It’s been a while since I last shared my go-to recommendations—shows, articles, podcasts, books—all the stuff that fuels the soul. So, as the year winds down, I figured why not weave them into a reflection on the year that was? It’s been a transformative one for me, filled with lessons in patience, surrender, and the art of being present. Spoiler alert: it’s way harder than it sounds!

This year was a journey, quite literally and metaphorically. I checked off a long-standing dream: road-tripping through the breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh. It was a lesson in transience, faith, and the sheer power of nature to humble and heal. The stories I gathered along the way? Priceless.

I also leaned heavily on my family’s unwavering support while collaborating on some incredible projects. One such highlight was watching Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha touch hearts and spark hope, reminding me why storytelling matters so deeply. There were workshops with media students, where their curiosity and energy were inspiring enough to make me want to undertake many more sessions.

Letting go of my corporate past—while coaxing a new identity to emerge—was a struggle that required every ounce of grace and grit I could muster. The birth of the India Sustainable Entertainment Alliance (ISEA), a passion project, finally began to take some shape this year. Oh, and let’s not forget navigating the labyrinthine politics of co-operative housing society committees. (Someone, hand me a medal for surviving that!) Resilience became a recurring theme, threaded through life-affirming friendships, gobsmacking food adventures, and creative collaborations that reminded me why hope persists.

Through it all, content—be it a show, a book, or a podcast—served as a textured backdrop. A reminder of what makes us laugh, cry, reflect, and most importantly, keep going.

So here’s to wrapping up this whirlwind year with some recommendations that stayed with me. Consider this my love letter to all things that inspire, entertain, and transform. And if you’re feeling the vibe of this blog, hit like, share your thoughts, or follow along for more.

Let’s dive into 2025 with courage, wonder, love and perhaps, some patience!

Here goes :

Web Series :

1. One Day
2. Criminal Record
3. True Detective
4. Shogun
5. Baby Reindeer
6. Presumed Innocent
7. Slow Horses
8. Bad Sisters
9. The Penguin
10. Nobody Wants This
11. KAOS
12. Ripley – the series
13. Love Death and Robots
14. Mirzapur
15. Jubilee
16. Only Murders in the Building
17. The Bear

Films :

1. Three of Us
2. 12th Fail
3. Fair Play
4. Holdovers
5. Anatomy of A Fall
6. Laapata Ladies
7. The Zone of Interest
8. Amar Singh Chamkila
9. His Three Daughters

Documentary :

1. While We Watched
2. The Greatest Night in Pop
3. The Edge of Democracy
4. Angry Young Men
5. The Grab

Podcasts :

1. Meditative Story with Lulu Wang
2. Huberman Lab
3. The Tie-In with Zena Harris and Mark Rabin
4. What Now? with Trevor Noah
5. Wiser than Me – Julia Dreyfuss
6. WTF is? – Nikhil Kamath
7. The Retrievals
8. Well Enough Alone – A Guide to Thriving Solo

Books :

1. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow – Gabrielle Zevin
2. We All Want Impossible Things – Catherine Newman
3. The Bee Sting – Paul Murray
4. My Brilliant Friend – Elena Ferrante
5. Shadow of the Moon – MM Kaye
6. Good Material – Dolly Alderton
7. Should We Stay or Should We Go – Lionel Shriver
8. Trust – Hernan Diaz

As I sit down to reflect, this is just a smattering of what I can recall from the mountain of content I consumed this year. Let’s just say some creators didn’t just knock it out of the park—they redefined the game. Their work left lasting impressions and maybe, just maybe, nudged conversations around core beliefs in a new direction.

It’s got me thinking: wouldn’t it be amazing if networks and studios went a step further? Imagine if they built dedicated impact cells, where powerful, change-making stories were paired with the expertise of NGOs, local distributors, and grassroots organizations. Together, they could amplify messages that inspire shifts in thought or habit among the millions tuning in.

Because let’s be honest—content wields real power. The kind that can spark a movement, change a perspective, or start a ripple of transformation. And, wouldn’t it be even better if they invited me to head it up? Just putting it out there!

That’s all for now. Here’s to 2025—may it be better, kinder, greener, and more abundant for us all. Cheers to a year of storytelling, impact, sustainability and hope.