Kochi, Feb 1: Curtains were drawn on the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2026 at Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds today.
The iconic event brought together a distinguished array of cultural and literary luminaries, including renowned actress Shabana Azmi, award-winning author Declan Walsh, and Sahitya Akademi laureate T. Padmanabhan as the chief guest. Among the key figures present were P.V. Chandran, Festival Chief Patron & Managing Editor of Mathrubhumi; M.V. Shreyams Kumar, Festival Chairman & Managing Director of Mathrubhumi; Rajeev Devraj, Festival Director & Editor of Mathrubhumi News; and Manoj K. Das, Festival Director & Editor of Mathrubhumi Daily & Digital. The evening was further enriched by a heartfelt message from former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, adding a unique and personal touch to the celebration.
T Padmanabhan said
“Those who govern India today should remember that Delhi is also a cremation ground. No one is permanent here. The British came and perished; the Congress came and perished. Delhi is a place of reckoning, and those in power must not forget that. History is unforgiving, and this truth will endure for a long time.”
M V Shreyams Kumar said
“The final day of MBIFL reminds us that though the event may conclude, the impact of words, ideas, and creativity will linger. May the conversations sparked here grow into actions that shape the future of literature and the world beyond.”
Day 4 of MBIFL 2026 kicked off with an insightful session, ‘Of Fire & Grace’, featuring Shabana Azmi in conversation with journalist Vishal Menon. Reflecting on her career, Azmi explained that her shift between parallel and mainstream cinema was not a strategic choice, but a natural adaptation to different cinematic languages. She shared how her debut film Ankur, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, positioned her in India’s parallel cinema movement, offering roles distinct from those in mainstream films. Azmi emphasized that each cinematic universe has its own grammar, and an actor’s task is to fully belong to it, whether in a commercial hit like Amar Akbar Anthony or a realist drama.
Another interesting session author Novoneel Chakraborty, in a session moderated by Aswati Sha Ma, discussed how fiction shapes a child’s imagination. Reflecting on his own childhood, Chakraborty shared that reading was about developing the habit rather than full comprehension. He emphasized that despite digital distractions, books still resonate when children see them at home. “Reading has always been a luxury in India, and some will always choose books over screens,” he said. He concluded by stressing the importance of reading itself, regardless of genre or author, in shaping young minds.
The session “Designed Space, Designated Life: Design as the Elemental Principle” featured car designer Ramkripa Ananthan and writer Suneeta Balakrishnan. Ananthan shared that for her, design is a way of thinking and living, not just aesthetics. Initially trained as a mechanical engineer, she was drawn to design through a combination of personal and professional influences, including her father’s textile background. A pivotal moment came during her master’s, when Toyota’s user research project revealed that design was about understanding people and systems, not just creating beautiful cars. Her career at Mahindra, where she contributed to iconic models like the Bolero and Scorpio, mirrored India’s automotive evolution.
Other major sessions on day 4 featured, Azharuddin Sreeduth, Prosenjit Datta, Vivek Venugopal, Hani Musthfa, Devina Mehra, V K Vinod Sreekumar, Martin Goodman, Pramod G Krishnan etc.
The last day concluded with a remarkable performance by famous musical band Shanka Tribe featuring singer-songwriter Neha Nair, who entertained the audience with his stunning performance.
MBIFL 2026 continues its tradition of celebrating the power of stories and ideas, fostering dialogue among writers, thinkers, and artists, and offering audiences a truly immersive literary experience.