha Singhal, a socialite confronting her fragility; and Ramkumar Tiwari, a constable struggling with caste and morality. The author himself seeks answers from a 26/11 terrorist, while other stories include a cabbie's deadly pursuit of an ad exec, a tycoon's battle against extortion, and an activist fighting city corruption. Through these diverse, fictional tales, the book celebrates Mumbai's infinite stories and its nocturnal protagonists.
The Green Book
In The Green Book, Amitava Kumar blends drawings and written reflections from his travels, showing how great literature often starts as simple jottings in a notebook. Drawing inspiration from figures like Virginia Woolf, John Berger, Gandhi, and Shiva Naipaul, he explores the power of observation and the importance of recording what we see. Kumar’s sketches and notes, gathered from walks through parks, highways, and even a prison, highlight the significance of noticing the world around us. This book, the third in a series that includes The Blue Book and The Yellow Book, offers a profound glimpse into the mind of a writer who captures both images and words to reflect on the ever-changing world.
A Temple of No Gods
In A Temple of No Gods (originally Shirt ka Teesra Button in Hindi), the lives of Rajil and his friends Radhe and Choti unravel after the death of Rajil’s grandmother. Stripped of their protective illusions, they face unexpected truths about themselves and those around them. Rajil discovers his mother's complexity and her fraught relationship with his grandfather, while Choti's dark secret threatens their friendship. As Rajil struggles to maintain control over the increasingly chaotic situation, he learns to accept life as it unfolds. With childhood memories at its heart, this seemingly simple narrative by Manav Kaul reveals deeper layers of meaning.
MUST WATCH
Highly-anticipated movies and shows releasing soon:
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Published in 1967, One Hundred Years of Solitude is one of Gabriel García Márquez's most iconic works, earning him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. The novel tells the multi-generational tale of the Buendía family, whose patriarch, José Arcadio Buendía, founded the fictional town of Macondo in Colombia. Now, for the first time, the landmark novel is being adapted for the screen. The streaming service announced that the series, which will be split into two parts of eight episodes each, will premiere its first installment in December.
The Sticky
The Sticky centers on Ruth Landry, a middle-aged maple syrup producer who resorts to crime when bureaucratic authorities threaten to seize her prized business. She joins forces with an unpredictable Boston mobster and a quiet, mild-mannered French-Canadian security guard to orchestrate a daring multimillion-dollar heist of Quebec's national maple syrup reserves. The Sticky will premiere on Amazon Prime Video.
Heretic
Heretic, written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods—best known for creating A Quiet Place—premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this year. The film stars Hugh Grant and follows two Mormon missionaries who are invited into the home of a reclusive man, only to discover that he is far more dangerous than they anticipated. Heretic will be hitting Indian theaters this December.
Despatch
Acclaimed Indian actor Manoj Bajpayee’s latest film, Despatch, directed by Kanu Behl, recently premiered at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa and will soon be streaming on ZEE5 Global. In the film, Bajpayee portrays Joy, an experienced crime editor at a Mumbai tabloid who becomes embroiled in a high-stakes investigation while grappling with the challenges of staying relevant in the digital age. As he delves into a story tied to organized crime, political corruption, and corporate power plays, Joy's professional ambitions clash with his complicated personal life, leading to dangerous repercussions.
Black Doves
Set in London during Christmas, Black Doves is a gripping, action-packed tale that explores friendship and sacrifice. The story centers on Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a clever, grounded, and devoted wife and mother who also leads a double life as a professional spy. For a decade, she has been secretly sharing her politician husband's confidential information with the covert group known as the Black Doves.
MUST LISTEN
Music albums to tune into:
Cosmic Waves Volume 1
Cosmic Waves Volume 1, out December 6, is Angel Olsen’s latest release, blending a curated compilation with a covers album. Side A features tracks by Poppy Jean Crawford, Coffin Prick, Sarah Grace White, Maxim Ludwig, and Camp Saint Helene, all personally selected by Olsen. On Side B, she offers her own renditions of those same songs.
Rome
Recorded live in June 2024 at a breathtaking venue, Rome stands as the definitive live album by The National, offering more than just a concert souvenir—it's a vital addition to their unmatched catalog. As the title suggests, it was captured in the heart of the Eternal City on June 3 of this year, with the band emphasizing that this is a true live recording, free of overdubs. The 21-track set spans over two decades of The National’s songwriting.
Vicious Creature
Lauren Mayberry, the frontwoman of CHVRCHES, is stepping out with her debut solo album, Vicious Creature. In a statement about the record, she shares, "So much of this process has been about empowering myself to trust my own intuition—something I had really trained myself to ignore." She adds, "For me, it was important to rediscover that sense of independence and recognize the value I bring to any space I choose to be in.”
Unreal Unearth: Unending
Hozier will release a deluxe version of his chart-topping album Unreal Unearth on December 6. The deluxe edition, titled Unreal Unearth: Unending, includes 26 tracks, featuring the original album alongside its EPs (Unaired and Unheard), plus an exclusive track, “Hymn to Virgil.” This edition will be available on vinyl and CD and compiles every song Hozier has released since 2022, including the hit single "Too Sweet," which has garnered over a billion Spotify streams.
You Should Get Some Sleep
Aquilo has announced their second album of the year, You Should Get Some Sleep, set for release on December 6th. Described as the sister album to A Quiet Invitation to A Hard Conversation, the two albums represent their favorite work to date. In response to someone claiming that albums are dead and no one listens to them anymore, the duo laughed it off and decided to make two albums instead.
MUST ATTEND
Events that you should attend:
Good Luck Beta ’24
Peter Cat Recording Co. is set to launch Good Luck Beta ’24, a series of concerts celebrating the release of their latest album, BETA. After two years of groundbreaking, sold-out tours around the world, the band is finally returning home for six of their biggest shows to date. Formed in 2010, Peter Cat Recording Co. has crafted a sound that feels like a radio station from the near future or a vinyl from the distant past, defying any single genre or label. Their music speaks for itself, with each song existing in its own unique universe. They are touring in multiple cities around India in December.
Journeying Across the Himalayas Festival
Royal Enfield's Social Mission has announced the inaugural Journeying Across the Himalayas festival, set to take place from December 5th to 15th, 2024, at the Travancore Palace in New Delhi. A unique festival, it will honor the enduring legacy of the Himalayan landscape, its people, crafts, and culture, offering a one-of-a-kind experience that highlights the region's rich heritage.
Chennai Photo Biennale
The fourth edition of the Chennai Photo Biennale, from 20th December 2024 to 16th March 2025, draws its primary inspiration from Dayanita Singh’s ongoing exploration, ‘Why Photograph?’ which delves into our complex relationship with photography. Focusing first on the creation of the work, and then on its form and presentation, Singh encourages us to continually return to this critical question of our time. In an era of visual saturation, CPB4 brings together more thoughtful, deliberate approaches to image-making, showcasing works in public spaces throughout Chennai. The biennale will feature a diverse range of practices by artists who are challenging dominant narratives, addressing gaps in representation, blending colonial visual traditions with native avant-garde aesthetics, and shifting the focus from the solitary photographer to a collective ethic of care and authorship.
Jaigarh Heritage Festival
The inaugural Jaigarh Heritage Festival, a celebration of India's vibrant heritage, culture, and both tangible and intangible histories, will be held from December 27-29, 2024, at the majestic and historic Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur. Produced by Teamwork Arts in collaboration with His Highness Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, the festival promises a captivating mix of performances, discussions, heritage walks, exquisite cuisine, a crafts bazaar, and much more.
Rainbow Lit Fest
South Asia's largest queer and inclusive literary festival, Rainbow Lit Fest, returns this December 7-8 with over 60 speakers and performers from Imphal to Vancouver. The festival's first lineup reveal includes prominent figures alongside emerging voices in the queer space. Highlights include the tri-nation Queer Caravan with artists from France, Germany, and India, and a diverse range of performances, from Bollyjazz music and drag acts by Patruni Sastry, to films like Sifar and Sheer Qorma, as well as stand-up by Navin Noronha.
Madras Art Weekend
The third edition of Madras Art Weekend (MAW) will take place from December 12 to 15, 2024, in Chennai. As a cornerstone of the city's cultural landscape, MAW celebrates the convergence of art, design, and culture, highlighting creative talent from South India and beyond. This year’s theme focuses on the conservation of culture, with the branding for MAW2024 inspired by Jamakaalam, an ancient South Indian textile art that reflects the region's rich cultural heritage.
The Serendipity Arts Festival
The Serendipity Arts Festival is set to return to Panaji, Goa, from December 15th to 22nd, 2024, for its ninth edition, offering a truly exceptional cultural experience that spans a wide range of artistic disciplines. Founded by Sunil Kant Munjal, the festival has become one of South Asia’s largest and most highly anticipated arts events, providing a dynamic platform for innovation, interdisciplinary practices, and cultural exchange.
Magnetic Fields festival
Celebrating its 10th edition in December 2024, the Magnetic Fields festival in Alsisar will feature a dynamic mix of international and Indian electronic music artists. The stellar lineup includes Sofia Kourtesis, David August, Tom VR, Shubh Saran, and Cousin Kula, alongside local talents DEE EN, Tushar Mathur, and SULTAN.
