Uniting over 40 thought-provoking speakers, the much-awaited Ooty Literary Festival (OLF) 2025 returns on March 14-15, 2025, at the iconic Nilgiri Library. Based on the theme "Where Stories Kindle the Mind," the festival this time takes the audience on a voyage to Listen, Immerse, Discover, and Evolve, presenting a motivating celebration of ideas, culture, and narratives. With a stellar lineup of celebrated speakers and thoughtfully selected panels, OLF 2025 will deliver engaging conversations on film, politics, AI & tech, poetry, sports, and history to a vibrant audience.
Among these illustrious speakers are critically acclaimed film director Mani Ratnam, journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, cricketing legend Srikkanth Krishnamachari, Carnatic maestro TM Krishna, and industrialist Venu Srinivasan, among others. As a literary fan, a politics buff, or just anyone who looks up to art as inspiration, the festival guarantees to be an engaging and interactive one.
"At a time when ephemeral digital content is everywhere, OLF 2025 promotes storytelling that endures," said [Organiser's Name], [Festival Director]. "We are excited to host some of the most brilliant thinkers from literature, journalism, history, and the arts, providing audiences with a platform to connect with transformative ideas."
Respecting India's multilingual heritage, OLF 2025 will include interactions in Tamil and English. One of the main attractions will be the Lifetime Achievement Award being given to Dr. Ganesh Devy, initiator of the People's Linguistic Survey of India, a renowned linguist and scholar who has worked towards the preservation of India's 780 languages.
The festival will commence with a performance of Badaga dance and tree-planting ceremony by Dr. Devy, marking the pledge towards sustainability and cultural heritage.
Day 1 of OLF 2025 will commence with Dr. Ganesh Devy's keynote address, Who Is an Indian?, urging people to sit back and listen to him discussing how the nation is evolving through its languages and histories.
Followed by a high-stakes debate on India's defence planning and changing war environment with military strategies experts Dr. Srinath Raghavan, Air Vice-Marshal Arjun Subramaniam (Retd.), and Rear-Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande (Retd.), moderated by Colonel Ajai Shukla (Retd.), providing for a chance to learn about India's security mechanism.
Political fans can find themselves swept up in a compelling discussion of the outcome of the 2024 elections, as Rajdeep Sardesai and Sreenivasan Jain dissect the surprising changes in Indian politics and 2024 election results. While first-time writers Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari and Smriti Ravindra, in an interview with Jerry Pinto, will discuss their experience of writing their first books and what they learnt in the process, motivating the first-time writers taking their first steps.
The Poetry Corner will offer a cosy setting where Michael Creighton, Dion D'Souza, Akhil Katyal, and Sukirtharani present the power of poetry—a genre that provokes self-reflection and challenges one's assumptions.
Over the course of the evening, the role of the revolution of Bhakti will be traced by S. Anand through its profound cultural and philosophical resonance. This will be followed by a film tribute to Zakir Hussain with the screening of The Speaking Hand and a discussion of the mythic tabla maestro's singular contributions to Indian music and culture and its impact internationally.
Day 2 will be just as thrilling as the first day with a special session with Mani Ratnam, where the iconic director will lead people on a journey to immerse themselves within the craft of storytelling, offering glimpses into his influences and how his films have influenced cultural conversations.
The discussion will then move towards the future, as Rajdeep Sardesai, Sreenivasan Jain, Neerja Chowdhury, and Chandan Gowda discuss India's political and economic path until 2047, challenging viewers to find out what forces are writing the country's next chapter.
In a session that examines the balance between human intelligence and machine learning, experts R. Gopalakrishnan, Jaspreet Bindra, Rama Bijapurkar, and Shalini Kapoor will discuss AI's evolving role in business, governance, and creativity, pushing attendees to evolve their understanding of intelligence in a rapidly changing world.
While cricket buffs will be taken through Krish Srikkanth's take on India's historical 1983 World Cup triumph, behind-the-scenes moments, game-changing strategies, and leadership lessons applicable beyond the sport. Meanwhile, the discussion between Deepa Malik, Paralympics medallist, and Soni Sangwan will provide a penetrating insight into the life journey of Deepa with resilience, self-discovery, and victory.
The festival will close with TM Krishna's session, An Equal Music, a discovery of music's ability to break barriers and stimulate social change and its connections to challenging traditional hierarchies and encouraging audiences to listen more intently and evolve their perceptions of art and equality.
In addition to literature, OLF 2025 provides experiential cultural and wellness opportunities. Participants can immerse themselves in an Iyengar Yoga workshop conducted by Rashmi and Jehangir Palkhivala to improve alignment, balance, and well-being. A thought-provoking discussion on gender, disability, and mental health with Neha Bhat, Sonali Gupta, Shreevatsa Nevatia, and Debashis Paul will discuss how individual stories influence identity and resilience.
A special Bhakti music session by TM Krishna will take audiences on a journey to explore a rare collaboration with Irula tribal musicians, fusing ancient and modern sounds in a boundary-pushing experience.
With over 40 great speakers, gripping conversations on film, politics, AI, sports, and history, inspiring performances, and life-changing wellness sessions, OLF 2025 is not just a literary festival—it is a dynamic celebration of stories, ideas, and culture.
Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this unique experience—book your seat today! For the complete schedule and ticket information, visit the official website.
