Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) 2025 is set to make history by hosting six Booker Prize winners at its eighth edition, establishing itself as a premier destination on the global literary calendar. The four-day cultural extravaganza, scheduled for January 23-26 in the UNESCO City of Literature, Kozhikode, promises to be a landmark event in the festival’s trajectory.
Literary luminaries Jenny Erpenbeck, Paul Lynch, Michael Hofmann, GauZ’, Sophie Mackintosh and Georgi Gospodinov will headline the festival, marking the first time such a constellation of Booker Prize recipients has gathered at a single Indian literary event. This stellar assembly will be complemented by Nobel laureates Venki Ramakrishnan and Esther Duflo, adding further intellectual gravitas to the proceedings.
France’s selection as the guest nation adds another layer of cultural richness to the festival. The French contingent includes acclaimed novelist Philippe Claudel, historian Pierre Singaravélou, and a diverse group of artists and writers who will showcase the country’s rich literary tradition. “This year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable experience,” says Ravi Deecee, KLF’s Chief Facilitator. “The presence of six Booker Prize winners alongside distinguished speakers from across the world demonstrates our commitment to fostering global dialogue through literature.”
The festival’s cultural tapestry will be further enriched by performances from Indian classical maestros, including Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ustad Waseem Ahmed Khan. Notable Indian personalities such as historian Ramachandra Guha, actor Naseeruddin Shah, and authors Ira Mukhoty and Manu S. Pillai will contribute their unique perspectives to the discourse.
With over 500 speakers from 15 countries and an expected footfall exceeding 600,000 visitors, KLF 2025 is poised to reinforce its position as Asia’s largest literature festival, creating a vibrant space for cultural exchange and intellectual discourse on the shores of the Arabian Sea.
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