The 16th edition of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) was inaugurated with a heartfelt tribute to the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who was honoured for his unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema. AKLF Programming head Neeta Sreedharan recalled Benegal’s presence at AKLF’s 2013 edition, making this homage especially significant.
The opening day of the event featured prominent figures like William Dalrymple, Ila Arun, Milind Soman, Shobhaa De, and Blossom Kochhar. It also hosted engaging discussions on topics such as historic women pioneers, memory and history, translation, and wellness.
The other highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the rendition of "Ganesh Vandana" and "Skyfall" by legendary singer Usha Uthup. Through her melodic performance, which blended tradition with modernity, the 77-year-old singer inspired the younger generation to reconnect with literature.
“WhatsApp and Instagram are fine, but we need to get back to books,” Uthup urged.
The AKLF is scheduled to take place from January 10 to 12, with events spanning multiple locations in the city. The primary venue will be Allen Park on Park Street, with additional sessions of Poetry Cafe hosted at Alliance Francaise du Bengale and Oxford Junior Literary Festival (OJLF) at the Oxford Bookstore.
The AKLF, Kolkata’s inaugural literary festival and the only one in India established by a bookstore is an embodiment of the City of Joy’s vibrant intellectual spirit and profound connection to global literature. Celebrated for showcasing books, music, art, film, and more, the festival unites distinguished creative minds from across India and around the globe.
“It is heartening to see the high standards maintained by this festival, which pioneered the lit-fest trend in Kolkata out of the historic Oxford Bookstore,” Anjum Katyal, one of the directors of AKLF said.
Maina Bhagat, the other director of AKLF who also served as director of Oxford Bookstores said, “Literature has the power to ignite our imaginations, foster empathy, and challenge our perspectives. The AKLF connects us across cultures, generations, and experiences, reminding us of our shared humanity.”