MUST READ
Five highly-anticipated books of the month:
Dream Count
In Dream Count, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores the lives of four women navigating love, self-discovery, and regret. Chiamaka, a Nigerian travel writer in America, reflects on past relationships during the pandemic, while her best friend Zikora, a successful lawyer, faces heartbreak and betrayal. Chiamaka’s cousin Omelogor, a financial powerhouse in Nigeria, begins to question her identity, and Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, confronts a hardship that threatens everything she’s worked for.
The Dream Hotel
In The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami, Sara is detained by the Risk Assessment Administration at the airport after their algorithm predicts she may harm her husband, based on her dreams. Sent to a retention center for 21 days, Sara learns that any rule-breaking could extend her stay indefinitely. The novel explores the dangers of surveillance technology and the limits of truly knowing those around us.
Stag Dance
In Stag Dance, Torrey Peters explores desire and identity through four provocative tales. A group of lumberjacks plans a winter dance, leading to jealousy and betrayal when one man faces a rivalry with a younger axman. In other stories, a gender apocalypse unfolds through an unstable ex, a cruel boarding-school romance, and a dark Las Vegas weekend where a crossdresser must choose between a thrilling stranger and a seasoned trans woman offering sisterhood. Boldly inventive, acidly funny, and unsettling, Stag Dance challenges expectations and sparks new possibilities.
The Last Knot
Rich in Kashmiri folklore, The Last Knot is a captivating tale of defiance, love, and the transformative power of art. In nineteenth-century Srinagar, a carpet-maker steps away from the traditional practices of his craft to chase a visionary dream—to weave a flying carpet that will free him from a life of oppression. During his journey, he encounters Abli Bab, a former master artisan, who shares the story of a mythical blue silk carpet, infused with a magical dye and bearing Solomon’s star. Lost to history, this legendary artifact might hold the key to his liberation.
Hunchback
Born with a congenital muscle disorder, Shaka Isawa suffers from severe spine curvature and relies on an electric wheelchair and ventilator. Confined to her care home, her world exists online—she studies, tweets with passion, and shares provocative stories on an erotica website. One day, a new male carer reveals that he’s read it all—the provocative, the daring, and the scandalous. Her response? An indecent proposal… Written by the first disabled author to win Japan’s most prestigious literary award, Hunchback quickly became one of the most significant Japanese novels of the 21st century, earning instant acclaim.
MUST WATCH
Five highly-anticipated movies and shows releasing soon:
Micky17
Desperate to escape Earth and with no money to his name, Mickey Barnes signs up to become an "expendable" — a disposable clone worker — on the human colony Niflheim. As an expendable, Mickey is assigned several perilous tasks that he’s not expected to survive, with a new body being created each time he dies. This science fiction comedy, produced, written, and directed by Bong Joon-ho, is based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. Robert Pattinson stars in the lead role.
Deli Boys
In the upcoming 10-episode series, wealthy and entitled Pakistani American brothers Mir and Raj cope with the sudden death of their father by arguing over who gets what. However, they soon learn that their father wasn’t the convenience store mogul they believed him to be; he was actually an underworld criminal running a very different kind of family business. It's not the inheritance they expected, but it's the one they've received.
Sthal (A Match)
Jayant Digambar Somalkar's feature debut, which made waves at many international and local film festivals, including TIFF, follows a young woman, Savita, struggling to carve out her future in a world where patriarchal traditions limit her choices. During a series of uncomfortable arranged marriage interviews, Savita faces judgment for her appearance, social status, and independence.
Gentlewoman
Gentlewoman is a Tamil-language drama that delves into the roles of women in a male-dominated society. The story follows Poorni and Anna, two women caught in a web of betrayal and deception. When Poorni’s husband, Aravind, goes missing, his affair with Anna is revealed. While authorities suspect financial issues as the cause of his disappearance, Anna believes there may be a deeper, more sinister motive at play. As the plot unfolds, both women are forced to confront the dark truths surrounding Aravind’s vanishing.
Kanneda
JioHotstar is set to premiere its drama series Kanneda on March 21, 2025, produced by Jar Pictures and directed by Chandan Arora. The series stars Parmish Verma in the lead role, with a talented supporting cast including Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Ranvir Shorey, Arunoday Singh, Aadar Malik, and Jasmin Bajwa. Kanneda follows the harrowing journey of Nimma, the protagonist, who, after surviving the brutal 1984 anti-Sikh riots, seeks refuge in Canada. However, he soon discovers that the streets are harsh, and the broken system offers no easy escape.
MUST LISTEN
Music albums to tune into:
RUBY!
Jennie Ruby Jane is set to release her debut full-length album, RUBY! BLACKPINK's main vocalist, Jennie, has officially announced the upcoming album, which will feature 15 tracks for her fans to enjoy. RUBY will showcase a blend of genres, including exciting collaborations with global artists like Doechii, Dua Lipa, FKJ, Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis, and more. The album is set to drop on March 7, 2025.
Rushmere
Rushmere marks Mumford & Sons' first studio album since 2018, and their first since banjo player Winston Marshall left the band following controversy over his political views. As such, the album has the task of reestablishing the band’s presence in mainstream music. To achieve this, they’ve returned to their roots: Rushmere, along with its folk-infused, upbeat first single, is named after a pond on Wimbledon Common, where the band members grew up and first came together.
Mayhem
Lady Gaga has officially revealed her upcoming album. Titled Mayhem, the 14-track record, previously referred to as LG7, is set for release on March 7. In a press release, Gaga shared that the album began with her confronting the fear of returning to the pop music beloved by her earliest fans. She compared the creative process to “reassembling a shattered mirror,” explaining that although the pieces may not fit back perfectly, they can still come together to form something beautiful and unique in its own way.
Erotica Veronica
Miya Folick has been gradually releasing new tracks recently, so it's no surprise that she's preparing to drop a new album. Erotica Veronica, the follow-up to last year’s Roach, is set to arrive in February. According to Folick, “The album explores being queer within a heteronormative relationship and society, but it’s also about desire and eroticism in a broader sense. I don’t think we give each other enough space to explore freely and find our own paths.”
For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)
It’s been over three years since Japanese Breakfast dropped a studio album, but the Michelle Zauner-led project has remained incredibly active in that time. Now, the band is back with exciting news: their fourth studio album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women), is set for release on March 21 via Dead Oceans.
MUST ATTEND
Five events that you should attend:
Independent Together
Presented by Hungama Artist Aloud, this event is the ultimate celebration of unity and creativity, headlined by the talented Lifafa. This 6-hour concert will showcase incredible independent artists across music, dance, and more. Whether you're with friends, your favorite people, or flying solo, it's the perfect opportunity to dive into vibrant vibes. Dance to electrifying live performances, connect with your favorite creators, and lose yourself in soulful melodies that will leave you inspired.
Lollapalooza India
Lollapalooza India will return for its third edition in 2025, set to take place on March 8-9 in Mumbai. The lineup will feature both international and local talent spanning a range of genres. Green Day, making their India debut, will join artists like Shawn Mendes, Louis Tomlinson, Glass Animals, Zedd, Aurora, Alok, Raftaar x Kr$na, Hanumankind and Nothing But Thieves.
Saanp Seedhi
Saanp Seedhi, a gripping Hindi adaptation of Anthony Shaffer’s Sleuth, is a thrilling mind game that explores deception, ego, and revenge. Directed by Shubhrajyoti Barat and adapted by Akarsh Khurana, the play unfolds a tense encounter between Amit Wadhwa, who discovers his wife’s infidelity, and Mayank Tiwari, the man who has taken his place. What begins as a civil conversation quickly escalates into a dangerous battle of wits, power, and pride. Catch it on March 29 and 30 at Kamani Auditorium, Delhi.
Live at the warehouse: Anoushka Maskey + Komorebi
Catch Anoushka Maskey live with Komorebi, the hypnotic electronic project of Tarana Marwah, at Live at the Warehouse on March 28 at G5A Warehouse, Mumbai. Anoushka, a Mumbai/Sikkim-based singer-songwriter, has made a name for herself with her folk-inspired melodies and emotive storytelling. Komorebi is known for its lush, otherworldly soundscapes. A standout in India’s electronic music space, she is one of the electronic producers ready to be a global sensation.
