Women filmmakers, forgotten histories and cultural legacies take centre stage on Day 2 of Hyderabad Literary Festival 2026

The exchange of ideas gathered momentum on the second day of the Hyderabad Literary Festival 2026 on Sunday with conversations spanning cinema, history, body art and cultural heritage, before culminating in a multilingual theatrical performance.

The day began with a panel discussion titled ‘Reversing The Lens: Women Making Cinema’ featuring filmmakers Tanuja Chandra and Paromita Vohra in conversation with journalist and film critic Sangeetha Devi Dundoo. The discussion examined gender representation within the film industry and the need for structural change behind the camera.

Speaking during the session, Ms.Chandra said women should comprise at least 50% of the workforce in filmmaking. Reflecting on her early years in the industry, she recalled that film sets were largely male-dominated and lacked even basic facilities for women, like proper bathrooms. “But today, you feel that your idea will be heard,” she said.

Ms.Vohra underlined the importance of equality in artistic spaces, observing that creative environments require greater sensitivity and playfulness. “Art needs tenderness and a sense of fun, which sometimes comes from moving away from rigid notions of masculinity,” she added.

Another session, ‘Marg Presents Indian Tattoos: Only Skin Deep?’, featured Mo Naga and Shatabdi Chakrabarti in conversation with cultural theorist and art critic Nancy Adajania. The discussion traced the history of tattooing in India, noting that the practice dates back nearly 10,000 years. Speakers highlighted that while tattooing has, over the past decade, become associated with urban lifestyles, it is neither a Western import nor a recent cultural phenomenon in the country.

Authors Afsar Mohammed and Zeenath Khan discussing ‘Hyderabad, September 1948’ with journalist Serish Nanisetti at the 16th edition of Hyderabad Literary Festival on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

The focus then shifted to history with a session titled ‘Hyderabad: September 1948’ featuring Afsar Mohammad and Zeenath Khan, moderated by journalist Serish Nanisetti. Mr.Afsar spoke about the impact of the 1948 Police Action on Dakhni culture and said his book documents testimonies from 150 witnesses. He questioned why, despite extensive documentation of Partition, there remains comparatively little material on the Police Action in Hyderabad. Ms.Khan said she was motivated to write her book because much of Indian history writing is centred on northern narratives, leaving events such as the Hyderabad Police Action relatively underexplored.

In the session ‘Kashmiriyat – Craft, Legacy and Cultural Heritage of the Valley’, Manish Saksena and Sameer Hamdani reflected on the Valley’s layered past and artisanal traditions. Saksena described Srinagar as a city where the past and present coexist, and noted the region’s economic dependence on handcrafted and handmade crafts. Hamdani spoke about historical ties between Kashmir and Hyderabad and added that the crafts of Kashmir embody the ethos of tehzeeb.

The day concluded with a 60-minute theatrical performance titled ‘Kavitam Oka Teerani Daaham’, which blended poetry with theatrical expression.