The second edition of the International Literature Festival of Kerala (ILFK), hosted by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, will begin on Sunday (August 17, 2025) on the akademi premises. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event at 10 a.m., with Culture Minister Saji Cherian presiding.
During the ceremony, the akademi auditorium will be officially renamed ‘Kerala Sahitya Akademi M.T. Auditorium’ in honour of writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair. Akademi president K. Satchidanandan will present the festival’s thematic overview.
Ministers K. Rajan, R. Bindu, MLA P. Balachandran, Thrissur Corporation Mayor M.K. Varghese, district panchayat president V.S. Prince, and District Collector Arjun Pandian will convey felicitations. The event will be preceded by a ceremonial flag-hoisting by writer Vaishakhan. Distinguished personalities from the socio-cultural sphere will attend.
The five-day literary fiesta will feature discussions, lectures, author interactions, children’s literary sessions, cultural performances, and plays across three venues, with over 70 sessions planned.
International panel
The international panel includes Palestinian poet-journalist Asma Azaizeh, Tibetan poet-activist Tenzin Tsundue, and Nepali poets Bhuwan Thapaliya and Amar Akash. Highlights of the evenings include an M.S. Baburaj musical tribute by Jayaraj Warrier, the play Poratt by Thrissur Panchami Theatres, dance performances by Thiruvananthapuram Guru Gopinath Natanagramam, and a traditional Marathukali performance by Rajeevan Panikkar Koyonkara and team.
A special literary photography exhibition based on M.T.’s novels Manju and Naalukettu, curated by Manoj D. Vaikom at Thrissur Fine Arts College, will also be on display.
Akademi library
The festival will conclude on August 21 with Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal delivering the valedictory address, chaired by Mr. Pandian. The akademi library will be named ‘Lalithambika Antharjanam Memorial Library’ during the closing ceremony, followed by a keynote address by quiz master and orator G.S. Pradeep.
Delegate registration will close on Saturday. Participants can register in person at the ILFK office in the akademi or online via https://ilfk.keralasahityaakademi.org/. The fee is ₹500 for the public and ₹250 for students and persons with disabilities.
Published – August 14, 2025 08:11 pm IST
