Everything you need to know about ‘Unaccustomed Earth’
Jhumpa Lahiri’s acclaimed short story collection is being adapted into the eponymous Netflix series, Unaccustomed Earth, and it’s taking shape faster than ever.
Premiering this December, the drama series invites viewers into a dramatic family gathering of an entwined Indian American Bengali community residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Adapted for the screen by Madhuri Shekar, whose Netflix credits include 3 Body Problem, the culturally rich drama centres on a star-crossed, scandalous romance.
So, if that makes you curious, here’s a comprehensive rundown of everything known so far about Unaccustomed Earth.
What is the plot?
Unaccustomed Earth is an upcoming adaptation, inspired by Jhumpa Lahiri’s interconnected but stand-alone short stories, where families, friendships, and secrets take centre stage.
The series follows Parul Chaudhury, a dedicated wife and mother who returns to Cambridge after five years in Mumbai, only to stumble into Amit Mukherjee, the love she never really moved on from. So, when this chance encounter evolves into a scandalous affair, it’s safe to say new fences are built among families that have grown alongside each other.
While connecting these stories wasn’t easy, Madhuri Shekar, the showrunner, writer, and executive producer on the series, noted, “This image came to me of all of these characters from the different stories sitting around the Thanksgiving table together”.
She added of her process, “In the book, the one thing the stories have in common is that they’re all set in Cambridge, Massachusetts. So if all these people technically live in the same spot, what if they all know each other?”
Who is in the cast?
Netflix has an A-list cast breathing life into Unaccustomed Earth, with Freida Pinto as Parul Chaudhury and Siddharth as Amit Mukherjee. Indraneil Sengupta as Jai Chaudhury, Sarayu Blue as Ruma Mukherjee-Weiss, Parveen Kaur as Nina Singh, Adi Roy as Kaushik Chaudhury, Iyla Sundarsingh McKaig as Hema Mukherjee-Weiss and Justin Bartha as Adam Mukherjee-Weiss.
Jayant Kripalani as Pranab Mukherjee, Swayam Bhatia as Sudha Menon, and Palomi Ghosh as Anjali Menon round out the cast.
Is there a trailer?
Netflix has yet to release a trailer for Unaccustomed Earth. However, first-look photos have been released recently, which you can check out below.
When does Unaccustomed Earth release on Netflix?
While the buzz has been steadily building since last year, the wait officially comes to an end on December 17th. Mark your calendars and save the date because December looks like a busy month for Netflix subscribers!