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Half Day Pass – Morning, 18th January 2025
January 18 @ 9:30 am - 1:35 pm
LKR 11,250.00
9:30 am – 9:40 am | Cultural performance
9:45 am – 10:25 am | The Beauty and Struggle of Reconciliation: Lessons from Sri Lanka
Razeen Sally in conversation with Bhavani Fonseka
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A thoughtful discussion that highlights the key themes from Razeen Sally’s travel memoir, Return to Sri Lanka. This session will explore how Sally’s journeys illuminate broader themes of national recovery and the crucial role of individual experiences in shaping a larger narrative. You will reflect on the complexity of national identity and the importance of continued dialogue in divided societies. The conversation will delve into the interplay between personal experiences and significant issues, highlighting the duality of beauty and struggle in the reconciliation process of Sally’s homeland.
10:30 am – 11:10 am | Of Control and Obsession
Sophie Mackintosh in conversation with Sukanya WignarajaÂ
Sophie Mackintosh, author of The Water Cure and Cursed Bread, explores her powerful and unsettling works that dissect the human psyche. From feminist dystopia of The Water Cure, where isolation and survival blur, to the haunting tale of obsession and desire in Cursed Beard, Sophie reveals how she crafts worlds where control, power, and consequences collide. The session will explore psychological complexities of her characters, the feminist themes of resistance and self-preservation, and the ways in which food, power, and societal collapse shape her narratives. Through both novels, Sophie invites us to examine how we define survival, identity, and freedom in the face of impressive forces.
11:15 am – 12:00 pm | Globetrotters’ Tales
Mihiri Wikramanayake, Sunela Jayawardane in conversation with Arati Kumar-Rao
Mihiri Wickramanayake and Sunela Jayawardane share hilarious mishaps, unexpected encounters, and the thrill of capturing journeys on paper. With tales that range from the inspiring to the downright comical, they’ll dive into the joys and quirks of transforming travel experiences into vivid stories. Whether you’re a globetrotter or an armchair traveller, this session promises laughter, a sense of wonder, and tips on making travel writing come alive!
12:05 pm – 12:45 pm | Desperately Seeking Asia
Shrayana Bhattacharya in conversation with Murtaza Jafferjee
Delve into Shrayana Bhattacharya’s Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh, highlighting how women navigate desires through fandom, reflecting broader themes of economic freedom, intimacy and agency. Explore the role of economic development in fostering creativity and Asia’s influence on the global cultural landscape.
12:50 pm – 1:30 pm | Lipstick, Laughs, Life in the Spotlight
Ratna Pathak Shah in conversation with Jerry Pinto
Celebrating the extraordinary talent of Ratna Pathak Shah with a focus on some of her iconic roles in Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai, Dhak Dhak, Happy Family, and Lipstick Under My Burkha—her thought process in choosing characters and whether she reflects on her past roles while selecting new ones. What would an interaction between some of these characters look like? Touch upon the darker realities behind the scenes—such as labour inequality, gender disparities, and the commodification of art–in an industry that often thrives on appearances.
