Kolkata Literary Meet (Kalam) – the city’s annual date with books and ideas, is back in its ninth edition. Browse through the schedule below, bookmark the dates and look forward to a stimulating literary weekend!

Event Schedule


  • Joanne Harris
    Mani Sankar Mukherjee

    Inauguration

    by Joanne Harris and Mani Sankar Mukherjee


  • Anit Mukherjee
    Krishnan Srinivasan
    Manoj Mohanka

    The Absent Dialogue

    Anit Mukherjee and Krishnan Srinivasan on the armed forces and government. In conversation with Manoj Mohanka


  • Raghvendra Singh
    Priyadarshinee Guha

    India's Lost Frontier

    Raghvendra Singh in conversation with Priyadarshinee Guha, on t the history of North West Frontier Province


  • Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films Matinee


  • Shashi Tharoor
    Sudeep Chakravarti
    Manu Pillai

    When The Lions Write-Colony in Indian Ink

    Shashi Tharoor and Sudeep Chakravarti in conversation with Manu Pillai


  • Damyanti Biswas
    Rituparna Roy
    Rajorshi Chakraborty

    She and her City

    Damyanti Biswas, Rituparna Roy and Rajorshi Chakraborti


  • Ann Cleeves
    Neha Hiranandani

    Murder Well Done

    Ann Cleeves on her recipe for creating a super sleuth. In conversation with Neha Hiranandani


  • Srijato
    Anuj Lugun
    Niranjan Iyengar

    Poetry Afternoon

    Srijato, Anuj Lugun and Niranjan Iyengar present their poems


  • Kunal Basu
    Jash Sen

    Sarojini's Mother

    Kunal Basu introduces his new novel, and discusses the joy of writing in two languages. In conversation with Jash Sen. Launch of Sarojini’s Mother and Endgame


  • Samanth Subramaniam
    Sabyasachi Bhattacharya
    Bibek Debroy

    JBS Haldane-A Dominant Character

    Samanth Subramanian in conversation with Sabyasachi Bhattacharya. Launch of A Dominant Character by Bibek Debroy


  • Barun Chanda
    Biswajit Ray

    Aami Aar Amaar Shohor

    Barun Chanda and Biswajit Ray in conversation 


  • Bibek Debroy
    Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri
    Madhuja Banerjee

    Neeti, Aneeti o Durneeti

    Bibek Debroy and Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri on reading and interpreting the Mahabharata. In conversation with Madhuja Banerjee  (Bangla Session)


  • Sharmistha Gooptu
    Kanchana Banerjee
    Sabarna Roy

    Dark Side of the Mind

    Sharmishtha Gooptu, Kanchana Banerjee and Sabarna Roy on how thrillers delve into the darker side. In conversation with Sukanya Das


  • Amitav Ghosh
    Manu Pillai

    2020 Vision: Reading and writing India

    Amitav Ghosh in conversation with Manu Pillai


  • Swapan Dasgupta

    Awakening Bharat Mata

    Swapan Dasgupta in conversation with Kunal Sarkar

  • 7:15 pm

    Kheyali Dastidar
    Sabyasachi Chakraborty
    Bratati Bandyopadhyay
    Anusha Viswanathan
    Rahul Dev Bose
    Don Ray
    Kaushiki Guha

    AFTERWORDS
    Pratyasha

    A play by Kheyali Dastidar featuring Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Bratati Bandyopadhyay, Anusha Viswanathan, Rahul Dev Bose, Don Ray, Kaushiki Guha and Kheyali Dastidar


  • Amita Prasad
    Priyadarshinee Guha
    Jawhar Sircar

    Pushpa Aradhana

    The fragrant journey of flowers through India’s history. Amita Prasad and Priyadarshinee Guha in conversation with Jawhar Sircar


  • Parvati Sharma
    Avik Chanda
    Jayanta Sengupta

    Jehangir to Dara Shukoh, the Magnificent Mughals

    Parvati Sharma and Avik Chanda discuss the mighty and might-have-been in Mughal history. In conversation with Jayanta Sengupta


  • Yashica Dutt
    Keshava Guha

    Coming out as Dalit

    Yashica Dutt in conversation with Keshava Guha


  • Sabyasachi Chakraborty
    Jayanta Sengupta
    Devdutt Pattanaik

    Prodosh Mittirer Prithibi

    Sabyasachi Chakraborty on being Feluda. In conversation with Jayanta Sengupta. Launch of Esho Ma Lokkhi, the maiden Bangla translation of a Devdutt Pattanaik book (Bangla Session)


  • Niranjan Iyengar
    City Poets United

    Poets United

    City poets present their poetry. Opening reading by Niranjan Iyengar


  • Priya Ramani
    Githa Hariharan
    Anuradha Kapoor
    Monideepa Banerjie

    Vision 2020-Being Woman

    Priya Ramani, Githa Hariharan and Anuradha Kapoor on the roadmap for women in a new decade. In conversation with Monideepa Banerjie


  • Sabyasachi Chakraborty
    Amarendra Chakravorty
    Biswajit Ray
    Aparajita Dasgupta

    Pawth haraabo bolei..Bhromon aar Bangla Sahitya

    Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Amarendra Chakravorty and Biswajit Ray in conversation with Aparajita Dasgupta (Bangla Session)


  • Manu Pillai
    Avik Chanda

    The Courtesan, The Mahatma and the Italian Brahmin

    Manu Pillai talks about the hidden mosaic of characters behind emperors and invaders. In conversation with Avik Chanda


  • Vaasanthi
    Ajoy Bose
    Dola Mitra

    Behenji, Amma, Didi

    Vaasanthi, Ajoy Bose and Dola Mitra on how gender and stereotypes play out for a talismanic trio of leaders. In conversation with Malavika Banerjee


  • Srijato
    Arunava Sinha

    Brikkho Anubadak/ The Oak Translator

    Srijato and Arunava Sinha in conversation


  • Suchetana Chatterjee
    Suprakash C. Roy
    Sukanya Sinha
    Somak Raychaudhuri

    Bibha Choudhury and Purnima Sinha-India’s Hidden Figures

    Suchetana Chatterjee, Suprakash C. Roy and Sukanya Sinha discuss the journeys that inspire today’s women in STEM. In conversation with Somak Raychaudhury


  • Devdutt Pattanaik

    Darshan-One Eye of Shukra, Two of Jagannath, Three of Shiva

    A presentation by Devdutt Pattanaik


  • Vinay Pathak

    AFTERWORDS
    Nothing Like Lear

    Shakespeare’s tragic king seen through the eyes of a clown. Featuring Vinay Pathak


  • Joanne Harris
    Sandip Roy

    Chocolat, Lollipops and Strawberry

    Joanne Harris discusses the many flavours of Vianne Rocher. In conversation with Sandip Roy


  • Ayushmann Khurrana
    Hitesh Kewalya
    Niranjan Iyengar

    Article 15 to Section 377-Movies Are Us

    Ayushmann Khurrana and Hitesh Kewalya on their next release together and the actor’s exciting choice of roles. In conversation with Niranjan Iyengar


  • James Crabtree
    Sandip Roy

    The Gilded Age of India

    James Crabtree on crazy rich Indians. In conversation with Sandip Roy


  • Bibek Debroy
    Rudra Chatterjee

    2020 Vision-The Economy

    Bibek Debroy makes his predictions for a new decade. Talk followed by interaction with Rudra Chatterjee


  • Vinay Pathak
    Sukanta Chaudhuri
    Anant Mahapatra
    Preti Taneja
    Debnita Chakravarti

    King Lear in 2020

    Vinay Pathak, Sukanta Chaudhuri, Anant Mahapatra, and Preti Taneja discuss Shakespeare’s tragic old king in the new millennium. In conversation with Debnita Chakravarti


  • Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films Matinee


  • Nemat Sadat
    Rachel DeWoskin
    Dan Raeburn
    Vu Tran
    Samantak Das

    Belonging Everywhere, Belonging Nowhere

    Nemat Sadat, Rachel DeWoskin, Daniel Raeburn and Vu Tran on the nationless author. In conversation with Samantak Das.


  • Anuvab Pal
    Atri Bhattacharya
    Joy Bhattacharjya

    From Droll to Lol

    From Droll to Lol: Anuvab Pal, Joy Bhattacharjya and Atri Bhattacharya on how humour has morphed in writings from Blandings to blogs. In conversation with Ramona Sen


  • Nandita Das
    Niranjan Iyengar
    Amitav Ghosh

    Manto and I

    Nandita Das discusses her journey with Saadat Hasan Manto, from reel to book. In conversation with Niranjan Iyengar. Launch of Manto & I by Amitav Ghosh


  • Sunil Gupta
    Sunetra Choudhury

    Black Warrant

    Sunil Gupta and Sunetra Choudhury on prison tales from Tihar’s death row. In conversation with Pratiti Ganatra


  • TM Krishna

    Sebastian & Sons

     TM Krishna in conversation with Arunabha Deb


  • Keshava Guha
    Sandip Roy

    Accidental Magic

    Launch and discussion on Keshava Guha’s debut novel. In conversation with Sandip Roy


  • Githa Hariharan
    Supriya Chaudhuri

    I Have Become the Tide

    Githa Hariharan in conversation with Supriya Chaudhuri


  • Pullela Gopichand
    Nalin Mehta
    Devendra Jhajharia
    Boria Majumdar

    2020 Vision India@Olympics

    Pullela Gopichand, Nalin Mehta, Devendra Jhajharia and Boria Majumdar on India’s past record and future hopes for Tokyo ’20


  • TM Krishna

    AFTERWORDS
    The TM Krishna Concert


  • Ruskin Bond
    Soumitra Ray
    Balaji Vittal

    How Green Is My Story

    Ruskin Bond and Soumitra Ray on how nature is muse and solace. In conversation with Balaji Vittal


  • Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay
    Anindya Chattopadhyay
    Aparajita Dasgupta
    Paroma Roy Chowdhury

    Hashi Khushi

    Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay. Anindya Chattopadhyay and Aparajita Dasgupta on humour in Bengali literature. In conversation with Paroma Roy Chowdhury


  • Krishnan Srinivasan
    Sugata Bose
    Hari Vasudevan

    Values in Foreign Policy

    Krishnan Srinivasan discusses his book with Sugata Bose and Hari Vasudevan


  • Amitav Ghosh
    Dipesh Chakraborty

    Warming Signals

    Climate change and us. Amitav Ghosh and Dipesh Chakrabarty in conversation


  • Sukanta Chaudhuri
    Somak Raychaudhuri

    Tagore's Universe: The World, the Earth and the Cosmos

    Sukanta Chaudhuri and Somak Raychaudhury on Tagore’s engagement with science, the arts and his times


  • Navroz K. Dubash
    Bikram Grewal
    Paroma Roy Chowdhury

    Climate Chaos

    Navroz Dubash and Bikram Grewal on India’s tryst with climate concerns. In conversation with Paroma Roy Chowdhury


  • Anupam Roy
    Angshuman Kar

    Nijer Shobde Kaaj Koro

    Anupam Roy and his new collection of poems. In conversation with Angshuman Kar. Launch of Nijer Shobe Kaaj Koro by Sankar (Bangla Session)


  • Benjamin Morgan
    Mark Williams
    Minal Pathak
    Bill Brown
    Navroz K. Dubash

    Climate In The Age Of The Anthropocene

    Benjamin Morgan, Mark Williams, Minal Pathak and Bill Brown in conversation with Navroz Dubash


  • Paul Gravett
    Dan Raeburn
    Pinaki De

    Change and the world of Comics

    Paul Gravett, Dan Raeburn and Pinaki De examine how comics see the future


  • Paro Anand
    Tanuj Solanki

    Coming of Rage

    Paro Anand and Tanuj Solanki discuss angst, growing up and eternal hope. In conversation with Pratiti Ganatra


  • Mridula Garg
    Supriya Newar

    Does A Story Choose Its Language?

    Mridula Garg on her English novel and writing in two languages. In conversation with Supriya Newar


  • Angshuman Kar
    Bratya Basu
    Shamik Ghosh

    Aami Benoy Majumdar

    Angshuman Kar discusses his new novel with Bratya Basu. In conversation with Shamik Ghosh. Launch of Aami Benoy Majumdar by Bratya Basu


  • Jaimini Bhagwati
    Jawhar Sircar

    The Men Who Made India

    Jaimini Bhagwati on leaders who shaped free India. In conversation with Jawhar Sircar


  • Jaimin Rajani
    Vineet Arora

    Bob Dylan-If Not For You

    A film on Bob Dylan by Jaimin Rajani and Vineet Arora


  • Chandril Bhattacharya

    Lila Majumdar Er Lila

    A talk by Chandril Bhattacharya


  • Ajoy Bose
    Susmit Bose
    Vu Tran
    Jaimin Rajani
    Vineet Arora
    Saugata Banerji

    Dylan to Beatles-Bards For A Generation

     Ajoy Bose, Susmit Bose, Vu Tran, Jaimin Rajani and Vineet Arora in conversation with Saugata Banerjee. Release of trailer of Ajoy Bose’s film


  • Raga Olga D’Silva
    Sandip Roy
    Nemat Sadat
    James Crabtree

    Love Out Of The Closet

    Raga D’ Silva, Sandip Roy and Nemat Sadat on coming out and coming into one’s own. In conversation with James Crabtree


  • Lopamudra Mitra

    Kobita’r Gaan

    with Lopamudra Mitra and Different Soulmates

  • 7:30 pm

    Neeraj Ghaywan

    AFTERWORDS
    The Best Hindi Films of the Decade

    Gauri Shinde and Neeraj Ghaywan discuss the trends and triumphs in cinema over the last 10 years. In conversation with Kausar Munir

  • 8:30 pm

    Neeraj Ghaywan

    AFTERWORDS

    Short Film Screening of Juice starring Shefali Shah, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan

  • 11:15 am

    Udayan Mukherjee
    Ruskin Bond
    Jash Sen

    Haunted Hills

    Udayan Mukherjee discusses his A Death In The Himalayas with mountain mystery maestro Ruskin Bond. In conversation with Jash Sen

  • 12:30 pm

    Satyarth Nayak
    Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri

    Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess

    Satyarth Nayak and Gauri Shinde discuss the rise and rise of Sridevi. In conversation with Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri


  • Ruskin Bond
    Joanne Harris

    How Do You Write Magic?

    Ruskin Bond and Joanne Harris on magic and the not-so-real in their stories. In conversation with Malavika Banerjee


  • Shubha Mudgal

    Looking For Miss Sargam

    Shubha Mudgal on her literary debut. In conversation with Arunabha Deb


  • Sanchari Mookherjee
    Anindya Chattopadhyay
    Aparajita Dasgupta

    Shotti Holeo Golpo

    Sanchari Mukherjee and Anindya Chattopadhyay on their collections of essays. In conversation with Aparajita Dasgupta


  • Hariprasad Chaurasia
    Sathya Saran
    Balaji Vittal
    Shubha Mudgal

    The Golden Breath

    Hariprasad Chaurasia and Sathya Saran discuss the maestro’s life and music. In conversation with Balaji Vittal. Launch of Breath Of Gold by Shubha Mudgal


  • Chandrahas Choudhury
    Devapriya Roy
    Samhita Chakraborty

    Love, Coffee and Chopsuey

    Chandrahas Choudhury and Devapriya Roy on eating and living the city life. In conversation with Samhita Chakraborty


  • Aruna Chakravarti
    Udayan Mukherjee
    Paroma Roy Chowdhury

    Family Matters, Families Matter

    Aruna Chakravarti and Udayan Mukherjee in conversation with Paroma Roy Chowdhury


  • Tansen Sen
    Piya Chakraborty

    The Chinese in India, the Indians in China

    Tansen Sen and Piya Chakraborty in conversation


  • Dipesh Chakraborty
    Sabyasachi Bhattacharya

    Science and the arts

    The Two Cultures, divergences and convergence. Dipesh Chakrabarty and Sabyasachi Bhattacharya in conversation.


  • Paul Gravett
    Pinaki De

    Manga Mania

    Paul Gravett and Pinaki De discuss the dominance of the Japanese comic form among youngsters across the globe.


  • Jhulan Goswami
    Swastika Mukherjee
    Joya Mitra
    Raka Dasgupta
    Sanchari Mookherjee

    Notun Dashakey Notun Asha

    Jhulan Goswami, Swastika Mukherjee, Joya Mitra and Raka Dasgupta in conversation with Sanchari Mukerjee


  • Shiv Kumar Sharma

    Kalam Finale

    Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma in concert


  • Abhijit V. Banerjee
    Udayan Mukherjee

    EPILOGUE
    Good Economics For Hard Times

    Abhijit Banerjee in conversation with Udayan Mukherjee (In Association With Juggernaut)

SPEAKERS

VENUE DETAILS

Venue 1

Son-et-Lumiere, Victoria Memorial Hall

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Venue 2

Western Quadrangle, Victoria Memorial Hall

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Venue 3

Kala Mandir

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Venue 4

Saturday Club

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Venue 5

Library Building, Victoria Memorial Hall

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