Must Read
Books to keep you company this winter.
Never Logged Out: How the Internet Created India’s Gen Z by Ria Chopra
In eight essays, each posing questions about selfhood, love, memory, privacy, anonymity, knowledge, fame, and ambition, Never Logged Out interrogates how the internet makes and breaks this generation. Fresh, funny, and startlingly insightful, Ria Chopra weaves together personal anecdotes, cultural commentary, and a sharp understanding of her generation and the world today into a first-of-its-kind book about the experience of growing up on, with, and because of the Indian internet.
Bread of Angels by Patti Smith
The most personal of Smith's autobiographical works, Bread of Angels leads us through her adolescent period when the initial flashes of artistic expression and affection took root. Arthur Rimbaud and Bob Dylan emerge as inspirational creative figures as she starts to compose poetry, followed by lyrics, eventually merging both into the tracks of landmark albums such as Horses, Wave, and Easter. Sorrow and appreciation are woven throughout the years she spent raising her children, restructuring her existence, and finally, beginning to write again—the consistent element in a life driven by artistic independence.
The Jaguar’s Roar by Micheliny Verunschk
The Jaguar’s Roar, a spellbinding poetic novel told in many voices, imagines the children’s journey and a modern Brazilian woman’s effort to counter their disappearance from history. In her award-winning fifth novel, Micheliny Verunschk inhabits the fictional perspective of the Miranha girl, of the jaguar she conjures for protection, of the German scientists who determine her fate, and of the two rivers that frame her life. Intertwined in this narrative is a story of Brazil’s suppression of its Indigenous history, and of a young woman named Josefa, a newcomer unmoored in the megacity of Sao Paulo, who identifies with the girl after seeing her image in an exhibit and tries to recover the child’s voice and story.
Must Watch
Lots to look forward to on screen this month.
Goodbye June on Netflix
Goodbye June, Kate Winslet's directorial debut for Netflix, is an upcoming Christmas family drama set to premiere on the platform on December 24th. The film, which also stars Winslet alongside Toni Collette and Helen Mirren, will also have a limited theatrical release on December 12th. The story follows a fractured group of siblings and their father who are forced to come together under trying circumstances when their mother, June, is terminally ill.
Jay Kelly on Netflix
Jay Kelly, Noah Baumbach's latest comedy-drama for Netflix, is an upcoming film set to premiere on the platform on December 5th. The film, which stars George Clooney in the title role alongside Adam Sandler and Laura Dern, was released in select theaters. The story follows a famous, aging actor and his longtime manager as they travel through Europe, confronting personal choices, relationships, and the legacies they will leave behind.
Marty Supreme in Theatres
Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie's latest film for A24, is an upcoming sports comedy-drama set to premiere in the United States on December 25th. The film, which stars Timothée Chalamet as the titular character alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, and Kevin O'Leary. The story, loosely based on the life of real-life table tennis hustler Marty Reisman, follows a cocky, fast-talking young man in 1950s New York City who believes table tennis can be his ticket to greatness and hustles his way through a series of chaotic misadventures in pursuit of his dream.
Christmas Karma in Theatres
Christmas Karma, Gurinder Chadha's latest British musical comedy-drama, is an upcoming film for True Brit Entertainment set to premiere in India on December 12th, following its earlier UK and US theatrical release. The film, which stars Kunal Nayyar as the titular character's modern counterpart alongside Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, and Boy George, is a Bollywood-inspired adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novella A Christmas Carol.
Must Listen
Some beats to get you grooving.
The Wombats - Oh the Ocean!
Oh! The Ocean (Extended Version), the sixth studio album by British indie rock band The Wombats, will be released with bonus tracks via AWAL on December 5th. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer John Congleton, the album’s themes explore mental health, complex relationships, and the chaos of modern existence, inspired by a moment of clarity frontman Matthew Murphy experienced on an LA beach. The album features popular singles such as Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come and Blood on the Hospital Floor.
Fred Again - USB
USB is an 'infinite, ever-evolving album project' by British electronic producer Fred Again.., released digitally in its initial form in January 2022. The project acts as a dynamic compilation, constantly updated with new tracks and collaborations that resemble a DJ's personal playlist. USB002 is the highly anticipated second installment, which is scheduled for a full digital and physical release on December 12th.
Milk & Bone - A Little Lucky
A Little Lucky is the fourth studio album by the Canadian electronic pop duo Milk & Bone (Camille Poliquin and Laurence Lafond-Beaulne). The album will be released on December 5, 2025, via their independent label, Bone & Milk Records. The album marks a significant creative shift for the Montreal-based duo, who chose to produce the entire album themselves in their home studio.
Must Attend
Festivals, concerts and exhibitions to keep an eye out for.
Jaigarh Heritage Festival
Taking place on 5-7th December, the Jaigarh Heritage Festival, presented by Vedanta Group in collaboration with the Royal Family of Jaipur and produced by Teamwork Arts, is an upcoming three-day celebration of India's rich cultural legacy, art, and traditions. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of artists, including Papon Live, Kabir Café, The Manganiyar Seduction by Roysten Abel, and traditional performances by Nathoolal Solanki and Puppetshala.
Serendipity Arts Festival
The Serendipity Arts Festival, organized by the non-profit Serendipity Arts Foundation is the 10th edition of South Asia's largest multi-disciplinary arts festival, held annually in Panaji, Goa. It will happen over December 12th–21st, and the festival, which transforms the city's heritage buildings and riverfronts into a vibrant cultural hub, will feature over 150 projects curated by more than 35 experts across various disciplines.
Kochi Muziris Biennale
Taking place from December 12th, 2025, to March 31st 2026, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, India's first and largest international exhibition of contemporary art, will hold its sixth edition in a variety of heritage properties and public spaces across Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, and Ernakulam. Titled For The Time Being, this edition is curated by acclaimed performance artist Nikhil Chopra with HH Art Spaces. Read our interview with Nikhil and his team in our November Bookazine here.
Wonderfruit Festival
The Wonderfruit Festival is the 10th-anniversary edition of South Asia's largest conscious lifestyle festival, held annually at The Fields at Siam Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand. Through December 11th-15th, the event is a multi-disciplinary celebration of art, music, food, and ideas. The 2025 lineup includes artists such as FKJ, Kerala Dust, Hatis Noit, Dawn of Midi, and Park Jiha.
Echoes of Earth
The Echoes of Earth festival is the 8th edition of India's greenest circular music festival, held annually at the Embassy International Riding School in Bengaluru. Happening on 13th and 14th December, this year's theme, The Sixth Sense: Celebrating Nature's Intelligence, inspires artists to transform discarded and upcycled materials from previous editions into spectacular, large-scale stages and art installations across the venue. Eclectic performances across four uniquely designed stages. The 2025 lineup features global artists like Monolink, Bedouin, Stavroz, alongside Indian acts such as The F16s, Jatayu, and Varijashree Venugopal.
Date 2-12-2025