Must Read
Interesting reads to add to your shelf this month.
The Radiance by Ayad Akhtar
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar’s The Radiance is about a writer whose life is transformed after a hit-and-run on a rural road. As the accident sparks a spiritual awakening and a dangerous entanglement with a campus colleague, buried family secrets emerge. Out this month, the novel explores faith, madness and what remains when everything else falls apart.
Exit Party by Emily
St. John Mandel Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party is a time-bending speculative thriller set in a near-future America fractured by civil war. After a strange disappearance at a party in 2031 Los Angeles, Ari Waker’s search for answers takes her across militia territories, a domed Paris, a Greek resort and a lunar colony.
The Disappearers by Marlon James
Booker Prize-winner Marlon James returns to Jamaica with The Disappearers, a searing novel set in late-1980s Kingston. When a mob attacks eight gay men rehearsing the country’s first openly gay play, one is killed and two disappear. Told through diaries, interviews and shifting perspectives, the novel explores homophobia, shame, violence and truth. The Disappearers releases September 3rd.
Must Watch
Moving on-screen recommendations.
Don’t Be Shy!
Produced by Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt under Eternal Sunshine Productions, Don’t Be Shy! is a young-adult romantic comedy about friendship, first love, heartbreak, and the messy process of growing up. Written and directed by Sreeti Mukerji, the film introduces four newcomers in lead roles. With Ram Sampath composing the score, Don’t Be Shy premieres exclusively on Prime Video on September 25, 2026.
Brothers
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson reunite as fictionalised versions of themselves in Brothers, an eight-episode comedy built around their real-life friendship. When a family secret suggests they might actually be biological brothers, things get complicated fast. Created by David West Read and Lee Eisenberg, the series premieres globally on Apple TV+ on September 23, 2026, with new episodes arriving weekly.
Daayra
Meghna Gulzar’s Daayra is a gritty crime thriller inspired by true events, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran as police officers investigating a case that divides public opinion. As their investigations unfold, the film probes justice, punishment, morality and the truths hidden beneath polarised opinions. Written by Gulzar with Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani, Daayra releases in theatres on September 18th.
Must Listen
New music recommendations to set the tone for the month ahead.
Pylon
Beabadoobee’s fourth album, Pylon, finds the singer-songwriter moving from bedroom-pop intimacy towards a louder mix of grunge, Midwest emo and ’90s rock. Written largely on tour, the 14-track record takes its name from the electricity pylons that reminded her of home and connection while travelling. Featuring collaborators like Hayley Williams and Deftones’ Chino Moreno, it explores isolation, relationships and self-reflection.
Angel
Lizzy McAlpine’s Angel expands her acoustic foundations with ’70s Laurel Canyon folk, indie and pop. Created over nearly two years in Los Angeles, the record traces love, heartbreak, healing, friendship and the emotional shifts that come with new connections.
Popstar
Tinashe’s eighth studio album, Popstar, completes the conceptual trilogy begun with BB/Ang3l and Quantum Baby. The record explores her attention to fame, performance and self-definition in the streaming age. Blending R&B, pop, electronic and dance, the album continues her genre-fluid approach while whetting ideas around identity and the complicated relationship between the artist and the popstar persona.
L: Pylon R: Tinashe
Must Attend
Concerts, festivals and screenings to watch out for.
Chet Faker India Tour
After seven years, Australian musician Chet Faker returns to India with the A Love For Strangers tour, playing Delhi on September 18, Mumbai on September 19 and Bengaluru on September 20, 2026. Expect a mix of his familiar electronic-soul sound, live keys and newer material, alongside favourites like Gold and Talk Is Cheap.
India Art Fair EDI+IONS Ahmedabad
India Art Fair’s travelling satellite, EDI+IONS, lands in Ahmedabad on 19-20 September 2026 at Baronet House, Shahibag. Following its debut in Hyderabad, this second edition gathers 15 leading Indian galleries and two design showcases. The fair aims to strengthen regional arts ecosystems by linking local institutions with national galleries and audiences. Over two days, visitors can browse contemporary painting, sculpture, photography and design, meet gallerists and engage with curated presentations.
Virasat
Commissioned by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Virasat is a play that brings Mahesh Elkunchwar’s acclaimed Wada trilogy to the stage as a single Hindi performance, directed by veteran theatre-maker Anuradha Kapur. Set in Dharangaon, the three-hour generational tale follows the Deshpande family as their once-prosperous feudal household begins to unravel amid a rapidly changing India. Developed at Black Box Okhla, Virasat runs from September 24 to 27 at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.
Must Eat Live Drink
Exciting, innovative new places to dine at.
Kikli, Gurgaon
Chef Amninder Sandhu’s acclaimed restaurant Kikli, which explores the culinary heritage of Punjab, has opened its second outlet in Gurugram after its successful run in Delhi. The new 60-seater space continues its journey into ‘lost’ Punjabi food, reviving Partition-era recipes, heirloom grains, and slow-cooked techniques.
TUA & Synthe, Kolkata
TUA & Synthe is Kolkata’s new Pan-Asian dining and cocktail destination, bringing together good food, creative drinks, music and a lively setting. Chef Vaibhav Bhargava’s menu puts a modern spin on Asian flavours, while Ankur Chawla’s cocktail menu imagines drinks from the years 2030 to 2110. Designed to move from relaxed dining to late-night energy, the space offers a fresh take on the city’s dining scene.
Hosa, Hyderabad
Hosa, a modern South Indian eatery concept, has now launched in Hyderabad after successful runs in Goa and Gurugram. Under Brand Chef Harish Rao, the menu moves beyond idli-dosa staples to showcase regional dishes from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with Hyderabad-exclusive creations like Jackfruit Igguru and Aubergine Steak.
Words Platform Desk
Date 2.9.2026
L: Hosa R: TUA and Synthe