Who are you?

I am a culture writer and author of Dava Shastri’s Last Day, Advika and the Hollywood Wives and The Other Lata, as well as a cofounder of Ministry of Pop Culture.

What is Free Happiness?

In Dava Shastri's Last Day, Dava and her young son are in mourning over the loss of her husband and his father. Whenever he feels down, she plays his favorite songs to lift his spirits and they both sing along. When he asks her why that helps him feel better, Dava describes it as a “little bit of free happiness.”

Music has always been my “free happiness” too: I've always turned to music for a serotonin boost. (Or to match how I feel when I'm in a more contemplative, melancholy mood). During the pandemic, I needed something more to bolster me though the long, anxious days. So I found myself collecting links to YouTube videos that I could play when I needed a little comfort or cheering up. 

And they always helped. They still do.

Why subscribe?

The world isn't becoming any shinier or easier, is it? So I thought it might be nice to share with an audience, because we could always use a few moments of joy and fun every week. If you ever need a quick hit of joy and whimsy, this newsletter hopes to provide that for you.

Also, we're all busy. We're all subscribed to a lot of newsletters. This one will be weekly—and crucially, it will be brief. 

I'll present a clip, tell you why I’m highlighting it, hopefully make you smile, and that's it. Think of it as a snack: a delicious treat that can be consumed quickly.

(On occasion, this newsletter will feature some book news and updates too.)

Can I contribute?

Of course! Subscribers are welcome to submit their own picks to be shared in future editions of the newsletter, which they will be credited for. There is also the option of sharing a brief description about your selection, and why you chose it, which I will post in the newsletter too. To submit, email them to info@kirthanaramisetti.com with the subject line, "Free Happiness submission." 

Thank you for reading, and please feel free to share if you know someone who could use some free happiness too!