Bengaluru Poetry Festival Begins, Highlights Include Kishore Kumar Tribute and Gaza Narratives

Swift Summary

• The 9th edition of the Bengaluru Poetry Festival began on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha and will conclude on August 3.
• Themes included poetry’s connection to humanity and civilizational issues like Gaza.Notable sessions included:

– ‘You Are the World’: Six poets from around the globe shared work addressing issues such as Gaza, including readings by Jeet Thayil and Sri Lankan poet Shirani Rajapakse.
– ‘Love Liberates, It Doesn’t Bind’: Actress Ramya Nambessan spoke with Archana Vasudev about her creative process.
– Celebrations of ‘City Songs’, ‘Serenading in 70 mm’, and Kannada literature with Mamta Sagar’s performance from her latest work ‘Pada Sanchara’.
– A tribute session remembering Kishore Kumar before his upcoming 94th birth anniversary featured Balaji Vittal and Anirudha Bhattacharjee discussing his multifaceted legacy.

• Discussions touched upon Karnataka’s connection with Bollywood cinema, notably movies like Sholay filmed in ramanagar.

to explore more about schedules or sessions at the festival: https://bengalurupoetryfestival.org/schedule

Indian Opinion Analysis

The bengaluru Poetry Festival demonstrates India’s enduring commitment to preserving artistic traditions while using poetry as a lens to confront contemporary global crises such as Gaza. With a diverse lineup encompassing local talent alongside international voices, it fosters cross-cultural connections that emphasize themes of humanity’s shared struggles and triumphs. Sessions spotlighting Kishore Kumar’s artistry reveal a collective nostalgia for India’s cinematic legacy while shedding light on regional ties between Karnataka and Bollywood.

This festival is meaningful not only for its artistic contributions but also for its ability to provoke thought through dialog-whether addressing global injustices or celebrating emotional sparseness inherent in verse creation.By bridging performance art with observational discussions on subjects like “City Songs,” it reflects India’s strengths in intertwining cultural richness within modern socio-political contexts-a tradition central to its evolving narrative.