LitArt Festival in Assam envisions creative renaissance

Several luminaries, including publishers and authors from Assam, will take part in the festival at the Royal Global University next week

Guwahati: The first edition of the Assam LitArt Festival shall take place at Royal Global University, Guwahati on February 17-18. This upcoming festival shall witness the presence and participation of nationally renowned Bollywood action director Shyam Kaushal with other veterans in literature, art, music, and filmmaking.

The event shall be inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The two-day itinerary is a melange of speaker sessions, panel discussions, workshops, book launches, art exhibits, and music and cultural shows. Several renowned authors of the region such as Mitra Phukon, Dhruba Hazarika, Rashmi Narjary, Sanjay Hazarika, and Anuradha Puzari Sharma will participate in the event. Art and craft stalls will also be set up to promote local creations. The event shall also be graced with regional luminaries like Zubeen Garg, Joi Barua, and Adil Hussian, among others.

Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, Proyashi Barua, Founder and Director of Assam LitArt Fest stated, "This is not just to popularise people getting more engaged and involved and understanding and appreciating literature, art and film making of the state and nationally. The motive is to internalize the ideas learned through cinema, poetry, and book and how it helps people to transform themselves, how does it create a ripple effect in society.”

Baruah also spoke to Business North East on the corporate collaborations. "Panel discussions will be held on how to mainstream literature, arts, and filmmaking of the region to make it more appealing globally and nationally. There will be workshops that will have facilitators who have worked with big production houses in Bollywood like Karan Singh Rathode who has worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Heera Mandi, assistant director and dialogue writer for Mary Kom and Gangubai Kathiawadi. Leading publishing houses will also come from Delhi who will also talk about how to market yourself and get it published. There will also be discussions for screen adaptations of novels to OTT platforms and film."

Actor Udayan Duwarah, who was also present at the conference, stressed that it is the first platform of its kind not only in Assam but also in India.

“Filmmaking is a craft that involves art and literature. If we mainstream the Assamese entertainment industry by promoting the literature, arts, and crafts of the state it shall surely translate to an ocean of possibilities and this shall be our cardinal endeavour", Jyotsna Neog, co-founder and joint director of Assam LitArt Fest stated ahead of the event.

ONGC is our title sponsor of the festival which is being supported by Assam Tourism, IOCL, and Oil India Limited. The theme of this maiden edition of Assam LitArt Fest is 'celebrating plurality of expressions.'

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