CHENNAI: Book lovers in the city enjoyed a visual treat of the life and times of six eminent authors in Tamil, Bengali, Malayalam and English and their enduring contribution to literature, captured in documentary by Sahitya Akademi and screened at Book Point auditorium here on Sunday.
The screening of select documentaries on eminent authors across the country was part of the Akademi’s efforts to revive public interest in Indian literature, organisers said. On Sunday, the four-hour-long event began with the screening of the first documentary on popular Tamil writer Jayakanthan, winner of both Sahitya Akademi award and Jnanapith award. The 30-minute film, made in 2000, was directed by author and documentary maker Sa Kandasamy. The event concluded with the screening of a documentary on another popular Tamil writer and playwright Indira Parthasarathy, directed by Ravi Subramanaian.
Author of several short stories, plays and novels in Tamil such as Kuruthi Punal, Indira Parthasarathy is the only Tamil writer to have won both the Sangeet Natak Akademi award and Sahitya Akademi award.
Other short films portrayed the life and literary legacies of Bengali writers Sunil Gangopadhyay and Mahasweta Devi, English author and poet Kamala Surayya and Malayalam writer Vaikom Mohammad Basheer.
The event was presided by K Nachimuthu of Sakitya Akademi, Chennai. Noted author, screenplay and dialogue writer S Ramakrishnan and journalist Malan, who were the special invitees, recalled the authors who had acted as ever-lasting influences in their career.