The Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) 2025 kicked off in Kozhikode’s Freedom Square on 23 January 2025 with Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister of Kerala, inaugurating the four-day event that is hosting some of the most celebrated names in literature, politics, and music. France is the guest nation at the eighth edition of the literary extravaganza that concludes on 26 January.
P A Mohamed Riyas, Kerala minister for tourism, Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, minister for information technology and digital services of Tamil Nadu, Beena Philip, mayor of Kozhikode, M K Raghavan, MP, Thottathil Raveendran, MLA, and Malayalam authors M Mukundan, K R Meera, A Pradeep Kumar along with diplomats and writers attended the inauguration.
“Kerala has a huge literary culture with a lot of literature festivals happening in the state. Literature festivals have played a huge role in attracting the state’s youth to reading,” Malayalam author Benyamin told Indian Printer and Publisher.
Dan Morrison, writer of The Poisoner of Bengal, said the Kerala Literature Festival is a huge treasure trove of stories. “I am discovering many new stories,” he said.
Popular author Jerry Pinto said he was having a great time meeting and interacting with authors and readers.
K Satchidanandan, noted Malayalam poet and director of the Kerala Literature Festival, said the festival is a landmark initiative by DC Books and the DC Kizhakemuri Foundation to promote regional Malayalam literature. The eighth edition of the festival has many new introductions such as the Children’s KLF and the KLF awards, he said.
With speakers from 15 countries, including global participants representing the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Sri Lanka, the USA, Singapore, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Latvia, and Sweden, the festival promises a celebration of literary discourse, cultural exchange, and artistic expression.
“KLF has transformed tremendously over the years, from its humble beginnings to becoming Asia’s largest literature festival. Each year, we witness not only a growing number of participants but also an increasing global presence, with more countries joining us and sharing their unique literary voices. The international reach of KLF reflects the festival’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural exchanges and showcasing the diversity of thought and creativity from around the world. The enthusiasm of our attendees has continued to exceed expectations, making KLF a truly global celebration of literature and culture,” Ravi Deecee, chief facilitator, Kerala Literature Festival, had earlier said.
