Jaipur Literature festival 2017 is all set to witness a galaxy of speakers from across the globe. These are renowned faces in the realm of literature, art and journalism, civil and criminal law and what not? Faces which have drastically incorporated game-changer developments in their respective fields. Take a bird view at all these pre-eminent personalities.
1. Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush
Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush is a film director and a startup entrepreneur. She also monitors the projects of Wunderbar Films, a production company launched by her actor-husband Dhanush, who was also starred in Raanjhanaa. In 2016, she was appointed as the UN Women’s advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India.
2. Vasundhara Raje
Vasundhara Raje is the first female Chief Minister of Rajasthan. She has pioneered reformatory policies and schemes which have served as effective game-changers in transforming the face of Jaipur. She is a girl child education supporter and has promoted a galaxy of art-lines to showcase the state as nothing short of an adobe of art and culture.
3. Sudhir Mishra
Sudhir Mishra is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for directing critically acclaimed films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Dharavi and Chameli. Mishra has had a 30-year career with his work recognised by the Government of India by him receiving three National Awards from the President of India, as well as Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government (equivalent to knighthood).
4. Nandana Sen
Nandana Sen is an Indian actress, screenwriter, children’s author and child-rights activist. Her first vehicle in Bollywood was the Rani Mukherjee and Amitabh Bachchan starrer Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black (2005) in which she played the role of Rani’s 17-year-old younger sister. Sen gave a highly proclaimed performance in the role and the film was applauded by both audience and critics.
Also Read: Jaipur Literature Festival 2017 Schedule
5. Prasoon Joshi
Prasoon Joshi is an advertising professional, lyricist and poet. He published his first book of prose and poetry at the age of 17 and has been working ever since.
Joshi has also curated lyrics for the films Rang de Basanti, Taare Zameen Par, for which he won the 2007 National Film Award for Best Lyrics, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which was awarded the 2014 Filmfare Best Lyricist Award, and most recently Neerja.
6. Gulzar
Gulzar is a poet, filmmaker, lyricist and writer. Having earned a reputable position in the Bollywood arena, he literally needs no introduction.
7. Ambika Dutt
Ambika Dutt is a renowned poet who writes in both Hindi and Rajasthani. His work has been translated into English, Punjabi and Gujarati.
8. Javed Akhtar
Akhtar has also been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India and is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India. He has redefined the lyrical beauty in Bollywood and other relams of drama and art.
9. Alka Pande
Alka Pande has been passionately involved with curating leading exhibitions in India and abroad for more than three decades. Dr. Pande, under the aegis of the Charles Wallace India Trust, conducted her postdoctoral research in critical art theory at Goldsmiths, University of London.
10. Amitabh Kant
Amitabh Kant is the Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion for the Government of India, where he has come the influential face of two of the government’s instrumental campaigns to entice investments and create jobs. Projects like Make In India and Start Up India have been headed by this dynamic man.
11. Kapil Sibal
This man is as dynamic and multifaceted in the history of India. Kapil Sibal is not only Member of Parliament but also a seasoned lawyer. He served as Union Cabinet Minister from 2004-2014. He has poetry added to his large hat too. His anthologies I Witness and My World Within reflect on a variety of sustaining issues including politics.
12. Anindita Ghose
This eccentric woman has been the Features Director of Vogue India for the last four years, where she has contributed greatly towards the edited art, books, culture and lifestyle features.
13 Imtiaz Ali
Imtiaz Ali is a notable Indian film director and writer. In 2005, he made his directorial debut with the film Socha Na Tha. His second film Jab We Met finally brought him success and fame. His other films include Love Aaj Kal, Rockstar, Highway and Tamasha have fared exceptionally well at the Box-office. He is currently working with Shahrukh Khan and Anushka Sharma on a film slated to release in August2017.
14. Anita Anand
Anita Anand is a television and radio presenter working for the BBC. She released her first book, Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary which has received international recognition. Her latest book is Kohinoor, co-written with William Dalrymple.
15. A.N. Wilson
A.N. Wilson has written over 50 books, including biographies and novels. His biography of Queen Victoria was the basis of the highly acclaimed television drama Victoria. He has recently completed a novel about Captain Cook and a biography of Charles Darwin.
16. Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor is also currently serves as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. He is also an Indian politician and a former diplomat who is currently serving as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He has frequented the JLF festival for many years now, becoming a popular face of the festival.
17. Pushpesh Pant
This versatile man writes about everything ranging from Indian foreign policy, culture, religion, travel and Indian cuisine. One of his books, India: Cook Book, also made it to The New York Times’ bestseller list in 2010.
This is just a list of 17 stellar personalities and speakers which are going to be reigning at the JLF festival. Listening to them must be on your bucket-list. Sounds cliché? You would not only be highly inspired but also powerfully driven to immerse yourself into the art-of-your-choice to reach an impeccable insight of everything required to reach widening horizons in life.
