The Historical Literature Festival concluded in Hyderabad on Sunday, February 8, concluding three days of conversations that traversed time, memory, politics and storytelling. The final day focused on the city of Hyderabad, its past and present, along with discussions on science, love stories from history and the role of Indians in World War II.
The day began with a session titled ‘Cinema of Hyderabad: Past and Future’, featuring film scholar SV Srinivas, film historian C. Yamini Krishna and PhD student Srinivas Kondra. The discussion explored the evolution of Telugu cinema and its political and cultural role. SV Srinivas noted that Telugu cinema must be discussed in the context of its larger social and political function. “Telugu cinema should be talked about because its primary social and political function is to make leaders. That’s not something Telugu cinema learned from Hyderabad. That’s from Madras,” he said, referring to the industry’s early days.
Speaking on the significance of the World Telugu Conference, C. Yamini Krishna noted that the film industry played a key role in shaping a distinct Telugu identity during this period. It was during this phase, she said, that the industry began to firmly establish itself as the Telugu film industry.
This was followed by a session titled ‘Hyderabad and Hyderabadis: Migrations and Transformations’, which looked at the city’s layered history. Journalist Serish Nanisetti has followed the development of Hyderabad since its founders moved from Golconda to establish a new capital. The discussion reflected on how the city’s identity was shaped by migration waves and political changes. Journalist Yunus Lasania has pointed out that several rulers and communities who were not originally from Hyderabad contributed significantly to its development. Their influence, he noted, helped shape the city into what it is today as a thriving financial and technology center. The meeting was moderated by actor and singer Anuj Gurwara.
Later sessions moved to storytelling and memory. “History, Fiction and Folklore: Love Stories from the Past” features oral historian Aanchal Malhotra, historian Rana Safvi and podcaster Eric Chopra. Speakers reflected on how cities preserve emotional history and how love stories often survive through folklore, archives and oral traditions. They talked about the idea that every city leaves behind stories that blend the personal with the political.
The final part of the festival, titled ‘Second World War: Indians in Britain’s Battles’, explored the role of Indian soldiers in the global conflict and their often overlooked contributions. A discussion with journalist Raghu Karnad, former editor of The Hindu Mukund Padmanabhan and historian Indivar Kamtekar shed light on the complexities of colonial involvement in the war and the human stories embedded in it.
The festival ended with Baithak, an informal final talk that served as an introspection of the three-day journey.
Published – 08 Feb 2026 21:33 IST
