Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair awarded at Mumbai LitFest

Malayalam author, scriptwriter and film director, M T Vasudevan Nair was awarded the Landmark Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award, while the first Tata Literature Live! Poet Laureate Award went to prolific poet, Joy Goswami, who writes in Bengali.
The awards were given away at the fifth edition of Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest that kicked off here today with a guest list of internationally renowned writers and performances from all over the world.
Announcing the award Mukund Rajan, Member of Group Executive Council and brand custodian, Tata Sons said, "In light of his literary accomplishments, Vasudevan Nair was a natural choice for this year's Landmark Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award. Nair's outstanding contribution to the Indian literary scene is unquestionable."

At the festival veteran poet and lyricist Gulzar unveiled a new bilingual collection of poems, which celebrates his innate connection with nature.
Titled "Green Poems" the launch of the poetry tome was one of the highlights of the fifth edition of Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, which kicked off here today.
Gulzar engagaged in a jugalbandi with Pavan K Varma, a retired diplomat who translated "Green Poems" into English.

The dialogue opened with Gulzar narrating excerpts from his book in Hindi. He gave vivid descriptions about the clouds, forests and his love for rivers, followed by crisp translations in English.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Carwyn Jones, the first Minister of Wales, Anil Dharkar, founder and festival director and Khushroo Suntook, Chairman, NCPA, one of the festival venues.
This year the festival is commemorating the birth centenary of Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas.
"Five years since its inception, Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai LitFest, our city's truly international literary festival, has become an intrinsic part of its cultural scene. In fact, it has now become an important national event for writers, readers, publishers and others who belong to the wonderful world of books," Dharker said.
Two Booker Prize winners, Ben Okri and Anne Enright, along with this year's Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry, Vijay Seshadri are in the line up of the festival. US-based author, Akhil Sharma, whose book, "Family Life", has received rave reviews, is expected to share his experience.

Over 120 writers, thinkers and performers from countries as diverse as England, US, Germany, Italy, Israel and Ireland are lined up to participate.
One of the highlights of this year is a curated international performance "Katha Gayan," which weaves together some of the coutnry's oldest folk recitation traditions.