Curtain goes up on two-day Ahalia literary fest

A literature festival titled ALiF (Ahalia Literary Forum) 2025 began at Ahalia campus near here on Monday. Writer N.S. Madhavan inaugurated the festival. Writer T.R. Ajayan was the chief guest.

During a conversation with writer Shahina K. Rafeeq on relationship between literature and society, Mr. Madhavan said that an ‘undeclared emergency’ existed in today’s social context.

Drawing from his personal experiences, Mr. Madhavan underscored the relevance of his writings in today’s context. He explained how history could intrude even into seemingly secure spaces through unexpected avenues.

Speaking on the nature of poetry and media, writer Prabha Varma said that poetry cannot be summoned, nor it can be restrained when it arrives. According to him, poetry is an emotional approach while journalism requires a thoughtful approach.

Mr. Varma released the poetry collection of writer-actress Meera Nair.

Writers M.S. Ravikumar, Rajashree and P.R. Jayashree took part in a discussion on creative and critical literature. Mr. Ravikumar credited his reading habits for his development as a critic. Dr. Rajashree pointed out that reading is essential for critical thinking, and noted that social media is now a significant factor in shaping critical discourse.

Vijay Babu, Abhilash Pillai and Vipin Das participated in a discussion on the intersection of social media and Malayalam cinema. Mr. Babu underscored the interdependence of the two, highlighting social media’s key role in film marketing and its influence on audience reception.