Mathrubhumi Int’l Festival of Letters 2026: Array of possibilities & creative inspiration 

Curtains were drawn on the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters  2026 at Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds on Sunday.  

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.