Lamakaan

Hosted by Telugu Collective, this intimate literary evening features writer V. Mallikarjun discussing his latest book Oka Endakalapu Madyanam.

This is a Mani Sir’s Magic & Maestro Music – Fans Meet is a heartfelt celebration dedicated to two legends of Indian cinema born on the same unforgettable day — June 2nd — Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja. This special gathering is more than just a fan event; it is a tribute to the magic of storytelling and music that has shaped generations of audiences across languages and cultures.

For decades, Mani Ratnam’s cinema has given us unforgettable emotions, visually poetic storytelling, layered characters, and timeless moments, while Ilaiyaraaja’s music has become the soundtrack of love, heartbreak, nostalgia, longing, and life itself. Together, they created an artistic universe that continues to inspire millions even today.

This fans meet brings together cinema lovers, readers, musicians, writers, and passionate admirers to celebrate their creative legacy through engaging discussions, debates, memories, and music. One of the key highlights of the event is a unique discussion on women characters in Mani Ratnam films, presented by a male speaker, exploring the emotional depth, strength, and individuality of the women in his cinematic world. In contrast, a female speaker will discuss men characters in Mani Ratnam films, examining the vulnerability, complexity, and emotional conflicts of his male protagonists.

The event will also feature individual talks on favourite Mani Ratnam films, where participants share personal memories, emotional connections, and cinematic experiences associated with his movies. Another discussion titled “What We Love in Mani Ratnam Movies” will celebrate the elements that make his films unforgettable — the storytelling, silences, visuals, music, romance, realism, and emotional intensity.

Adding a bold and thought-provoking perspective, the session “I Hate Mani Ratnam – Reality vs His Movies” will encourage open conversations about criticism surrounding his films, exploring the contrast between cinematic beauty and real-life realities. This segment creates space for healthy debate and deeper engagement with cinema beyond fandom.

Music lovers will especially enjoy the sessions dedicated to Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. “What Makes Ilaiyaraaja Different from Other Music Directors” explores his unmatched musical genius, emotional orchestration, folk influences, background scores, and timeless melodies that continue to touch hearts across generations. Another nostalgic tribute titled “Timeless Ilaiyaraaja – Raja Raja Dhaa” celebrates songs that remain evergreen regardless of time, trend, or generation.

The event concludes with an energetic and emotional Jamming Session, where fans, singers, and musicians come together to sing, perform, and relive iconic songs and cinematic memories. It is a space filled with nostalgia, passion, and shared love for cinema and music.

On the occasion of June 2nd — the birthdays of Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja — this event stands as a celebration of art that continues to inspire, comfort, and connect people beyond generations. Join us for an unforgettable evening of conversations, music, memories, and magic dedicated to two timeless legends.

An intimate evening of storytelling, cinematic short films, mountain journeys and soulful conversations from the Himalayas.
Featuring 5 emotionally driven short films and a live storytelling session by Ritwik Bhattacharyya. This is a non-commercial independent storytelling and film screening event intended to encourage emotional connection, artistic dialogue and meaningful community interaction.

An interactive welcome session for DEEP Trust Friends & Volunteers to introduce the organization’s mission, ongoing health initiatives, community outreach programs, volunteering opportunities, and future engagement activities.

A solo Kuchipudi dance recital presenting traditional pieces with expressive storytelling, rhythm, and classical technique. The performance showcases the beauty of Kuchipudi through abhinaya and nritta.

Read A Kitaab is an unbiased community of Readers, Booklovers, writers and artists. We strive to provide the community an ecosystem with an online library, book discussions, author meet, book of the month, monthly meets, newsletters & much more...

We love kids for who we have a kids book club. Read A Kitaab is a calm & comfort space to be yourself, to discuss books and life with no bars on age/gender/ethnicity/political views etc.

Art and literature can be seen as extensions of the human mind. Very often they can reveal what lies within, sometimes visibly, and, sometimes, not quite so visibly. The movie club is (we hope) a fun way of looking deeper into the emotions, perceptions and thoughts that weave human relationships together or tear them apart. A movie may be treated as a true story or, alternatively, can be used as a tool to try and figure out what went on in the directors head when the movie was made. Either way, it’s a different way of understanding human behaviour and relationships. In the end, by looking deeper into another’s story, we hope, perchance, to understand ourselves better.

The inaugural session of the Phule Ambedkar Reading Group opens with the most fundamental question a reading group can ask: How do we read and interpret a text? Featuring Dr Jilukara Srinivas, a literary critic, poet, and Ambedkarite public intellectual, and Prof. Prof Swathi Margeret, scholar of Dalit feminism, religion and cultural studies.
Praveen Thallapalli is a scholar of the Bahujan movement and political thought. This session equips participants with tools to approach foundational Bahujan texts seriously: how to situate a text in its historical moment, how to read what is said and what is left unsaid, and what a text demands of its reader today.

In this workshop, you will:

Discover the art of Thanjavur painting and its different techniques.
Learn how to design and create your own unique painting, from POP to different textures.
Gain hands-on experience with Thanjavur painting and techniques to design your creativity.
Take home your beautiful creation, a one-of-a-kind art piece to proudly display or gift.

This is the story of a woman, a fighter.She is more than just a woman. She is stronger than she thinks she is. Listen to her joys, her plights and her fights. Witness the world of this not so ordinary woman in an ordinary ruthless world of heartless men. This is her story of fortifying her lost identity in her own words.

The Vagina Dialogues is a women-led wellness series creating honest, compassionate conversations around menstrual health, hormones, intimacy, emotional wellbeing, nervous system safety, and the mind-body connection.

This edition - BEYOND PERIODS: A Women’s Wellness & Cycle Awareness Circle is an open, guided space to explore how the menstrual cycle impacts emotions, energy, relationships, and everyday life through grounding practices, reflective conversations, and community sharing in a safe, supportive environment.

Sahityam Tho Sayantralu — A Literary Evening by Telugu Collective

Telugu Collective presents a special edition of Sahityam Tho Sayantralu, featuring authors Uma Nuthakki and Sujatha Velpuri in conversation about their book Rekka Chaatu Akasam.

The book explores the silent struggles, hidden aspirations, emotional complexities, and quiet resilience of ordinary women through deeply reflective storytelling. The discussion aims to create an engaging and thoughtful space for readers to interact with the authors and reflect on the themes presented in the book.

This is a curated 3-hour literary discussion hosted by Telugu Collective, designed for readers, literature enthusiasts, and individuals interested in contemporary Telugu writing and women-centric narratives.

The session will include:

Author conversations
Thematic discussions on the book
Reader interaction and audience Q&A
Open literary dialogue and reflections

Event Details:

Event Title: Sahityam Tho Sayantralu
Guest Speakers: Uma Nuthakki & Sujatha Velpuri
Book: Rekka Chaatu Akasam
Duration: 3 Hours
Timings : 3PM-6PM
Hosted by: Telugu Collective
Entry: Free

The event is intended to foster meaningful literary conversations and build a community space around Telugu literature and contemporary social themes.

Performing Classical Dance (Bharatnatyam)

Hosted by Telugu Collective, this intimate literary evening features writer V. Mallikarjun discussing his latest book Oka Endakalapu Madyanam.

This is a Mani Sir’s Magic & Maestro Music – Fans Meet is a heartfelt celebration dedicated to two legends of Indian cinema born on the same unforgettable day — June 2nd — Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja. This special gathering is more than just a fan event; it is a tribute to the magic of storytelling and music that has shaped generations of audiences across languages and cultures.

For decades, Mani Ratnam’s cinema has given us unforgettable emotions, visually poetic storytelling, layered characters, and timeless moments, while Ilaiyaraaja’s music has become the soundtrack of love, heartbreak, nostalgia, longing, and life itself. Together, they created an artistic universe that continues to inspire millions even today.

This fans meet brings together cinema lovers, readers, musicians, writers, and passionate admirers to celebrate their creative legacy through engaging discussions, debates, memories, and music. One of the key highlights of the event is a unique discussion on women characters in Mani Ratnam films, presented by a male speaker, exploring the emotional depth, strength, and individuality of the women in his cinematic world. In contrast, a female speaker will discuss men characters in Mani Ratnam films, examining the vulnerability, complexity, and emotional conflicts of his male protagonists.

The event will also feature individual talks on favourite Mani Ratnam films, where participants share personal memories, emotional connections, and cinematic experiences associated with his movies. Another discussion titled “What We Love in Mani Ratnam Movies” will celebrate the elements that make his films unforgettable — the storytelling, silences, visuals, music, romance, realism, and emotional intensity.

Adding a bold and thought-provoking perspective, the session “I Hate Mani Ratnam – Reality vs His Movies” will encourage open conversations about criticism surrounding his films, exploring the contrast between cinematic beauty and real-life realities. This segment creates space for healthy debate and deeper engagement with cinema beyond fandom.

Music lovers will especially enjoy the sessions dedicated to Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. “What Makes Ilaiyaraaja Different from Other Music Directors” explores his unmatched musical genius, emotional orchestration, folk influences, background scores, and timeless melodies that continue to touch hearts across generations. Another nostalgic tribute titled “Timeless Ilaiyaraaja – Raja Raja Dhaa” celebrates songs that remain evergreen regardless of time, trend, or generation.

The event concludes with an energetic and emotional Jamming Session, where fans, singers, and musicians come together to sing, perform, and relive iconic songs and cinematic memories. It is a space filled with nostalgia, passion, and shared love for cinema and music.

On the occasion of June 2nd — the birthdays of Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja — this event stands as a celebration of art that continues to inspire, comfort, and connect people beyond generations. Join us for an unforgettable evening of conversations, music, memories, and magic dedicated to two timeless legends.

An intimate evening of storytelling, cinematic short films, mountain journeys and soulful conversations from the Himalayas.
Featuring 5 emotionally driven short films and a live storytelling session by Ritwik Bhattacharyya. This is a non-commercial independent storytelling and film screening event intended to encourage emotional connection, artistic dialogue and meaningful community interaction.

An interactive welcome session for DEEP Trust Friends & Volunteers to introduce the organization’s mission, ongoing health initiatives, community outreach programs, volunteering opportunities, and future engagement activities.

A solo Kuchipudi dance recital presenting traditional pieces with expressive storytelling, rhythm, and classical technique. The performance showcases the beauty of Kuchipudi through abhinaya and nritta.

Read A Kitaab is an unbiased community of Readers, Booklovers, writers and artists. We strive to provide the community an ecosystem with an online library, book discussions, author meet, book of the month, monthly meets, newsletters & much more...

We love kids for who we have a kids book club. Read A Kitaab is a calm & comfort space to be yourself, to discuss books and life with no bars on age/gender/ethnicity/political views etc.

Art and literature can be seen as extensions of the human mind. Very often they can reveal what lies within, sometimes visibly, and, sometimes, not quite so visibly. The movie club is (we hope) a fun way of looking deeper into the emotions, perceptions and thoughts that weave human relationships together or tear them apart. A movie may be treated as a true story or, alternatively, can be used as a tool to try and figure out what went on in the directors head when the movie was made. Either way, it’s a different way of understanding human behaviour and relationships. In the end, by looking deeper into another’s story, we hope, perchance, to understand ourselves better.

The inaugural session of the Phule Ambedkar Reading Group opens with the most fundamental question a reading group can ask: How do we read and interpret a text? Featuring Dr Jilukara Srinivas, a literary critic, poet, and Ambedkarite public intellectual, and Prof. Prof Swathi Margeret, scholar of Dalit feminism, religion and cultural studies.
Praveen Thallapalli is a scholar of the Bahujan movement and political thought. This session equips participants with tools to approach foundational Bahujan texts seriously: how to situate a text in its historical moment, how to read what is said and what is left unsaid, and what a text demands of its reader today.

In this workshop, you will:

Discover the art of Thanjavur painting and its different techniques.
Learn how to design and create your own unique painting, from POP to different textures.
Gain hands-on experience with Thanjavur painting and techniques to design your creativity.
Take home your beautiful creation, a one-of-a-kind art piece to proudly display or gift.

This is the story of a woman, a fighter.She is more than just a woman. She is stronger than she thinks she is. Listen to her joys, her plights and her fights. Witness the world of this not so ordinary woman in an ordinary ruthless world of heartless men. This is her story of fortifying her lost identity in her own words.

The Vagina Dialogues is a women-led wellness series creating honest, compassionate conversations around menstrual health, hormones, intimacy, emotional wellbeing, nervous system safety, and the mind-body connection.

This edition - BEYOND PERIODS: A Women’s Wellness & Cycle Awareness Circle is an open, guided space to explore how the menstrual cycle impacts emotions, energy, relationships, and everyday life through grounding practices, reflective conversations, and community sharing in a safe, supportive environment.

Sahityam Tho Sayantralu — A Literary Evening by Telugu Collective

Telugu Collective presents a special edition of Sahityam Tho Sayantralu, featuring authors Uma Nuthakki and Sujatha Velpuri in conversation about their book Rekka Chaatu Akasam.

The book explores the silent struggles, hidden aspirations, emotional complexities, and quiet resilience of ordinary women through deeply reflective storytelling. The discussion aims to create an engaging and thoughtful space for readers to interact with the authors and reflect on the themes presented in the book.

This is a curated 3-hour literary discussion hosted by Telugu Collective, designed for readers, literature enthusiasts, and individuals interested in contemporary Telugu writing and women-centric narratives.

The session will include:

Author conversations
Thematic discussions on the book
Reader interaction and audience Q&A
Open literary dialogue and reflections

Event Details:

Event Title: Sahityam Tho Sayantralu
Guest Speakers: Uma Nuthakki & Sujatha Velpuri
Book: Rekka Chaatu Akasam
Duration: 3 Hours
Timings : 3PM-6PM
Hosted by: Telugu Collective
Entry: Free

The event is intended to foster meaningful literary conversations and build a community space around Telugu literature and contemporary social themes.