Usha Uthup inaugurates 16th edition of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival

Sharing her reflections on a 55-year-long journey in music, Usha emphasised the joy of living in the moment and the timeless pleasure of reading books.

“WhatsApp and Instagram are fine, but we need to get back to books,” she urged, inspiring the younger generation to reconnect with literature.

Her rendition of the "Ganesh Vandana" and "Skyfall" from James Bond added a melodic charm to the opening ceremony, blending tradition and modernity.

She was joined by actress-folk pop singer Ila Arun on the dias during the inaugural ceremony.

Preceding Usha Uthup were Directors of AKLF, Anjum Katyal and Maina Bhagat who welcomed all to the exciting three days celebrating literature in the city of joy.

The highlight of the inauguration was a heartfelt tribute to the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who was honored for his unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema. AKLF Programming Head Neeta Sreedharan recalled Benegal’s presence at AKLF’s 2013 edition, making this homage especially significant.

Anjum Katyal, Director, AKLF said, “We look forward with great anticipation to the 16th edition of AKLF 2025 which was inaugurated today. It is heartening to see the high standards maintained by this festival, which pioneered the litfest trend in Kolkata out of the historic Oxford Bookstore. 

"Just like a good bookstore, AKLF offers something both fun and meaningful for everyone. We were blessed to inaugurate AKLF with the blessings of our Chief Guest, Usha Uthup, a true city icon.

"The very first day brought us exciting names like William Dalrymple, Ila Arun, Milind Soman, Shobhaa De and Blossom Kochhar, as well as interesting discussions around historic women trailblazers, memory and history, translation, healthfulness and more. A wonderful start to three packed days of discoveries, explorations and adda. See you at AKLF 2025!” Katyal said.

On the occasion, Maina Bhagat, Director, Oxford Bookstores and AKLF said, “The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival is more than just a literary festival; it is a celebration of the power of words to inspire, connect, and transform. Literature has the power to ignite our imaginations, foster empathy, and challenge our perspectives. It connects us across cultures, generations, and experiences, reminding us of our shared humanity."

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome back this 16th edition of Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival. This year, we have brought together a three-day festival with diverse array of voices – from acclaimed authors to thought-provoking speakers, inspirational Bollywood personalities and other renowned dignitaries.

"AKLF 2025 will explore themes on health, environment, mythology, food, history, poetry, translations to name a few. Like every year, we have a segment dedicated to children's literature festival, the Oxford Junior Literary Festival, for young book and reading enthusiasts.”