Hyderabad: The “Pan-India” films concept as a big scam described the Bollywood filmmaker Kashyap in the Chaya Literature Festival at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University on Saturday. Anurag said that big-budget films undermine the spirit of cinema and pose a threat to the survival of small-budget films. He observed that good films were emerging from Tamil cinema in South India. He also stressed that literature plays a vital role in human life.
Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani, Vice-Chancellor of BRAOU, said that the Chaya Literature Festival was being organised at the University as part of an effort to build a bridge between Telugu literature and other Indian and international literary traditions.
At the festival, actress Rohini, noted Tamil poet and former DMK MP Salma, Mrunalini and Kashmiri poet Nighat Sahiba spoke on the topic, “Why is Literature that Challenges Society Essential?” American writer Peter Constantine and poet Yakub shared their views on “Poetry, Globalisation and Alienation”. Noted Tamil writer Jeyamohan, Kannada writer Vivek Shanbhag, MLC Gorati Venkanna, senior journalist Pasham Yadagiri and several other literary personalities participated in the sessions.
As part of the two-day festival, six books, including Amaranandame Prema, Edu Gajala Koka, Ooru Bhangam, Amma Nannaku, Neeli Needalu and Kalalu Kanna Pillalu, were released on the first day.
The book exhibition and flea market organised at the festival were among the major attractions. Musical performances by playback singers Sai Charan Bhaskaruni and Harini captivated the audience.
Several speakers representing Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Kannada, Urdu, Bengali, English and other languages participated in the festival. The discussions conveyed the message that literature keeps humanity alive. Various sessions also discussed the relationship between music and literature, dialects in literature, Telugu literary movements, stories set against the backdrop of urban life, satire and protest. Writers and speakers from different languages and literary fields shared their views and experiences.
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Dr. K. Srinivas, Director, Chaya Literature Festival and senior journalist said More than 50 stalls were set up at the Chaya Literature Festival. The main objective of the festival was to encourage literary discussions and exchange of ideas among writers, poets, scholars and readers belonging to different languages.
The literary festival also provided an opportunity to understand diverse literary traditions and strengthen cultural ties across languages and regions. Arunank Chaya organisers said that bringing writers and eminent literary personalities from different parts of the country and abroad onto a common platform would help establish Telangana as an important centre for national and international literary discussions.
BRAOU/PR/141/2026
