The Andhra Pradesh government has announced the launch of the Amaravati Festival of Cinema, Culture and Literature, popularly known as ‘Avakai’, to be held in Vijayawada from January 8 to 10. The announcement was made by Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Kandula Durgesh while addressing the media at the Secretariat on December 22.
The festival will be organised at Punnami Ghat and Bhavani Island, two prominent cultural and tourism locations along the Krishna river, and is envisioned as a flagship initiative to promote Telugu cinema, literature and the broader creative ecosystem.
Focus on Regional Storytelling and Telugu Creative Traditions
According to the minister, ‘Avakai’ is being conceptualised at a time when regional storytelling is gaining national and global attention. The festival aims to foreground Telugu narratives across cinema, literature and performing arts, while creating a platform for meaningful dialogue between creators and audiences.
The initiative reflects the government’s approach of leveraging cultural heritage and contemporary creativity as instruments of identity, expression and economic opportunity.
National and International Literary Participation
The festival will feature curated sessions by StoryHour UK and Rasa United, organisations known for their work in storytelling and cultural engagement. Poetry and literary sessions will include well-known voices such as Azhar Iqbal, Iqbal Ashhar, Khushbir Singh Shaad, Nusrat Mehdi, Mrunalini, Popular Meruthi, Saif Nizami and Sardar Saleem, bringing together diverse literary traditions on a single मंच.
These sessions are expected to encourage dialogue across languages and regions, reinforcing the inclusive and pluralistic vision of the festival.
Music, Performances and Cultural Collaborations
Live performances will form a major component of the programme. A special collaboration titled ‘Aaj Rang Hai’ will bring together the Nizami Bandhu and the Anirudh Varma Collective, blending classical and contemporary musical traditions.
Such collaborations underline the festival’s intent to bridge generational and stylistic boundaries while presenting high-quality cultural programming.
Workshops and Knowledge Exchange
To encourage learning and skill development, workshops will be conducted by master practitioners including Tuhon Aditya Roy, Nathoo Lal Solanki, Shameem and Gilles Chuyen. These sessions are designed to facilitate hands-on engagement, artistic exchange and capacity building among participants, particularly students and emerging creators.
The inclusion of workshops positions ‘Avakai’ not only as a showcase event but also as a platform for creative education.
Cinema and Intellectual Discourse
A key highlight of the festival will be an in-depth discussion titled “Pure Evil: Anti-Heroes of Cinema”, featuring acclaimed crime writer S. Hussain Zaidi, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, and renowned screenwriter and novelist Yandamuri Veerendranath.
The session is expected to explore evolving cinematic narratives, character complexity and storytelling ethics, adding intellectual depth to the festival’s cinematic focus.
Culture-Led Tourism and Urban Branding
By hosting ‘Avakai’ in Vijayawada, the government aims to strengthen culture-led tourism and position Amaravati and its surrounding regions as vibrant cultural destinations. The festival aligns with broader efforts to integrate tourism, heritage and creative industries into the state’s development strategy.
Officials believe that such initiatives can generate economic activity while enhancing Andhra Pradesh’s cultural visibility at the national level.
Conclusion: A Platform for Creative Expression and Dialogue
The Amaravati Festival ‘Avakai’ represents a strategic cultural initiative by the Andhra Pradesh government to celebrate cinema, literature and artistic expression. By bringing together creators, thinkers and audiences, the festival seeks to foster dialogue, creativity and cultural pride while contributing to the state’s evolving cultural identity.
