Around the Story Tree: Folk Tales
An up close and ever-evolving interaction between the storyteller and his audience, as they craft together both story and theatre.
Reports
Archives
Paro to Priya: Namita Gokhale in conversation with Mita Kapur
Namita Gokhale reviews her journey from a controversial first novel to her Kitabnama days with Doordarshan, and attributes the darkness in the Book of Shadows to a particularly difficult time in her personal life. Comfortable navigating the psychic and the mythic, Gokhale inspires on a range of topics in conversation with Mita Kapur.
We, the Children of India: Revisiting the Constitution of India with Leila Seth
Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh, Leila Seth, proved children can engage with "heavy" issues likes liberty, ethics, innovation, and justice. That is, if we dare to give them a chance.
India: Crouching Tiger or Gasping Elephant?
By Melanie P. Kumar
Swapan Dasgupta, the Moderator, inaugurates the session by asking whether a literary person has framed the title. Has anyone ever observed the phenomenon of a “gasping elephant?”
One of the panelists, Dr. R. Vaidyanathan suggests the …
Cinemascope-Screen to Script
Navigate and learn about the process of transforming prose into picture. Should writers pitch to the box office from the onset of the crafting a novel? And where the money really is - Tisca Chopra steers writers toward International TV Series with successes like Game of Thrones and Homeland.
Keeping it Brief — the Art of Writing Short Stories
What differentiates a short story from a novel? Why isn't there more commercialization of short stories by publishing houses in the wake of concept fiction and shortening attention spans? A discussion on the peculiarities and enigmas around short stories.
Karadi Tales
A highly interactive session where you're invited to shop for that perfect tail and must match it to the correct character later.
Whose Language is it Anyway?
Panelists speak passionately about the need to preserve and propagate regional languages. Speaking from experience as a civil servant, Ashok Vajpeyi points out the realistic hurdles of imposing Hindi as the official administrative language of India.
ISIS – Global Terror at India’s Doorstep
The panelists implored us to seek a more nuanced understanding of the causes that lead youth toward organizations like ISIS. Despite facing injustice and oppression, why is it that only a minority take up arms? Why do the majority not participate? How can India resolve the root of separatist insurgencies and begin living as a pluralistic collective?
Sita-Shadow and Substance
Submissive dame or silent subversive? Panelists and the audience navigate the many colours of and complications with Sita. In the end, it's up to the audience to determine whether she is relevant to today's modern woman.
Queen of Hearts: Rani Mukerji in conversation with Bhawana Somaaya
Rani Mukerji discusses Mardaani, marriage, the evolving aspirations of women, and standing up for yourself.
Getting Down to Business- Can India Change its Mindset?
Panelists assess Modi's re-branding of India from elephant to lion, consider whether jugaad is mis- or well-understood, and dethrone FDI.
Does India neglect its eight sisters?
Imploring the audience to disentangle stereotypes and misconceptions about the Northeast, panelists invite more Indians to visit, discover, and embrace the people of the region with the intention of richer understanding.
Samvaada: Chandrashekhara Kambara in conversation with C. Naganna
Discourse on whether contemporary folklore can even exist, how folklore dies with the emergence of modern education, the creativity young blood inspires, and more candid and thought-provoking insights from Gnanapeetha Award winning Kannada poet Dr. Chandrashekhara Kambara.
Minority Report
A lively session with astute observations from the audience, impassioned arguments from the panel, and perhaps a few suggestions for a more hopeful future.
From Full-wives to Half-Girlfriend – the women in Chetan Bhagat’s novels
From the specific brand of Indian Feminism to the half-girlfriend, the TOI and Deepika Padukone dilemma, his wife, critics, taste in women, and Bollywood, Chetan Bhagat bears all to his one and only editor, Shinie Anthony, and admits he's a damn good marketer if not a "brilliant" author.
Calling All Teens and Tweens – Children & Young Adult Fiction
Authors focusing on Young Adults open up about the creative process, emphasize the importance of illustrations, and discuss the challenges that come with navigating difficult societal issues in appropriate language.
Books that go bump in the night! On horror-writing
The difference between horror and suspense (if there is one!), creating atmosphere, and that chill down your spine when you realize you can actually relate to your favorite horror flick's grotesque protagonist...
Inauguration + Shraddhanjali: Remembering U R Ananthamurthy
The 2014 BLF was inaugurated with a Kamsale invocation to Mahadeva. Highlights of the conversations include explaining what makes the BLF unique and lauding it for drawing attention to the Northeastern states. The inauguration concluded with a Shraddhanjali in the form of a documentary about U.R. Ananthamurthy.