Lucknow: The city is preparing to welcome one of its most anticipated cultural events of the year—Metaphor Lucknow LitFest 2025, scheduled for 13–14 December 2025. Spanning across the Lawns, Baithak, and the Auditorium, the festival will bring together distinguished authors, poets, filmmakers, historians, thinkers, and performers for two days of powerful conversations and artistic experiences.
The upcoming edition promises a vibrant mix of literature, cinema, heritage, poetry, children’s storytelling, stand-up comedy, and intellectual discourse, reinforcing Lucknow’s identity as a cultural capital.
DAY 1 — December 13, 2025: Opening Day to Spotlight Cinema, Feminism, Poetry & Legacy
LAWNS — Conversations on Cinema, Literature, Women’s Cricket & Legacy
The festival will open with Sudhir Mishra and Jaideep Narain Mathur exploring Cinema as the New Literature, setting the tone for rich narrative discussions.
A compelling panel on Yashpal: Gender, a Revolutionary Thought? will bring together Anand Yashpal, Roop Rekha Verma, and Virendra Yadav to examine the writer’s progressive outlook on gender.
In Archaeology of Mind, Dr. Alok Bajpai will speak with Prof. Ranu Uniyal about the emotional and psychological layers in his latest work.
A reflective session titled When It All Began will feature former Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria, in conversation with Sathya Saran, recounting the beginnings of his remarkable career.
The rise of Indian women in sports will be celebrated through Women’s Cricket — Grit Growth Grace.
The prestigious Ram Advani Award will be presented, followed by the keynote The Enlightened Heart by Banu Mushtaq, who will speak on her acclaimed book Heart Lamp.
Evening performances will include Aastha Goswami’s soulful Prem Rasayan, Himanshu Bajpai’s Dastangoi Dastan-e-Kaifi, and a signature poetic evening, Aaloknama, by Aalok Shrivastav.
BAITHAK — New Books, Feminist Thought & Children’s Storytelling
Day 1 at Baithak will begin with Battle of Lands, where Dr. Vandita Mishra will discuss her book with Sudhir Mishra.
Half Doctor will present a stark look at India’s healthcare system with Dr. Sandeep Kumar, A.P. Maheshwari, and Sudhir Mishra.
Children will get dedicated space through Imagination Explorers, storytelling sessions by Arthy Singh and Anita Bhatnagar Jain, moderated by Sangita Jaiswal.
Writer Shivmurti will share insights into his creative universe in Shivmurti Ki Rachnatmak Duniya.
Beyond the F-Word will revisit feminism through a dynamic panel featuring Prof. Nishi Pandey, Aishvarya Mathur, Prof. Rakesh Chandra, and Khwaja Saifi Yunus, led by Surabhi Modi.
Finding Shankara, led by Dr. Divya Narain Upadhaya, will re-examine Shankaracharya’s legacy through history and myth, while Ismat Chughtai: Ek Bebak Aurat by Aisha Ayub will celebrate the iconic writer’s bold literary voice.
AUDITORIUM — Urdu, Cinema, Heritage & Childhood Tales
The auditorium will host Little Readers — Cuddly Stories, where Dr. Anita Bhatnagar Jain will narrate charming stories for children.
Students of Karamat Girls College will revive the classic game of poetic wit in Bait Baazi.
A highlight of the day, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, will feature Yatindra Mishra, Sathya Saran, and Kanak Rekha Chauhan, celebrating Gulzar’s poetic brilliance.
Urdu lovers will enjoy Baatein Ghazlon – Nazmon Ki, with Amitabh Singh Baghel and Chandrashekhar Verma discussing their new works.
A screening of Sudhir Mishra’s film Ghuspaithiya Kaun will add a cinematic depth to the festival.
Sessions on Wajid Ali Shah and Myth, Markets & Meaning will explore Lucknow’s cultural lineage and the philosophy of brand-building.
DAY 2 — December 14, 2025: Heritage, History, Voices of Women & Contemporary India
LAWNS — Legacy of Lucknow, Youth Voices, Architecture & Social Change
Day 2 will begin with Restoring Constantia, featuring Vandana Sehgal and Carlyle McFarland discussing the revival of Lucknow’s iconic Constantia.
Film historian Avijit Ghosh will revisit 80s cinema in When Ardh Satya met Himmatwala.
A poetic exploration titled Tum Ek Kavita Thi will feature Ahsan Vazir in conversation with Mysha Akhtar.
Young poets Aanchal Anita Dhara and Anamika Joshi will present fresh Gen-Z poetry under The Young Word — #HEART.
A celebration of Indian women in sports will continue through another edition of Grit Growth Grace.
One of the most anticipated sessions, 250 Years of Lucknow, will bring P.C. Sarkar, Pankaj Bhadouria, and Abha Singh together with Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma (IAS) to reflect on Lucknow’s cultural evolution.
A rare cross-party conversation titled Unfinished Freedom will witness leaders from BJP, Congress and Samajwadi Party discussing authority, hierarchy, and social fear—not as rivals but as equal citizens.
The day will close with a stand-up performance by Devesh Dixit, adding humour and relatability to the festival’s finale.
BAITHAK — The Intimate Stage for Poetry, Legacy & Life Stories
- Women’s voices will be amplified in Aangan Ki Aawazen, a session of powerful poetry.
- Master of the Ring will feature Dr. A.P. Maheshwari in conversation with Atul Chandra, giving insights into leadership and crisis response.
- A tribute titled Munshi Newal Kishore: A Legacy Reignited will honour the iconic publisher.
- In The Essential Ghalib, Anisur Rehman will revisit the timeless verses of Ghalib.
- Capt. Vaibhav Pandey will share moving slices of life in Katha, followed by a poetic journey in Mridula Singh ki Kavya Yatra.
- Kahe Na Jaye Ka Kahiye, featuring Chandrashekhar Verma and Divya Bhardwaj Bhattacharya, will revisit the legacy of Bhagwati Charan Verma.
AUDITORIUM — Crime, Leadership, Rivers, Myth & Performance Arts
The final day’s sessions will include:
- Gomti Samvad by Deepika Chaturvedi on the river’s cultural and ecological journey
- Where Is the Indian Historical Action-Adventure Story? by Abeer Kapoor
- A literary dialogue titled Please Hear with Dr. B.N. Sanyal
- A leadership session ADROSONIC: From Chaos to Clarity with CEO Mayank
- Heartbreak Unfiltered by Milan Vohra, in conversation with Sathya Saran
- Crime ka Paataal Lok, featuring Manoj Rajan Tripathi with Zeenat Siddiqui
- A special stage performance Dhanush Yagya by Vinita Mishra & Pallavi Raj, based on the iconic Dhanush-Bhanjan episode from Ramcharitmanas
