A new Hindi family comedy series, “Single Papa,” is set to premiere on Netflix on December 12. The first-look trailer, released on November 20, has generated excitement among audiences, showcasing Kunal Kemmu in the lead role as Gaurav, a recently divorced man-child navigating the challenges of unconventional parenthood. In a surprising twist, Gaurav discovers a baby in the backseat of his car and decides to adopt the child, leaving his family both bewildered and concerned about his newfound responsibilities.
The show is anticipated to blend the humor of American sitcoms like “Modern Family” with the heartfelt chaos of Adam Sandler’s “Big Daddy.” Gaurav is depicted as someone still reliant on his mother for essentials and dependent on pocket money from his father, which sets the stage for his transformation into a capable father. The series promises to deliver a mix of comedy, chaos, and sentiment familiar to Indian family dynamics.
In the music realm, Spotify Wrapped has made its annual return, delighting users with personalized summaries of their listening habits for the year. The platform has introduced a new feature that calculates users’ “listening age,” determined by the decades of music they enjoy most. To promote the initiative in India, Spotify enlisted stars like Emraan Hashmi and Raghav Juyal for the Hindi version, while veteran Tamil actor R. Sarathkumar appeared in the Tamil version, humorously blending nostalgia with contemporary trends. Sarathkumar reprised his revered role from the 1994 film “Nattamai” while encouraging younger listeners to delve into traditional folk music. However, in a comedic twist, his Spotify Wrapped revealed his most-streamed track was from a recent film, illustrating the vast appeal of modern music.
Adding to the literary scene, “The Eleventh Hour: A Quintet of Stories” has been released, marking a significant return for renowned novelist Salman Rushdie. Published on November 4, this collection is the first fiction he has penned since the traumatic stabbing incident in 2022 that left him partially blind. The stories deviate from Rushdie’s renowned magical realism, instead taking on a darker tone and delving into profound themes of mortality, age, and memory. One standout story, “The Musician of Kahani,” tells the tale of a gifted pianist from Mumbai who wields her talent to navigate the complexities of wealth and familial challenges, echoing elements that fans might recognize from Rushdie’s Booker Prize-winning work, “Midnight’s Children.”
This blend of new cultural offerings—from comedy to music to literature—showcases the dynamic landscape of entertainment, reflecting both traditional roots and modern influences that resonate with a diverse audience.