A star studded celebration of culture, literature and legacy

The 12th Metaphor Lucknow Literature Festival continued its tradition of celebrating cultural and literary legacy. With the theme ‘Make the Stories Come Alive’, the festival was dedicated to the late Prof Raj Bisaria, the revered mentor known as the ‘Father of modern theatre’. The event began with a ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by blessings from the legendary flautist, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Day 1 featured renowned speakers like Vidya Bindu Singh, Yatindra Mishra, Surya Prakash Dixit, and Shobha Bajpai, who explored the cultural and linguistic significance of Awadhi.

The festival also saw actor Faizal Malik share his journey through the film industry. Later, Pankaj Bhadouria, India’s first MasterChef, and Manzilat Fatima, a descendant of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, discussed the rich culinary heritage of Awadh, emphasizing its literary and cultural influence.

The day concluded with a fascinating talk on mythology by Anand Neelakantan and Koral Das Gupta whose discussion underscored the importance of interpreting mythology in contemporary times.

The evening was further enriched by Imtiaz Ali who delved into the power of cinema in reflecting and shaping the identity of the nation. The second day began with a captivating storytelling session, followed by a book discussion and launch event. Sudhir Mishra, the celebrated director of Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi discussed the evolution of Indian cinema. Prakash Jha spoke on the role of political themes in Indian cinema, shedding light on how films can influence social change.

Actresses and writers Sadiya Siddiqui and Sandhya Mridul also read from their books on poetry and more.
The festival concluded on a magical note with a breathtaking kathak performance by Shivani Varma. Kanak Rekha Chauhan, co-director of the festival shared, “Each year, we eagerly await this event as a celebration of literature, culture, and heritage : a tribute to our enduring cultural legacy.”
— Amina Ashraf