Music, movies and books have always been the mirror of our times. They catch the tastes and ways of popular culture, capture eternal human values, struggles and triumph of our life and chronicle the current issues and future concerns of humanity. Music lifts the spirit, movies entertain and provoke and books engage and enlighten. While everyone enjoys and get elevated by good music and well-made movies, it is difficult to agree on a definitively list agreeable to all or even most of us.

Here is my favourite playlist and watch list of the year gone by-

My playlist of 2018 – Hindi & English songs which were released during the year. Some of them are just fun (catchy, hummable & foot tapping), some have music that I find lasting & uplifting or lyrics that are beautiful and soul-stirring and some are included because I felt they are underrated.

• Dilbaro (razi)
• Ae watan ( razi)
• Binte dil ( padmavat)
• Ishq di baaziyaan ( surma)
• Tere naam ki (Dhadak)
• Pehli baar hai ( dhadak)
• Nazar na lag jaaye ( stree)
• Hafiz hafiz ( laila majnu)
• Darya ( manmarjiyan)
• Mere naam tu ( zero)
• Tere jaisa tu hai ( fanney khan)
• Kar har maidan fateh ( sanju)
• Wo ladki ( andhdhun)
• Thank You, Next (Ariana Grande)
• Left to cry ( Ariana Grande)
• I like it ( Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin)
• This is America (Childish Gambino)
• Taki Taki (DJ Snake, ft Selena Gomez, Cardi B, Ozuna)
• Friends ( Marshmello & Anne Marie)
• Boys (Lizzo)
• Homerton B ( Unknown T)
• Make Me Feel (Janelle Monae)
• The Middle (Zedd, Grey ft Maren Morris)
• One Kiss (Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa)
• Lost In Japan (Shawn Mendes)

Some movies released during 2018 which in my opinion, entertained, amused and made an impact.

• Andhdhun
• Badhai Ho
• Raazi
• Manto
• Tumbbad
• A Quiet Place
• Incredibles2
• First Man

My reading recommendation. The books which I found informative, inspiring & enjoyable.

• Feel Free by Zadie Smith
• Autmn & Winter by Ali Smith
• 21 lessons for the 21^st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
• The silk Roads by Peter Frankopan
• The Snowman (and other works) of Jo Nesbo
• Akbar by Shaazi Jaman
• Art Matters by Neil Gaiman
• Delhi by heart by Raza Rumi
• Beloved delhi by Saif Mahmood
• Circe by Madeline Miller
• Blindness by Saramago
• The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee
• Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson