AKLF Inaugurates its 17th edition with Kolkata’s Golden Icons: Usha Uthup and Madhabi Mukherjee
Kolkata, Jan 09: The Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2026 was inaugurated this morning with a memorable session celebrating two enduring icons of the city: legendary singer Usha Uthup and acclaimed actor Madhabi Mukherjee. The two stalwarts were joined on stage by Festival Director Anjum Katyal, Oxford Bookstore’s CEO, Swagat Sengupta, Festival Programming Head, Neeta Sreedharan, and the Director of Alipore Museum, Jayanta Sengupta for the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Usha Uthup, or Usha Di as she is lovingly called, sang a Shiv Vandana next.
The inaugural session also marked the AKLF launch of ‘Madhabi’s Garden’, the English translation of Madhabikanon, Madhabi Mukherjee’s autobiography, translated by Arunava Sinha. The session brought together Usha Uthup, Madhabi Mukherjee, and Arunava Sinha in conversation with Oindrilla Dutt, setting the tone for AKLF 2026 through reflections on cinema, music, creativity, and a life lived in the arts. The discussion traced Madhabi Mukherjee’s personal and professional journey, offering insights into her formative years, cinematic legacy, and her experiences as captured in her autobiography.
Speaking during the session, Madhabi Mukherjee shared her experiences working with stalwarts like Shishir Bhaduri, Chhabi Biswas, Kanon Devi, Satyajit Ray, and Ritwik Ghatak, which shaped her. She particularly recalled humorous anecdotes featuring Ritwik Ghatak, such as how she hid in her washroom for hours to avoid meeting him. Translator Arunava Sinha spoke about how taking on the task of translating Madhabi Mukherjee’s autobiography was an obvious choice for him, given the cultural impact she has left on audiences worldwide, including himself. He also emphasised how her extensive theatre background drew him further into translating the original autobiography.
Besides paying a heartfelt tribute to Madhabi Mukherjee, Usha Uthup drew upon her own artistic journey to reflect on the parallels between literature and music, thereby emphasising the festival’s role as a confluence of music, literature, and experiential learning.
Moderated with warmth and insight by Oindrilla Dutt, the session provided a fitting inauguration to AKLF 2026, honouring two of Kolkata’s cultural icons while fostering conversations with wider resonance beyond the city. The session concluded with Usha Uthup captivating the audience with a medley of ‘Shaan’ and ‘Ramba Ho’ in her signature style and flair.