From Udhayanidhi Stalin to Benyamin: A powerhouse of speakers set to grace MBIFL’25 stage

The Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2025 (MBIFL’25), which promises four days of engaging conversations with over 400 speakers, is set to run from February 6 to 9 at Kanakakunnu Palace. The festival will showcase stimulating discussions on politics, literature, history, cinema, and contemporary issues.

Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin will provide his reflections on India from a Southern perspective.

Meanwhile, veteran politician and author Mani Shankar Aiyar will share insights from his autobiography Memoirs of A Maverick in a conversation with Shashi Tharoor, MP, writer, and former diplomat. Similarly, Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi, a key figure in the Kargil War, will speak about his memoir Who Dares Wins: A Soldier’s Memoir, offering a personal account of his experiences.

Political leaders from Kerala, including Ministers P Rajeev, MB Rajesh, and KN Balagopal, will discuss the shift from being protesters against a government to running a new government. Kerala Tourism Minister Muhammad Riyas will explore the rising importance of experience tourism.

Environmental concerns

Environmental concerns, such as rampant landslides, will be discussed by Minister K Rajan, seismologist Dr Kusala Rajendran, and renowned Asha worker Shaija Baby. The discussion will focus on Kerala’s susceptibility to such events and the challenges posed by climate change.

Cultural discussions

Indian actor-dancers Vineeth and Lakshmi Gopalaswamy will speak on dancer-turned-actors and actor-turned-dancers. They will discuss both art forms—dance and cinema.

TD Ramakrishnan, Subash Chandran, and Benyamin, along with CV Balakrishnan, film producer Abraham Mathew, and writer K Rekha, will discuss the craft of short story writing. Their discussion will delve into writers creating characters and characters bringing fame to writers. Literary enthusiasts will have the opportunity to delve into character creation with the authors.

Emerging trends in novel writing will be covered by Susmesh Chandroth, Sheela Tomy, and Lt. Col. Dr. Sonia Cherian.

Focus on Kerala’s Elephants

Among other discussions, the festival will feature a session on the condition of elephants in Kerala, with insights from Prof. MA Parameswaran, KS Venkitachalam, and KP Narayanan.

More about the event

MBIFL’25 will be inaugurated by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and will conclude with a ceremony presided over by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This vibrant festival promises to be a dynamic platform for intellectual exchange and cultural dialogue.

To register and find out more, visit MBIFL website.