Curtains fall on Book Brahma Literature Festival

Bengaluru: The third and final day of the Book Brahma Literature Festival (BBLF) 2025 concluded on a celebratory note, with noted Malayalam writer KR Meera receiving the Book Brahma Sahitya Puraskara for her significant contribution to Malayalam literature.

"It is an honour to be selected by a prestigious jury,” she told DH. "South Indian languages are rarely recognised. English literature is often considered Indian literature over the literature of regional languages. Even after 75 years of independence, it is still rare for one language to be recognised in the land of another.”

The three-day festival drew close to 30,000 participants from across the southern states, featuring panel discussions, book readings, author meet-and-greets, and cultural performances.

Vimala Morthala, a literary magazine editor from Telangana, said, “It is one of the very first times that the Dravidian languages have come together for a literature festival. This sense of unity among languages is something special and long overdue.”

Mukhamukhi

One of the highlights this year was Mukhamukhi, a new vertical offering face-to-face conversations between readers and authors.

"We designed it for simple, direct conversations without technology like lighting or microphones,” said festival curator Satish Chapparike. “Weather conditions forced us to use some equipment, but it still turned out to be the most-loved vertical this year.”

Authors, including Jayant Kaikini, Deepa Basthi, Vivek Shanbhag, and Jogi,  interacted with readers, answering questions and discussing their craft.

Kanmani, a reader from Tamil Nadu, said, “There are fewer opportunities for us to meet authors and share our thoughts, wishes, and concerns.”

The festival’s bustling bookstall, Pusthaka, stocked with works in multiple languages, drew hundreds of buyers and casual browsers alike, adding to the literary energy of the event.