Kerala Lit Fest To Feature Global Icons, Nobel Laureates, Literary Brilliance

KOZHIKODE, (ANI)– The eighth Kerala Literature Festival to be held from January 23 to 26 on the beaches of Kozhikode, will feature over 500 speakers from 15 countries and an expected audience of more than 600,000. It is organized by the DC Kizhakemuri Foundation and co-promoted by DC Books.

Indian stalwarts like historian Ramachandra Guha, actor Naseeruddin Shah, violin maestro L. Subramaniam, and authors such as Ira Mukhoty and Amit Chaudhuri will discuss a range of topics from history to contemporary fiction. International voices like Norwegian novelist Helga Flatland and New Zealand’s Catherine Chidgey will add global perspectives.

Key highlights include six Booker Prize winners—Jenny Erpenbeck, Paul Lynch, Michael Hofmann, GauZ’, Sophie Mackintosh, and Georgi Gospodinov—participating for the first time. Nobel laureates Dr. Venki Ramakrishnan and Esther Duflo will also offer their insights, further elevating the event’s global stature.

France, the guest nation, will showcase its literary and cultural heritage through renowned figures such as Philippe Claudel, Pierre Singaravelou, and Johanna Gustawsson.

Performances by Ustad Waseem Ahmed Khan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Ustad Mukhtiyar Ali will blend literature and music in a celebration of creativity.

KLF 2025 will also announce its prestigious Book of the Year Awards, with shortlisted works in fiction and non-fiction including The Day the Earth Bloomed by Manoj Kuroor and Dalithan: An Autobiography by KK Kochu.

“KLF 2025 is a celebration of diversity and dialogue,” said Ravi DeeCee, Chief Facilitator, emphasizing its mission to foster boundary-transcending conversations and the universal power of storytelling.