Here's what to read, listen, eat, watch

Read: Faraaz Kazi, Author, Truly Madly Deeply

The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling: The sheer imagination and creativity of Rowling to come up with a whole new different world of muggles, witches, wizards and magic brought a new life to the fantasy genre. Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup: Swarup uses the perfect amount of sardonic humour and weaves an interesting suspense around the characters to create a page-turner that is sure to keep you on the edge till the end.. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga Written in lucid prose, this novel is deeply thought-provoking, engrossing, shocking and of course, very satirical. I enjoyed the strong symbolism used to illustrate the effects of entrapment and servitude.

Room by Emma Donoghue: Inspired by a true account, this book talks about the life of a captive mother and her son in a small room. Narrated by Jack, the five-year-old himself, this book is the child’s view of a small world that houses a great deal of imagination and love.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: ‘For you a thousand times over’ — that line still motivates me inexplicably and charges me with unadulterated emotion. The novel is a journey into the truth of the people of a country that has been ravaged by both outsiders and insiders alike.

Listen: Varun Carvalho, singer-songwriter

Yellow submarine (1966) by The Beatles: I love this song because its lyrics run deeper than what they appear to be on the surface. The Beatles are my all-time favourite band and every time I listen to this song, I discover a new layer to their music.

Another brick in the wall (1979) by Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd is a revolutionary band. The cult song not only appealed to an entire generation in the 1970s, but is also relevant today, especially in India where the education system needs an urgent overhaul.

Maria pitache by Remo Fernandes: I love this song because Remo has beautifully added Indian elements to this traditional Portuguese folk song from Daman. It has an amazing groove.

Where the streets have no name (1987) by U2: This is my favourite song by U2; it is an inspirational band because they’re a group of very conscientious musicians. Their music carries a strong social message. I think it’s amazing that they’re able to capture the buzz of society and incorporate in their music so beautifully.

I got a feeling (2009) by Black Eyed Peas: This song has amazing energy. It’s like a beautiful picture with vibrant colours. The fact that it sets an upbeat, positive mood is what I love the most about it.

Eat: Vineet Bhatia, Michelin-starred chef, Ziya

India Jones (Nariman Point): I love dim sums and Chinese food; every Indian does. My kids love the crispy corn they serve here. It’s very morish. I would definitely vouch for this place.

Mahesh Lunch Home (Fort): Both outlets of this restaurant are really good, but although the Juhu one is more accessible to me, I think the one in town is slightly better. The seafood is absolutely brilliant.

Britannia Cafe (Ballard Estate): I love old Irani places such as this one. They serve great berry pulao. I also love their irani chai, which may not be the healthiest option, but it’s a great indulgence once in a while.

Khyber (Kala Ghoda): I find myself biased towards this restaurant. I really love their maa kid dal, parathas and tawa pomfret.

Ziya (Nariman Point): This restaurant is my baby so obviously I like all the food here! But the dishes I end up eating more often than not are the lobster, grilled lamb fillet and chocolate samosas.

Watch: Mukul Dev, Actor

Sholay (1975): This is a cult film that can never be remade. The chemistry between Jai and Veeru is something to marvel at. I’ve watched it a trillion times and don’t mind watching it again.

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983): This film is so funny that watching it over and over again doesn’t ruin the fun, it only builds it up to enjoy the film better. It has amazing performances and so much to learn from.

Grease (1978): The less said about this film, the better because it’s a great subject and I can’t do it justice with words. One must see it to believe the kind of work that has gone into it.

Boogie Nights (1997): One of the best films of that period. It opened with probably the best character-introduction scenes I have ever come across. It left a smile on my face that never left for the first hour of the film. The camera work is fantastic too.

Saturday Night Fever (1977): John Travolta rocked it throughout this film. It’s the one movie that made disco music popular across the world.