Issue XXIII, December

The Imaginary Institution of India to see works from 30 inspirational Indian artists. This exhibition is a deeply personal and vivid exploration of friendship, desire, protest and love, set against the turbulent backdrop of the time between Indira Gandhi's 1975 state of emergency and the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests. With many works never seen before in the UK, this is a must-see exhibit.

£20 tickets at the Barbican, running until Sunday 5th January 2025.

The pages of Manboobs, a riotous and intelligent memoir of Komail Ajazuddin’s journey towards self-acceptance. From a queer Pakistani in America, this is a coming-of-age book about learning how to love yourself in a world that doesn’t want you. Humorous and heartfelt in equal measure.

The Queen of My Dreams, a semi-autobiographical film by Fawzia Mirza about her experience as a queer Canadian woman of South Asian heritage. After the sudden death of her father, Azra returns to Pakistan to reconnect with her mother. This portrayal of intergenerational divides, culture clashes and the messy beauty of mother-daughter relationships is warm, funny and engaging.

Quarterlife, Devika Rege’s daring novel that explores political beliefs in a divided India. Set after the Bharat Party has come to power, we follow Naren, Amanda and Rohit, as they weather the fiery currents of a new India. With fierce intelligence and empathy, Rege reveals the roots of our most contentious ideals. A novel rich with originality and acclaim.

All We Imagine as Light, an award-winning BFI film release and poignant journey through the shimmering streets of Bombay. Three nurses – Prabha, Anu and Parvaty – navigate romantic tensions, financial hardship and a looming eviction. Payal Kapadia’s first fiction feature is cinematic magic, decked with emotional clarity and sensuality.