ALA brings to your city

ALF 2024

Art & Literature Festival

Art & Literature
Festival

The ALA Art & Literature Festival (ALF)returns for its third edition in 2025, with the theme: "Transcending Borders, Culture Speaks and History Echoes."

Following two successful years, ALF 2025 will again celebrate a diverse range of voices from around the world. We are excited to present a program that explores human experience across geographic, cultural, and historical lines.

  • Chicago

    Sep 27, 2025

  • New Jersey

    Sep 28, 2025

Speakers-2025

Speaker

Dr Manu S Pillai

Dr Manu S Pillai is the award-winning author of The Ivory Throne, The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin, and False Allies. His writing explores India’s regal past through richly researched and gripping narratives.

Speaker

S. Hareesh

S. Hareesh, winner of the JCB Prize for Literature, is the author of Meesha (Moustache) and Adam. His work blends surrealism, folklore, and socio-political commentary rooted in Kerala’s rural life.

Speaker

M Swaraj

M. Swaraj is one of Kerala’s most compelling public speakers. With a gift for connecting complex ideas to everyday life, his thought-provoking speeches continue to engage and inspire audiences across generations.

Speaker

Dr. Rachitha Ravi

A leading exponent of Mohiniyattam and Head of the Department at Kerala Kalamandalam, Dr. Rachitha Ravi is celebrated for her refined abhinaya and deep-rooted traditional style. With decades of dedication to performance, choreography, and teaching, she brings the grace and soul of Mohiniyattam to ALF 2025 in a special dance production.

Speaker

Dr. Sreevalsan J. Menon

Renowned Carnatic vocalist, composer, and scholar, Dr. Sreevalsan J. Menon is a recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award. His meditative style and genre-crossing compositions captivate audiences worldwide.

Event Schedule

  • Chicago

    27, Sep 2025

  • New Jersey

    28, Sep 2025

Sep 28, 2025
Venue: Rosen Performing Arts Center, 1 Pike Drive, Wayne, NJ

  • Inauguration Ceremony

    Opening remarks, keynote speech, and ribbon-cutting.

  • 10.30 AM - 11.00 AM

Literature Sessions

Session-01

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Beyond the Hype: Authenticity vs Algorithms in Malayalam Literature

S Hareesh

Session-02

11:50 AM – 12:35 AM

The Good , the Bad , the Bizarre History in all it’s Shades ( English & Malayalam )

Dr. Manu S Pillai
12:35 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch Break,Book signing Networking and casual discussions.

Session-03

01:00 PM – 1:45 PM

വായനയും രാഷ്ട്രീയ പ്രബുദ്ധതയും ( Malayalam )

M Swaraj

Session-04

01:50 PM – 2:10 PM

Music & Mudras

Dr. Sreevalsan J Menon & Dr.Rachitha Ravi

Session-05

02:15 PM – 2:35 PM

Book on Stage

Session-06

02:40 PM – 3:25 PM

Fire Side Chat

S Hareesh & Swaraj
03:25 PM – 4:00 PM
TEA BREAK

DANCE & MUSIC SESSIONS

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

കർണായനം

Dr. Rachitha Ravi
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

AMMA - poetry in motion

6:10 PM - 6.30 PM

Music Musings - Live Concert Unplugged

Dr. Sreevalsan & Team

Sep 27, 2025
Venue:Christian Heritage Academy, 315 Waukegan Rd, Northfield, IL, 60093

  • Inauguration Ceremony

    Opening remarks, keynote speech, and ribbon-cutting.

  • 9.30 AM - 10.00 AM

Literature Sessions

Session-01

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

സാഹിത്യ വിമർശനം, കേരളത്തിന് നഷ്ടമാകുന്ന കല (Malayalam)

S Hareesh

Session-02

10:50 AM – 11:35 AM

Memory & History : How we remember the past ( English & Malayalam )

Dr. Manu S Pillai

Session-03

11:40 AM – 12:25 PM

ഇന്ത്യൻ ഭരണഘടനയുടെ ചരിത്രം History of Indian Constitution ( Malayalam )

M Swaraj
12:35 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch Break,Book signing Networking and casual discussions.

Session-04

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Fire Side Chat

S Hareesh & M Swaraj

Session-05

1:35 PM – 1:55 PM

Music & Mudras

Dr. Sreevalsan J Menon & Dr.Rachitha Ravi

Session-06

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM

Book on Stage

2:25 PM – 3:00 PM
TEA BREAK

DANCE SESSIONS

3:00 PM - 3:20 PM

കർണായനം

Dr. Rachitha Ravi
3:25 PM - 3:45 PM

AMMA - poetry in motion

MUSIC SESSIONS

04:00 PM - 5.30 PM

Music Musings - Live Concert Unplugged

Dr. Sreevalsan & Team

Day 01 - 01 October 2022
Venue: Performing arts center at Menlo-Atherton High School, 555 Middlefield Rd, Atherton, CA 94027

1.30 pm

Inauguration

2.15 pm

Aksharam അക്ഷരം

  • Dr. Sunil P Ilayidom

    2.15 pm - 3.00 pm

  • Balachandran Chullikkad

    3.10 pm - 3.45 pm

  • Benyamin

    4.00 pm - 4.30 pm

  • Combined Interactive Session

    5.00 pm - 6.30

Break 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

7.30 pm

Mandapam മണ്ഡപം

  • Mohiniyattam (Dr. Methil Devika)

    7.30 pm - 8.30 pm

  • Kathakali ( Roshni Pillai )

    8.30 pm - 9.30 pm

  • Book Fair

  • Food Vendors




Dance workshop by

Dr. Methil Devika

TOPIC : Esoteric Adaptations in Indian Classical Dance

  • Demystifying Mudras - a look into Vedic and Tantric influences
  • Maneuvering ritualistic rhythms in performance
  • Stillness & Expression

The workshop is conducted by National Awardee, State Awardee and Oscar Contender Dancer and Cultural Interpreter Dr. Methil Devika. It is open to all those interested in the topic irrespective of the physical form they practice. Methil Devika is a renowned Mohiniyattam exponent who is also trained in some of Kerala's ritualistic knowledge systems which she adapts and disseminates across cultures and forms

Day 01 - 08 October 2022
Venue: Renton Ikea performance center 400 S 2nd St, Renton, WA 98057

1.30 pm

Inauguration

2.15 pm

Aksharam അക്ഷരം

  • Dr. Sunil P Ilayidom

    2.15 pm - 3.00 pm

  • Balachandran Chullikkad

    3.10 pm - 3.45 pm

  • Benyamin

    4.00 pm - 4.30 pm

  • Combined Interactive Session

    5.00 pm - 6.30

Break 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

7.30 pm

Mandapam മണ്ഡപം

  • Mohiniyattam (Dr. Methil Devika)

    7.30 pm - 8.30 pm

  • Kathakali ( Roshni Pillai )

    8.30 pm - 9.30 pm

  • Book Fair

  • Food Vendors




Dance workshop by

Dr. Methil Devika

TOPIC : Esoteric Adaptations in Indian Classical Dance

  • Demystifying Mudras - a look into Vedic and Tantric influences
  • Maneuvering ritualistic rhythms in performance
  • Stillness & Expression

The workshop is conducted by National Awardee, State Awardee and Oscar Contender Dancer and Cultural Interpreter Dr. Methil Devika. It is open to all those interested in the topic irrespective of the physical form they practice. Methil Devika is a renowned Mohiniyattam exponent who is also trained in some of Kerala's ritualistic knowledge systems which she adapts and disseminates across cultures and forms

Additional Highlights

  • Book Stall

  • Book Signing

  • Writing Workshop

  • Drama Workshop

  • Food Stalls

  • Art Workshop

    • Artists & Speakers-2023

    Speaker

    Benyamin

    Malayalam Novelist and short story writer shot to prominence with his best seller “AaduJeevitham (Goat Days)” with hard hitting story about an abused migrant worker in Saudi Arabia.

    Speaker

    Paul Zacharia

    Zacharia is an eminent Malayalam fiction writer and essayist. He is considered as one of the most important socially and politically committed and engaged Indian writers living today.Recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award and Katha Award.

    Speaker

    Dona Mayoora

    Dona is a bilingual, visual and experimental poet from Kerala, residing in the USA. Ice Cubukal the Malayalam poetry and the visual experimental poetries Listening to Red & Echoes from Sweden are outstanding works.

    Speaker

    Rajni Menon

    Rajni has trained in Kathakali under Gurus Sri Late Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan, Padmashri Kizhpadam Kumaran Nair and Padmabhooshan Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair. Recipient of “Pattikamthodi smaraka” award in 1987, currently living in the USA.

    Speaker

    Ethiran Kathiravan

    He writes on popular science, art, sociopolitical issues and cinema. He had been honored with many awards including Sahithya Akkademy award & Film Critics award

    Speaker

    Priya Joseph

    Priya is a Malayalam short story writer. Two time recipient of Grihalakshmi Award and winner of Samskriti CV Sreeraman Award for the year 2022.

    Speaker

    Anilal Sreenivasan

    Anilal writes short stories, travelogues, and memoirs. Two short stories collections to his credit - ‘Plaque’ (2011), ‘Sabrina’ (2020). Won the TA Razak award for Short Stories (2021).

    Speaker

    Ardra Manasi

    Ardra is a development practitioner & poet based in New York City. Her poems have been featured in journals and anthologies in US, UK and India, including the Sahitya Akademi.

    Speaker

    Keerthik Sasidharan

    Keerthik essays, columns, & interviews have appeared in various publications & venues—including The Hindu newspaper, Aeon & the Jaipur Literary Festival. His 1'st novel, The Dharma Forest (Penguin India, 2020), volume-1 of a trilogy, was long-listed for ‘The JCB Prize in Literature’ in 2021.

    Speaker

    Nazeer Hussein K

    Nazeer is a software engineer by profession, and social media content creator by passion. One of the most influential Malayalam blogger from North America, He had his writings featured in most of the Malayalam publications including Mathrubhumi daily, True Copy Think and many more.

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    FAQ

    1. Who is our target audience? Any age limit ?
    2. Are there any prerequisites to join the workshop?
    3. What would be the duration of the workshop?
    4. What syllabus would be covered during the workshop ? What are the breakdowns of theory sessions? ( adavu, abhinaya, taala, choreo )
    5. Does the audience get to learn a dance piece? If so, what discipline?
    6. What can be expected by the end of the session?
    7. Is recording videos allowed during the workshop?
    8. What policy should we ensure regarding attendees taking a picture with you? Can all take individual pictures or should we make sure all take group pics? This also applies to performance day as well after the event.
    9. If any dance school or organization wants to invite you privately, to their premises what policies do we need to ensure? Are you open for such if they are in compliance with Ala’s policies?
    10. Are you open to giving lectures in universities provided we get the opportunity?
    11. Do you have any dietary restrictions?
    12. Do you need make up artists/helpers to get ready?
    13. If so how many?

    Support the Festival

    Become a Festival Fellow or Festival Friend

    Festival Friend

    Donate $100 and receive recognition on our website and a special shout out during the event.

    Festival Fellow

    Donate $500 and receive all benefits of a Festival Friend plus exclusive access to curated sessions and special mentions in our printed materials.

    Your contribution will help us bring more diverse voices to the stage and continue our work of weaving Kerala’s vibrant art and literature into the global narrative.

    If you're interested in sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to us at sponsor@ala.events

    About the Organiser

    About

    Art Lovers of America

    ALA is a collective of the Kerala diaspora in the United States that aims to nurture and promote Kerala’s diverse culture and progressive values.

    ALA seeks to provide a platform that stimulates thoughtful, critical dialogue in the global Malayali community and supports far ranging projects in areas like culture, education, disaster relief and development in support of underprivileged and marginalized communities in Kerala.

    ALA’s projects includes Malayalam Language Learning program in partnership with Government of Kerala’s Malayalam Mission, Scholarship program for the students from tribal community in Kerala & ALA Care to coordinate charity and other social support needed for people in US and Kerala

    Please reach out to secretary@ala-usa.org to learn more about ALA.

    Contributors & Partners