Lamakaan

The story follows a heartfelt and painful conversation between a man and a woman who care deeply for each other but are forced apart by the invisible walls of society. After quietly loving her for years, the hero finally learns that she knows about his feelings — and even reciprocates them — yet cannot accept his love. As they walk together, she opens up about how deeply she believes in love, describing it as one of humanity’s most beautiful creations. But despite understanding love better than most, she feels trapped by family, tradition, and the rigid boundaries of caste.
Her inner conflict reveals how societal expectations overpower individual emotion. She admires him, respects him, and acknowledges his purity of heart, yet believes she has no right to love him because he is from another caste. The hero, though heartbroken, accepts her honesty with grace.
Through his voice-over, the story grows wider than their personal pain. It becomes a critique of a society that celebrates gods of love yet destroys people who try to love freely. He reflects on how humanity advances technologically but remains emotionally primitive, still chained by caste, religion, and ego.
In the end, their separation becomes a symbol of a larger truth — love may be powerful, but in their world, society’s boundaries remain stronger.

An evening of Christmas Carols and Hymns. Totally appropriate for the festive season.
Come and Join us as we celebrate the season of Hope and Blessinsgs.
Join us with your loved ones.

So, as the winter evenings in December unfold at Lamakaan, audiences will journey through Takita’s cinematic universe—where humor, history, and humanity converge. Each Wednesday promises not just a film screening, but an immersion into the delicate art of storytelling that made Yōjirō Takita a legend.

About the Director: Yōjirō Takita, born on December 4, 1955. Known worldwide for his Academy Award-winning masterpiece Departures (2008), Takita’s journey from comic pink films to historical epics and deeply human dramas reflects a rare versatility. His works resonate because they transform intimate Japanese traditions into universal stories, inviting audiences to reflect on life, death, and the quiet dignity of human connection. Takita’s style is marked by emotional subtlety and cultural depth, weaving humor, ritual, and tenderness into cinematic experiences that linger long after the screen fades. His impact lies in bridging tradition with modern storytelling, proving that local narratives can achieve global acclaim.

Film Title: THE LAST RECIPE | 2017 | 126 Mins | Japan | Japanese Language with English Subtitles

About the film: The film follows Mitsuru Sasaki, a once world-class chef gifted with the rare ability to recreate any dish after tasting it just once. Having lost his passion and driven into bankruptcy by his pursuit of perfection, he begins offering “last meals” to wealthy clients at exorbitant prices. His life takes a dramatic turn when he is tasked with uncovering a legendary recipe created in 1930s Manchuria by Naotaro Yamagata, a chef whose culinary genius was entwined with Japan’s turbulent history. As Sasaki retraces the recipe’s journey across time and continents, he confronts themes of memory, legacy, and the soul of cooking itself. Blending food, mystery, and historical drama, The Last Recipe serves up a story where cuisine becomes a bridge between generations and a vessel of human connection.

Screening followed by Discussion. All are Welcome. Entry is free and open to all!

Many women spend their entire day caring for family, home, and responsibilities, often forgetting their own dreams, talents, and voice. “Open Sky for Women – Ghar Se Gagan Tak” is a heartfelt initiative created to bring such women out into the open—into a space of confidence, expression, and connection.

This event is not a competition and not a show.
It is a safe, welcoming platform where women can meet other women, understand the changing world, and freely express their talents—whether in art, craft, music, dance, yoga, storytelling, life experiences, skills, or any field they feel connected to.

The program is specially designed for homemakers, rural and semi-urban women, and those who rarely get a chance to step onto a public platform. Through interactive sessions, awareness talks, talent sharing, and joyful group activities, women will get the opportunity to see the progress of society, discover their inner strength, and realize that their abilities matter.

This is a space where:

No qualification is required

No judgment exists

Every woman’s expression is respected

Kadali Alalaaga is a cozy, interactive sing along evening curated to help audiences unwind after a long workday and ease into the weekend. Featuring Band Kadali, the session brings together nostalgic 1990s and 2000s Telugu melodies along with other genres.

The audience is encourgaed to vibe along and request songs, create a warm, personal and relaxed atmosphere. Curated by Satya in collaboration with Band Kadali, the event will be held on 26th December from 7PM to 9PM, offering a slow, feel good musical experience filled with comfort and connection

Sisters Connect Club is organizing its 1st Anniversary Celebration, bringing together women from our community for an evening of networking, activities, and a curated open mic. The event will include:

• Open Mic Segment:
A limited-slot, pre-registered activity where selected participants will present poetry, stories, or small talks.

• Women-Led Stalls:
Small business owners from the community will set up paid stalls to showcase and sell their products.

• Networking & Community Interaction:
The event will serve as a platform for women to connect, exchange ideas, and engage in collaborative conversations.

Entry:
Free attendance for all women.

Expected Footfall:
Approximately 70–100 women attendees.

Purpose of the Event:
To celebrate one year of building a women’s community, encourage local women-led businesses, and provide a structured platform for creative and professional expression.

"Taalsen," is a dynamic vocal workshop held by Vandana Susheel, designed especially for beginners looking to explore the world of music with a registration fee of just ₹500!

Vandana Susheel is an 20-year-old passionate singer-songwriter, who has been exposed to the world of music since the age of 5. She has done her training for hindustani classical music from the esteemed “Shankar Mahadevan Academy” and also gained certifications for music composition courses from AR Rahman’s “KM Music Conservatory.” She has sung songs for 2 films, and her original song“Yaadon Ke Guldaste” is out on all major streaming platforms

Explore the fundamentals of notes, melodies and rhythms with “Taalsen” on the 27th of December 3PM to 6 PM! Whether you're a complete novice or looking to refine your skills, this workshop promises an enriching journey into the world of vocal music.

Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7BeQWSF6l-sMH3K8-LIKtXkqXen0EqdJ-2dRkXCkqU13UtQ/viewform?usp=preview

A man named Holo is stopped, questioned, and watched — but no one, not even he, knows what his crime is. From a rolling bottle to bureaucratic interrogation, from fragmented memories to doubles who speak in riddles, Olo ka kya unfolds as an absurdist investigation into guilt, identity, and the invisible machinery of power.

Through shifting conversations with constables, a shadowy figure named Olo, and an ever-present sense of surveillance, the play stages a world where logic breaks down and language circles back on itself. What begins as a comic misunderstanding spirals into a surreal trial of existence itself.

Blending dark humour, psychological realism, and the theatre of the absurd, Olo ka kya holds a mirror to societies where individuals are trapped between authority and their own fractured selves.

What you get to learn
This is a 400-year-old Cheriyal doll/mask making workshop from the artisans of Cheriyal village. Guided session on sanding of coconut shell and using tamarind seed and saw dust paste for making traditional cheriyal mask. The coloring part need to be done after the mask is dried (the next day) so the participants will be given 2 dolls each (as shown in the pictures on the left). one doll will be made by the participant at the workshop and the other doll will be the one made on the previous day by the artist for the participant to colour.

SPIN YOUR NAME WITH CREATIVITY!
Create your own colourful string-art initial ✨

What we provide:
• Pre-designed wooden base (your chosen initial)
• Nails, colourful threads & all materials
• Step-by-step guidance in a relaxed setting

What you take home:
• Your finished string-art name/initial
• A handmade keepsake to decorate or gift 💛

బర్మా తెలుగు తోబుట్టువులతో ఆత్మీయ సమావేశం

అక్కడ ఉనికి అంటే పోరాటం…
అక్కడ జీవితం అంటే ఆరాటం…
ఒకవైపు మిలిటరీ పాలన…
మరోవైపు అంతర్యుద్ధం…

అయినా సరే,
మిణుకు మిణుకుమంటున్న తెలుగు దీపాన్ని ఆర్పకుండా
కాపాడుకోవడానికి విశ్వప్రయత్నం చేస్తున్నారు.
వాళ్లే — మియన్మార్‌లోని తెలుగు సంతతి ప్రజలు.

150 ఏళ్ల క్రితం
వారి తాత–ముత్తాతలు తెలుగు నేల నుంచి
బర్మాకు వలస వెళ్లారు.
తరతరాలుగా అక్కడే జీవించినా
ఇప్పటికీ
“మేము తెలుగు వారమే”
అని గర్వంగా చెప్పుకుంటున్నారు.

తమ తల్లి వేరు బంధాన్ని పలకరించేందుకు
తొలిసారిగా హైదరాబాద్‌కు వస్తున్నారు.

రండి…
బర్మా తెలుగు తోబుట్టువులను
ఆత్మీయంగా కలుసుకుందాం.


మీదే ఆలస్యం…
మనోళ్లను కలుసుకునేందుకు
మనమందరం కలుద్దాం.

నిర్వహణ:
డి. పి. అనురాధ
తెలుగు జాతి ట్రస్టీ
📞 9010016555

సమన్వయకర్త:
ఎర్రనాయుడు, విశాఖపట్నం

An evening with the Burmese Telugu brethren.

Being there means struggle...
Life there means agony...
On one side, military rule...
On the other side, civil war...

Nevertheless,
They are making a universal effort to protect the flickering Telugu lamp from being extinguished.
They are — the descendants of the Telugu people in Myanmar.

150 years ago
Their grandfathers and great-grandfathers migrated from the Telugu land
to Burma.
Even though they have lived there for generations,
Even now,
they proudly say,
"We are Telugu people."

To cherish their mother tongue bond
they are coming to Hyderabad for the first time.

Come...
Let's meet the Burmese Telugu brethren.

Organized by:
D. P. Anuradha
Trustee, Telugu Jati Trust
📞 9010016555

Coordinator:
Erranaidu, Visakhapatnam

So, as the winter evenings in December unfold at Lamakaan, audiences will journey through Takita’s cinematic universe—where humor, history, and humanity converge. Each Wednesday promises not just a film screening, but an immersion into the delicate art of storytelling that made Yōjirō Takita a legend.

About the Director: Yōjirō Takita, born on December 4, 1955. Known worldwide for his Academy Award-winning masterpiece Departures (2008), Takita’s journey from comic pink films to historical epics and deeply human dramas reflects a rare versatility. His works resonate because they transform intimate Japanese traditions into universal stories, inviting audiences to reflect on life, death, and the quiet dignity of human connection. Takita’s style is marked by emotional subtlety and cultural depth, weaving humor, ritual, and tenderness into cinematic experiences that linger long after the screen fades. His impact lies in bridging tradition with modern storytelling, proving that local narratives can achieve global acclaim.

Film Title: TENCHI: THE SAMURAI ASTRONOMER | 2012 | 141 Mins | Japan | Japanese Language with English Subtitles

About the film: Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer (2012), directed by Yōjirō Takita, is a Japanese historical drama based on Tow Ubukata’s novel Tenchi Meisatsu. The film tells the story of Yasui Santetsu, a skilled Go master in the Edo period whose fascination with the stars leads him to become Japan’s first official astronomer. Tasked by the shogunate to reform the outdated calendar system, Santetsu faces political resistance, scientific challenges, and personal struggles, yet his dedication results in the creation of the Jōkyō calendar, a landmark achievement in Japanese timekeeping. Blending samurai tradition with scientific discovery, the film highlights themes of perseverance, curiosity, and the transformative power of knowledge.

Screening followed by Discussion. All are Welcome. Entry is free and open to all!

UNDYING! a one of its kind Zombie shortfilm made entirely by students of an engineering college film club is a story of college students encountering a scary zombie outbreak in the campus. Filled with stakes, suspense, twists and turns and adventure with light comedic quirks in between. Undying is the manifestation of a huge leap of faith, solid initiative, dedication and teamwork giving out a visionary output, making Undying a very entertaining, engaging and visionary shortfilm.

Set in the 1960s–70s, Tamrapatra follows the story of a poverty-stricken family, where the elderly man who, in desperation, pretends to be a freedom fighter to access the government pension granted to real patriots. Through his act of deception, the play raises a haunting question: What does freedom truly mean to the poor? Has anything really changed for them since the British left — or have new rulers simply replaced the old?

ప్రముఖ సైక్రియార్టిస్ట్ డా. శ్రీకాంత్ మిర్యాల గారు రచించిన రెండో పుస్తకం “ జూనియర్ డాక్టర్” పుస్తకావిష్కరణ.

We wish to share some important videos about rock climbing as an activity amongst our members. This include movie clips, technical climbing and a discussion about climbing, trekking and adventure.

A circle of stories, reflections, and song Love has many forms — gentle, fiery, divine, human. Inspired by The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak and the timeless words of Rumi, this baithak is a space to pause, listen, and share. Together, we will reflect on love through: ✨ Stories from the book and our own lives ✨ Baatein (conversations) on what love means to us in its many shades ✨ Anubhav (experiences) of holding love in community ✨ A closing song in Farsi — a gift from Rumi’s verses This gathering is not a lecture, but a collective holding — a chance to sit in circle, share from the heart, and let all of us find a community to hold and share our experiences of love.

Set in the 1960s–70s, Tamrapatra follows the story of a poverty-stricken family, where the elderly man who, in desperation, pretends to be a freedom fighter to access the government pension granted to real patriots. Through his act of deception, the play raises a haunting question: What does freedom truly mean to the poor? Has anything really changed for them since the British left — or have new rulers simply replaced the old?

VOTE CHORI:Discussion on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Telangana

This talk focuses on an in-depth discussion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in India and Telangana, highlighting its objectives, implementation strategies, challenges, and impact on electoral integrity. The session aims to create awareness about the importance of periodic revision of electoral rolls to ensure accuracy, inclusiveness, and transparency in the democratic process.

Speakers and stakeholders will deliberate on the methodology adopted during SIR, including field verification, voter enrollment, deletion of ineligible entries, and correction of details. The discussion will also examine the role of election officials, digital tools, and citizen participation in strengthening the quality of electoral data.

All are Welcome!

The talk will examine the major political developments unfolding across the world, with a particular focus on the rise and consolidation of far-right forces internationally. It will explore how Marxist analysis can be applied to characterise the modern state, including the Indian state, and what this characterisation reveals about the nature of power, repression, and class rule today.

Building on this analysis, the discussion will address the strategic questions that arise from such an understanding of the state. It will examine what kinds of political strategies are necessary to confront authoritarianism, communalism, and neoliberal attacks on workers and oppressed communities.

The talk will also raise a critical question: why has the “left,” in general, failed to achieve any major political breakthrough in recent years? It will assess the limitations of existing left strategies, organisational weaknesses, and political compromises, while opening a discussion on what needs to change in order to build an effective, principled, and mass-based left alternative.


speaker:

T Senan, committee of workers international (CWI)

As the New Year 2026 dawns with fresh beginnings and renewed imagination, Lamakaan ushers in January with a festival of Federico Fellini—inviting audiences every Wednesday evening to step into his dreamlike cinema, a perfect way to start the year by celebrating creativity, fantasy, and the art of storytelling.

About the Director: Federico Fellini was born on January 20, 1920, in Rimini, Italy, and passed away on October 31, 1993, in Rome at the age of 73. His journey from a small-town boy sketching caricatures to becoming a towering figure of world cinema is itself a story of imagination. Fellini began his career as a screenwriter in post-war Italy, contributing to the neorealist movement, but soon broke away to craft a style uniquely his own—one that fused fantasy, memory, and baroque imagery with earthy human detail.

Across masterpieces like La Strada (1954), La Dolce Vita (1960), and 8½ (1963), Fellini redefined cinema as a medium of dreams. His films are populated with clowns, carnivals, and surreal spectacles, yet always grounded in the emotional truths of loneliness, desire, and the search for meaning. He won four Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, more than any other director, and his influence continues to ripple across generations of filmmakers.

Film Title: LA DOLCE VITA | 1960 | 174 Mins | Italy | Italian English French German Languages with English Subtitles

About the film: The film follows Marcello Rubini, a tabloid journalist drifting through Rome’s glamorous nightlife, chronicling the excesses of aristocrats, artists, and celebrities. From the iconic Trevi Fountain scene with Anita Ekberg to decadent parties and fleeting romances, Marcello’s journey becomes a portrait of spiritual emptiness beneath the glitter of “the sweet life.” Fellini uses episodic storytelling, surreal imagery, and biting satire to explore themes of fame, desire, and disillusionment, ultimately crafting one of cinema’s most enduring critiques of modern decadence.

Screening followed by Discussion. All are Welcome. Entry is free and open to all!

GZH, in association with Lamakaan, invites you to two short films, AMOR FATI & MILAN, as part of its monthly German Movie Night screening.

AMOR FATI

Director: Dennis Todorović | 2005 | 16 min

A quiet, intimate meditation on choice, chance, and inevitability.
Amor Fati- to love one’s fate- follows a young man confronting the aftermath of an irreversible loss. Through sparse dialogue and restrained imagery, the film explores how identity is shaped not by grand gestures, but by the silent acceptance of what cannot be changed. Tender, unsettling, and deeply human, it asks a deceptively simple question: Do we choose our lives, or do we learn to live with what chooses us?


MILAN

Director: Michaela Kezele | 2007 | 22 min

Set against the lingering shadows of war, Milan is a stark portrait of childhood interrupted. The film observes a young boy navigating a fractured world where play and violence uneasily coexist. Told with minimal dialogue and powerful visual restraint, the story captures how conflict seeps into everyday life- into homes, streets, and imaginations. Rather than dramatizing war, Milan reveals its quiet aftershocks: confusion, resilience, and the premature loss of innocence.

All are Invited! Entry is free and open to all!

The genius of the ancestors of the Telugus found an extraordinary creative expression in the Krishna River valley between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD.

Termed as the Amaravati School of Art, it was an effulgence of artistic and cultural environment, in which not only Buddhist art and architecture but also its religious, ritual, literary, political and ethical cultures saw tremendous evolution.

Historians are uncovering more and more details about the spread and influence of Amaravati art and Krishna valley Buddhism, not only in India but beyond in Sri Lanka and many parts of East Asia.

Krishnamurti Punna’s book in Telugu lucidly brings out the discovery of the two great sites of Dhranikota and Nagarjunakonda, which are part of the Amaravati culture, approximately 225 years ago and 100 years ago, respectively. It also presents the many facts, tales, stories, and anecdotes associated with them, accompanied by ample visual illustrations.

All are Welcome!

Read A Kitaab is an unbiased community of Readers, Booklovers, writers and artists. We strive to provide the community an ecosystem with an online library, book discussions, author meet, book of the month, monthly meets, newsletters & much more...



We have a kids book club as well. Read A Kitaab is a calm & comforting space to be yourself, to discuss books and life with no bars on age/gender/ethnicity/political views etc.

Hyderabad Bookworms' Movie of the Month meetup. Meet your fellow bookworms, as we enjoy a movie adapted from a book or a play, share thoughts, compare with source material, and discuss its cultural relevance. This event is organised once a month, movie is chosen based on poll on our discord server. (dm for the link to the server!) movies can be in any language, as long as supplied with subtitles, preferably under two hours, so that there is enough time for some sweet discussion! instagram: @hyderabadbookworms

This Month we're screening Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Dear Team Lamakaan,

Greetings from Lighthouse Theatre Group.

“The Worker” is a Telugu adaptation intended for a live theatre audience.
Synopsis of The Worker

The Worker is a sharp, symbolic play that explores the quiet violence of modern labour. Set in an urban middle-class household, the play follows a corporate employee trapped in a cycle of job pressure, emotional exhaustion, and moral compromise. As his workplace demands increasingly dehumanizing “favours,” the strain spills into his domestic life, turning love, , and dignity into transactions.

Through satire, repetition, and intimate domestic moments between husband and wife, the play exposes how systems of power invade personal spaces, reducing individuals to obedient workers even within their own homes. The Telugu adaptation places the story in a contemporary Indian corporate setting, making the conflict deeply familiar and unsettling. The Worker questions whether survival within such systems is possible without losing one’s humanity.

Looking forward to your response.
Entry fee: 0

Warm regards,
Lighthouse Theatre Group,
Faheem
8555875297

stories written by poets- kavulu rasina kathalu book release and discussion.

Let's Celebrate Sankranti with stories, stitches & sustainability ♻️
Join our Upcycled Fabric Jewellery Workshop where you will
🌻Make 1 pair of earrings,1 pendant
🌻Learn upcycled jewellery techniques
🌻Take home what you create
📩 DM to register, limited spots ♻️
No prior experience needed ♻️
Anyone who loves sustainability, crafting something from their own hands can join our workshop 💚
Entry Fee : 850

Art and literature can be seen as extensions of the human mind. Very often they can reveal what lies within, sometimes visibly, and, sometimes, not quite so visibly. The movie club is (we hope) a fun way of looking deeper into the emotions, perceptions and thoughts that weave human relationships together or tear them apart. A movie may be treated as a true story or, alternatively, can be used as a tool to try and figure out what went on in the directors head when the movie was made. Either way, it’s a different way of understanding human behavior and relationships. In the end, by looking deeper into another’s story, we hope, perchance, to understand ourselves better.

A solo Classic Dastangoi performance by Kafeel Jafri narrating the magical story of a fantasy world (tilism) with Aiyaars (tricksters), especially Amar Aiyaar, trying to fight off the Saahirs or Jadugars (magicians) and their magician army. There are buildings, cities and jungles, all made using magic, by magicians with an intention of catching the tricksters. This constant tussle between the two groups is what makes the performance highly dramatic with diverse set of characters, delivered in mellifluous Urdu, with a mix of urdu poetry. These Dastans are 150-250 years old and Dastangoi as a form went extinct around 1920s and was revived in Mid 2000s

The Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP), in collaboration with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and A-CODE, cordially invites you to a special anniversary edition of Bazm-e-Sukhan:

“Kuchh Ishq Kiya: Faiz Ahmed Faiz”

An evening celebrating the life and poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, featuring Mir Ali Hussain and musical renditions by Smita Bellur.

As the New Year 2026 dawns with fresh beginnings and renewed imagination, Lamakaan ushers in January with a festival of Federico Fellini—inviting audiences every Wednesday evening to step into his dreamlike cinema, a perfect way to start the year by celebrating creativity, fantasy, and the art of storytelling.

About the Director: Federico Fellini was born on January 20, 1920, in Rimini, Italy, and passed away on October 31, 1993, in Rome at the age of 73. His journey from a small-town boy sketching caricatures to becoming a towering figure of world cinema is itself a story of imagination. Fellini began his career as a screenwriter in post-war Italy, contributing to the neorealist movement, but soon broke away to craft a style uniquely his own—one that fused fantasy, memory, and baroque imagery with earthy human detail.

Across masterpieces like La Strada (1954), La Dolce Vita (1960), and 8½ (1963), Fellini redefined cinema as a medium of dreams. His films are populated with clowns, carnivals, and surreal spectacles, yet always grounded in the emotional truths of loneliness, desire, and the search for meaning. He won four Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, more than any other director, and his influence continues to ripple across generations of filmmakers.

Film Title: LA STRADA | 1954 | 108 Mins | Italy | Italian Language with English Subtitles

About the film: La Strada, also translated into English as The Road, is a 1954 Italian tragedy film directed by Federico Fellini and co-written by Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, and Ennio Flaiano. The film tells the story of Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), a simple-minded young woman sold by her mother to Zampanò (Anthony Quinn), a brutish strongman who takes her with him on the road.

Screening followed by Discussion. All are Welcome. Entry is free and open to all!

Kulhad is a student-made and independently funded short film centered on two engineering students in Hyderabad, Abeer and Vihaan, whose brief interaction brings together two very different lived realities. Abeer, living far from home, struggles with isolation and mental health, while Vihaan, who lives with his family, grapples with dissatisfaction and pressure despite being rooted in his home environment.

The film aims to be relatable to those who feel displaced as well as those who feel unsettled even while staying at home, reflecting the complicated relationships and emotional negotiations people navigate daily. Through a grounded, minimal narrative, Kulhad shows how something seemingly insignificant, a shared laugh or a moment of warmth, can offer unexpected peace.

Using the kulhad as its central motif, the film stays rooted in everyday routines, portraying how something as simple as a cup of chai can help one step out of a heavy headspace.

Özge Baykan Calafato explores the transnational histories linking the late Ottoman Empire and Hyderabad through photography. Focusing on the marriages of Ottoman princesses into the Nizam’s family, the talk examines how royal photographs shaped memory, migration, and ideas of cosmopolitan modernity across Turkey and India, and how these images continue to circulate today through nostalgia, exile, and archival afterlives.

"Vibhata Sandhyalu" is a distinctive and important Telugu literary anthology published under the editorship of C.V. Subbarao, which has provided works with a revolutionary perspective by integrating poetry, criticism, and social sciences, giving a new direction to literary criticism and making a distinguished contribution to Telugu literature.

Through "Vibhata Sandhyalu", C.V. Subbarao showed literature not only as an artistic medium but also as a tool for social change and a revolutionary perspective. This marked a significant turning point in Telugu literature.

I am gathering all traders in stock markets, they are also coming to meet me in person I am from Hyderabad Saai who have around 15k followers in Instagram. Its a free event just meetup discuss and gather have tea coffee snacks

Listen Circle is a peer-support space for queer and neurodivergent.Space for queer and neurodivergent people to come together to engage in a therapeutic discussion along with arts based therapy
Dance Movement Therapy based Listening Circle by ADHD QUEEPLE. We'll be using elements from creative movement therapy to look at social connection, self and co- regulation and then move on to sharing with each other as a community.

The facilitation will be done by Angela Melanie Rego who is a trained dance movement therapy practitioner and co-facilitated by Priyanka who is trained to provide psycho social support and support groups.

The US imperialist attack on Venezuela and abduction of its president Nicolas Madurao on 3rd January is a momentous event in world history. Not that this is the first such imperialist interference into a sovereign nation, but coming as it is at a time when US imperialism is clearly on its decline in the face of increasing rivalry with the Sino-Russian imperialist axis, it clearly is an ominous sign for the global politics in the days to come. This becomes especially dangerous because a reckless person like Donald Trump is at the helm of affairs in the US. Against this backdrop it is pertinent to ask what is the motive of US attack on Venezuela? What it means for the current world order? Where the imperialist system heading the humanity to? What the justice loving people across the world need to do for securing a better future for humanity? It is to discuss these questions that In Defense of Reason has planned this discussion. All are welcome to attend this important discussion.

నేను ప్రపంచంలోని పిల్లల సినిమాలను అధ్యయనం చేసి 25 బెస్ట్ పిల్లల సినిమాల సమాచారంతో ' పిల్లల సినిమా కథలు ' అనే పుస్తకం ప్రచురించాను. ఆ బుక్ సూపర్ హిట్. ప్రస్తుతం దొరకదు. ఇప్పుడు అనిల్ బత్తుల పబ్లికేషన్స్ , లమాకాన్ సంస్థలు కలిసి ' CHILDREN FILM FESTIVAL 2026 ' నిర్వహించబోతున్నాము. 2026 సంవత్సరం పొడుగునా ప్రతి నెలా ఒక ఆదివారం రాత్రి 7 నుండి 9 వరకు పిల్లల సినిమా స్క్రీన్ చేస్తాం. భారతీయ విదేశీ ఉత్తమ పిల్లల సినిమాలు ఇక్కడ ఉచితంగా ప్రదర్శిస్తాం. పిల్లలు, తల్లిదండ్రులు ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ ఈ గొప్ప అవకాశాన్ని సద్వినియోగం చేసుకోమని మనవి.


- మీ అనిల్ బత్తుల

I studied children’s films from around the world and published a book titled “Children’s Film Stories,” featuring insights on 25 outstanding children’s films. The book was a great success and is currently unavailable.

Now, Anil Battula Publications and Lamakaan are jointly organizing the Children Film Festival 2026. Throughout 2026, on one Sunday every month from 7:00–9:00 PM, we will screen some of the finest Indian and international children’s films free of cost.

As part of this festival, we will be screening 'Children of Heaven', the much-loved Iranian children’s classic. We warmly invite children, parents, and all film lovers to join us for this special celebration of children’s cinema.

Hosting a Panel Discussion for the National Youth Day event, providing an informative session for the audience and raising awareness.

Perhaps Zora Neale Hurston's quote "Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose," prompted the Late Jayant Pawar, a renowned Marathi playwright and critic, to meet a Crematorium keeper in the Municipal Crematorium, Worli, Mumbai, to explore the intricacies of life – and the dead - there.
Adapted as a play by Sutradhar, Hyderabad from the not so publicized 1993 interview of the late Jayant Pawar with a Worli Municipal Crematorium keeper, it offers a no-holds barred peep into the lives of those who do not merely witness mortality, but inhabit its geography—physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Hour after hour, day after day.
The interview termed as ‘mulaakhat’ and published in Marathi as PASSWALA has been translated by Vrushali Singh Bayas and devised and directed by Vinay Varma.
At the heart of the story is the crematorium keeper, K.G. Mohite, a man who’s seen thousands of bodies reduced to bone and ash, and yet wakes each morning to write a pass for another dead, have another pyre lit, and carry on with life. He’s someone who has long ceased to react, but has never ceased to observe. His presence is marked by endurance and not by emotion. His stoicism stems from a philosophy refined through years of disciplined proximity to the temporal world. He does not sentimentalize the dead, nor does he recoil from them. His silence is precise, deliberate, and functional. Surrounded by fire, grief, bureaucracy, human faeces and forgotten bodies, the keeper operates with an unflinching sense of duty. He neither resists nor embraces his environment—he inhabits it fully, as one might inhabit a vow.
Life continues for those who have made the crematorium their home. People go to work, carry their daily chores, dance and sing, argue, fall in love, and stay normal—while surrounded by death.
The story explores hard, often uncomfortable questions:
Is there a sensitive soul behind the calm and detached demeanour of the crematorium keeper?
How human rituals of joy—marriage, childbirth, and other celebrations—retain their vitality in a space designed for endings?
Are unclaimed bodies really cremated imperviously?
How does one preserve dignity and belief when surrounded by decay, stench and silence?
What mechanisms, rational or superstitious, do people devise to hold off the ‘imagined’ ghosts of the dead?
How is a burial spot identified so as to not disturb the already buried?
But underneath it all, Passwala isn’t just about death. It’s about what refuses to die: hope, absurdity, guilt, and the absurd persistence of laughter even when it shouldn't exist. Told with honesty and restraint, Passwala doesn't rely on spectacle or sentimentality. Instead, it quietly observes the rhythms of daily life in a place most people avoid. It is a story of survival, dignity, and human resilience. Of people who don’t choose to be near death, but find ways to live fully in its presence.
Come, watch how the custodians of death negotiate the fragile machinery of the living. Listen to the Philosophy of life – and death – explored through pauses, muted dialogues, resilience and routine gestures of a marginalized professional.
Although the setting of the play is Mumbai, the theme of life and death resonates across the universe. This play is particularly an eye opener for those who never visit a crematorium, for various reasons including fear!

Performing Classical Dance (Bharatnatyam)

The story follows a heartfelt and painful conversation between a man and a woman who care deeply for each other but are forced apart by the invisible walls of society. After quietly loving her for years, the hero finally learns that she knows about his feelings — and even reciprocates them — yet cannot accept his love. As they walk together, she opens up about how deeply she believes in love, describing it as one of humanity’s most beautiful creations. But despite understanding love better than most, she feels trapped by family, tradition, and the rigid boundaries of caste.
Her inner conflict reveals how societal expectations overpower individual emotion. She admires him, respects him, and acknowledges his purity of heart, yet believes she has no right to love him because he is from another caste. The hero, though heartbroken, accepts her honesty with grace.
Through his voice-over, the story grows wider than their personal pain. It becomes a critique of a society that celebrates gods of love yet destroys people who try to love freely. He reflects on how humanity advances technologically but remains emotionally primitive, still chained by caste, religion, and ego.
In the end, their separation becomes a symbol of a larger truth — love may be powerful, but in their world, society’s boundaries remain stronger.

An evening of Christmas Carols and Hymns. Totally appropriate for the festive season.
Come and Join us as we celebrate the season of Hope and Blessinsgs.
Join us with your loved ones.

So, as the winter evenings in December unfold at Lamakaan, audiences will journey through Takita’s cinematic universe—where humor, history, and humanity converge. Each Wednesday promises not just a film screening, but an immersion into the delicate art of storytelling that made Yōjirō Takita a legend.

About the Director: Yōjirō Takita, born on December 4, 1955. Known worldwide for his Academy Award-winning masterpiece Departures (2008), Takita’s journey from comic pink films to historical epics and deeply human dramas reflects a rare versatility. His works resonate because they transform intimate Japanese traditions into universal stories, inviting audiences to reflect on life, death, and the quiet dignity of human connection. Takita’s style is marked by emotional subtlety and cultural depth, weaving humor, ritual, and tenderness into cinematic experiences that linger long after the screen fades. His impact lies in bridging tradition with modern storytelling, proving that local narratives can achieve global acclaim.

Film Title: THE LAST RECIPE | 2017 | 126 Mins | Japan | Japanese Language with English Subtitles

About the film: The film follows Mitsuru Sasaki, a once world-class chef gifted with the rare ability to recreate any dish after tasting it just once. Having lost his passion and driven into bankruptcy by his pursuit of perfection, he begins offering “last meals” to wealthy clients at exorbitant prices. His life takes a dramatic turn when he is tasked with uncovering a legendary recipe created in 1930s Manchuria by Naotaro Yamagata, a chef whose culinary genius was entwined with Japan’s turbulent history. As Sasaki retraces the recipe’s journey across time and continents, he confronts themes of memory, legacy, and the soul of cooking itself. Blending food, mystery, and historical drama, The Last Recipe serves up a story where cuisine becomes a bridge between generations and a vessel of human connection.

Screening followed by Discussion. All are Welcome. Entry is free and open to all!

Many women spend their entire day caring for family, home, and responsibilities, often forgetting their own dreams, talents, and voice. “Open Sky for Women – Ghar Se Gagan Tak” is a heartfelt initiative created to bring such women out into the open—into a space of confidence, expression, and connection.

This event is not a competition and not a show.
It is a safe, welcoming platform where women can meet other women, understand the changing world, and freely express their talents—whether in art, craft, music, dance, yoga, storytelling, life experiences, skills, or any field they feel connected to.

The program is specially designed for homemakers, rural and semi-urban women, and those who rarely get a chance to step onto a public platform. Through interactive sessions, awareness talks, talent sharing, and joyful group activities, women will get the opportunity to see the progress of society, discover their inner strength, and realize that their abilities matter.

This is a space where:

No qualification is required

No judgment exists

Every woman’s expression is respected

Kadali Alalaaga is a cozy, interactive sing along evening curated to help audiences unwind after a long workday and ease into the weekend. Featuring Band Kadali, the session brings together nostalgic 1990s and 2000s Telugu melodies along with other genres.

The audience is encourgaed to vibe along and request songs, create a warm, personal and relaxed atmosphere. Curated by Satya in collaboration with Band Kadali, the event will be held on 26th December from 7PM to 9PM, offering a slow, feel good musical experience filled with comfort and connection

Sisters Connect Club is organizing its 1st Anniversary Celebration, bringing together women from our community for an evening of networking, activities, and a curated open mic. The event will include:

• Open Mic Segment:
A limited-slot, pre-registered activity where selected participants will present poetry, stories, or small talks.

• Women-Led Stalls:
Small business owners from the community will set up paid stalls to showcase and sell their products.

• Networking & Community Interaction:
The event will serve as a platform for women to connect, exchange ideas, and engage in collaborative conversations.

Entry:
Free attendance for all women.

Expected Footfall:
Approximately 70–100 women attendees.

Purpose of the Event:
To celebrate one year of building a women’s community, encourage local women-led businesses, and provide a structured platform for creative and professional expression.

"Taalsen," is a dynamic vocal workshop held by Vandana Susheel, designed especially for beginners looking to explore the world of music with a registration fee of just ₹500!

Vandana Susheel is an 20-year-old passionate singer-songwriter, who has been exposed to the world of music since the age of 5. She has done her training for hindustani classical music from the esteemed “Shankar Mahadevan Academy” and also gained certifications for music composition courses from AR Rahman’s “KM Music Conservatory.” She has sung songs for 2 films, and her original song“Yaadon Ke Guldaste” is out on all major streaming platforms

Explore the fundamentals of notes, melodies and rhythms with “Taalsen” on the 27th of December 3PM to 6 PM! Whether you're a complete novice or looking to refine your skills, this workshop promises an enriching journey into the world of vocal music.

Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7BeQWSF6l-sMH3K8-LIKtXkqXen0EqdJ-2dRkXCkqU13UtQ/viewform?usp=preview

A man named Holo is stopped, questioned, and watched — but no one, not even he, knows what his crime is. From a rolling bottle to bureaucratic interrogation, from fragmented memories to doubles who speak in riddles, Olo ka kya unfolds as an absurdist investigation into guilt, identity, and the invisible machinery of power.

Through shifting conversations with constables, a shadowy figure named Olo, and an ever-present sense of surveillance, the play stages a world where logic breaks down and language circles back on itself. What begins as a comic misunderstanding spirals into a surreal trial of existence itself.

Blending dark humour, psychological realism, and the theatre of the absurd, Olo ka kya holds a mirror to societies where individuals are trapped between authority and their own fractured selves.

What you get to learn
This is a 400-year-old Cheriyal doll/mask making workshop from the artisans of Cheriyal village. Guided session on sanding of coconut shell and using tamarind seed and saw dust paste for making traditional cheriyal mask. The coloring part need to be done after the mask is dried (the next day) so the participants will be given 2 dolls each (as shown in the pictures on the left). one doll will be made by the participant at the workshop and the other doll will be the one made on the previous day by the artist for the participant to colour.

SPIN YOUR NAME WITH CREATIVITY!
Create your own colourful string-art initial ✨

What we provide:
• Pre-designed wooden base (your chosen initial)
• Nails, colourful threads & all materials
• Step-by-step guidance in a relaxed setting

What you take home:
• Your finished string-art name/initial
• A handmade keepsake to decorate or gift 💛

బర్మా తెలుగు తోబుట్టువులతో ఆత్మీయ సమావేశం

అక్కడ ఉనికి అంటే పోరాటం…
అక్కడ జీవితం అంటే ఆరాటం…
ఒకవైపు మిలిటరీ పాలన…
మరోవైపు అంతర్యుద్ధం…

అయినా సరే,
మిణుకు మిణుకుమంటున్న తెలుగు దీపాన్ని ఆర్పకుండా
కాపాడుకోవడానికి విశ్వప్రయత్నం చేస్తున్నారు.
వాళ్లే — మియన్మార్‌లోని తెలుగు సంతతి ప్రజలు.

150 ఏళ్ల క్రితం
వారి తాత–ముత్తాతలు తెలుగు నేల నుంచి
బర్మాకు వలస వెళ్లారు.
తరతరాలుగా అక్కడే జీవించినా
ఇప్పటికీ
“మేము తెలుగు వారమే”
అని గర్వంగా చెప్పుకుంటున్నారు.

తమ తల్లి వేరు బంధాన్ని పలకరించేందుకు
తొలిసారిగా హైదరాబాద్‌కు వస్తున్నారు.

రండి…
బర్మా తెలుగు తోబుట్టువులను
ఆత్మీయంగా కలుసుకుందాం.


మీదే ఆలస్యం…
మనోళ్లను కలుసుకునేందుకు
మనమందరం కలుద్దాం.

నిర్వహణ:
డి. పి. అనురాధ
తెలుగు జాతి ట్రస్టీ
📞 9010016555

సమన్వయకర్త:
ఎర్రనాయుడు, విశాఖపట్నం

An evening with the Burmese Telugu brethren.

Being there means struggle...
Life there means agony...
On one side, military rule...
On the other side, civil war...

Nevertheless,
They are making a universal effort to protect the flickering Telugu lamp from being extinguished.
They are — the descendants of the Telugu people in Myanmar.

150 years ago
Their grandfathers and great-grandfathers migrated from the Telugu land
to Burma.
Even though they have lived there for generations,
Even now,
they proudly say,
"We are Telugu people."

To cherish their mother tongue bond
they are coming to Hyderabad for the first time.

Come...
Let's meet the Burmese Telugu brethren.

Organized by:
D. P. Anuradha
Trustee, Telugu Jati Trust
📞 9010016555

Coordinator:
Erranaidu, Visakhapatnam

So, as the winter evenings in December unfold at Lamakaan, audiences will journey through Takita’s cinematic universe—where humor, history, and humanity converge. Each Wednesday promises not just a film screening, but an immersion into the delicate art of storytelling that made Yōjirō Takita a legend.

About the Director: Yōjirō Takita, born on December 4, 1955. Known worldwide for his Academy Award-winning masterpiece Departures (2008), Takita’s journey from comic pink films to historical epics and deeply human dramas reflects a rare versatility. His works resonate because they transform intimate Japanese traditions into universal stories, inviting audiences to reflect on life, death, and the quiet dignity of human connection. Takita’s style is marked by emotional subtlety and cultural depth, weaving humor, ritual, and tenderness into cinematic experiences that linger long after the screen fades. His impact lies in bridging tradition with modern storytelling, proving that local narratives can achieve global acclaim.

Film Title: TENCHI: THE SAMURAI ASTRONOMER | 2012 | 141 Mins | Japan | Japanese Language with English Subtitles

About the film: Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer (2012), directed by Yōjirō Takita, is a Japanese historical drama based on Tow Ubukata’s novel Tenchi Meisatsu. The film tells the story of Yasui Santetsu, a skilled Go master in the Edo period whose fascination with the stars leads him to become Japan’s first official astronomer. Tasked by the shogunate to reform the outdated calendar system, Santetsu faces political resistance, scientific challenges, and personal struggles, yet his dedication results in the creation of the Jōkyō calendar, a landmark achievement in Japanese timekeeping. Blending samurai tradition with scientific discovery, the film highlights themes of perseverance, curiosity, and the transformative power of knowledge.

Screening followed by Discussion. All are Welcome. Entry is free and open to all!

UNDYING! a one of its kind Zombie shortfilm made entirely by students of an engineering college film club is a story of college students encountering a scary zombie outbreak in the campus. Filled with stakes, suspense, twists and turns and adventure with light comedic quirks in between. Undying is the manifestation of a huge leap of faith, solid initiative, dedication and teamwork giving out a visionary output, making Undying a very entertaining, engaging and visionary shortfilm.

Set in the 1960s–70s, Tamrapatra follows the story of a poverty-stricken family, where the elderly man who, in desperation, pretends to be a freedom fighter to access the government pension granted to real patriots. Through his act of deception, the play raises a haunting question: What does freedom truly mean to the poor? Has anything really changed for them since the British left — or have new rulers simply replaced the old?

ప్రముఖ సైక్రియార్టిస్ట్ డా. శ్రీకాంత్ మిర్యాల గారు రచించిన రెండో పుస్తకం “ జూనియర్ డాక్టర్” పుస్తకావిష్కరణ.

We wish to share some important videos about rock climbing as an activity amongst our members. This include movie clips, technical climbing and a discussion about climbing, trekking and adventure.

A circle of stories, reflections, and song Love has many forms — gentle, fiery, divine, human. Inspired by The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak and the timeless words of Rumi, this baithak is a space to pause, listen, and share. Together, we will reflect on love through: ✨ Stories from the book and our own lives ✨ Baatein (conversations) on what love means to us in its many shades ✨ Anubhav (experiences) of holding love in community ✨ A closing song in Farsi — a gift from Rumi’s verses This gathering is not a lecture, but a collective holding — a chance to sit in circle, share from the heart, and let all of us find a community to hold and share our experiences of love.

Set in the 1960s–70s, Tamrapatra follows the story of a poverty-stricken family, where the elderly man who, in desperation, pretends to be a freedom fighter to access the government pension granted to real patriots. Through his act of deception, the play raises a haunting question: What does freedom truly mean to the poor? Has anything really changed for them since the British left — or have new rulers simply replaced the old?

VOTE CHORI:Discussion on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Telangana

This talk focuses on an in-depth discussion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in India and Telangana, highlighting its objectives, implementation strategies, challenges, and impact on electoral integrity. The session aims to create awareness about the importance of periodic revision of electoral rolls to ensure accuracy, inclusiveness, and transparency in the democratic process.

Speakers and stakeholders will deliberate on the methodology adopted during SIR, including field verification, voter enrollment, deletion of ineligible entries, and correction of details. The discussion will also examine the role of election officials, digital tools, and citizen participation in strengthening the quality of electoral data.

All are Welcome!

The talk will examine the major political developments unfolding across the world, with a particular focus on the rise and consolidation of far-right forces internationally. It will explore how Marxist analysis can be applied to characterise the modern state, including the Indian state, and what this characterisation reveals about the nature of power, repression, and class rule today.

Building on this analysis, the discussion will address the strategic questions that arise from such an understanding of the state. It will examine what kinds of political strategies are necessary to confront authoritarianism, communalism, and neoliberal attacks on workers and oppressed communities.

The talk will also raise a critical question: why has the “left,” in general, failed to achieve any major political breakthrough in recent years? It will assess the limitations of existing left strategies, organisational weaknesses, and political compromises, while opening a discussion on what needs to change in order to build an effective, principled, and mass-based left alternative.


speaker:

T Senan, committee of workers international (CWI)

As the New Year 2026 dawns with fresh beginnings and renewed imagination, Lamakaan ushers in January with a festival of Federico Fellini—inviting audiences every Wednesday evening to step into his dreamlike cinema, a perfect way to start the year by celebrating creativity, fantasy, and the art of storytelling.

About the Director: Federico Fellini was born on January 20, 1920, in Rimini, Italy, and passed away on October 31, 1993, in Rome at the age of 73. His journey from a small-town boy sketching caricatures to becoming a towering figure of world cinema is itself a story of imagination. Fellini began his career as a screenwriter in post-war Italy, contributing to the neorealist movement, but soon broke away to craft a style uniquely his own—one that fused fantasy, memory, and baroque imagery with earthy human detail.

Across masterpieces like La Strada (1954), La Dolce Vita (1960), and 8½ (1963), Fellini redefined cinema as a medium of dreams. His films are populated with clowns, carnivals, and surreal spectacles, yet always grounded in the emotional truths of loneliness, desire, and the search for meaning. He won four Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, more than any other director, and his influence continues to ripple across generations of filmmakers.

Film Title: LA DOLCE VITA | 1960 | 174 Mins | Italy | Italian English French German Languages with English Subtitles

About the film: The film follows Marcello Rubini, a tabloid journalist drifting through Rome’s glamorous nightlife, chronicling the excesses of aristocrats, artists, and celebrities. From the iconic Trevi Fountain scene with Anita Ekberg to decadent parties and fleeting romances, Marcello’s journey becomes a portrait of spiritual emptiness beneath the glitter of “the sweet life.” Fellini uses episodic storytelling, surreal imagery, and biting satire to explore themes of fame, desire, and disillusionment, ultimately crafting one of cinema’s most enduring critiques of modern decadence.

Screening followed by Discussion. All are Welcome. Entry is free and open to all!

GZH, in association with Lamakaan, invites you to two short films, AMOR FATI & MILAN, as part of its monthly German Movie Night screening.

AMOR FATI

Director: Dennis Todorović | 2005 | 16 min

A quiet, intimate meditation on choice, chance, and inevitability.
Amor Fati- to love one’s fate- follows a young man confronting the aftermath of an irreversible loss. Through sparse dialogue and restrained imagery, the film explores how identity is shaped not by grand gestures, but by the silent acceptance of what cannot be changed. Tender, unsettling, and deeply human, it asks a deceptively simple question: Do we choose our lives, or do we learn to live with what chooses us?


MILAN

Director: Michaela Kezele | 2007 | 22 min

Set against the lingering shadows of war, Milan is a stark portrait of childhood interrupted. The film observes a young boy navigating a fractured world where play and violence uneasily coexist. Told with minimal dialogue and powerful visual restraint, the story captures how conflict seeps into everyday life- into homes, streets, and imaginations. Rather than dramatizing war, Milan reveals its quiet aftershocks: confusion, resilience, and the premature loss of innocence.

All are Invited! Entry is free and open to all!

The genius of the ancestors of the Telugus found an extraordinary creative expression in the Krishna River valley between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD.

Termed as the Amaravati School of Art, it was an effulgence of artistic and cultural environment, in which not only Buddhist art and architecture but also its religious, ritual, literary, political and ethical cultures saw tremendous evolution.

Historians are uncovering more and more details about the spread and influence of Amaravati art and Krishna valley Buddhism, not only in India but beyond in Sri Lanka and many parts of East Asia.

Krishnamurti Punna’s book in Telugu lucidly brings out the discovery of the two great sites of Dhranikota and Nagarjunakonda, which are part of the Amaravati culture, approximately 225 years ago and 100 years ago, respectively. It also presents the many facts, tales, stories, and anecdotes associated with them, accompanied by ample visual illustrations.

All are Welcome!

Read A Kitaab is an unbiased community of Readers, Booklovers, writers and artists. We strive to provide the community an ecosystem with an online library, book discussions, author meet, book of the month, monthly meets, newsletters & much more...



We have a kids book club as well. Read A Kitaab is a calm & comforting space to be yourself, to discuss books and life with no bars on age/gender/ethnicity/political views etc.

Hyderabad Bookworms' Movie of the Month meetup. Meet your fellow bookworms, as we enjoy a movie adapted from a book or a play, share thoughts, compare with source material, and discuss its cultural relevance. This event is organised once a month, movie is chosen based on poll on our discord server. (dm for the link to the server!) movies can be in any language, as long as supplied with subtitles, preferably under two hours, so that there is enough time for some sweet discussion! instagram: @hyderabadbookworms

This Month we're screening Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Dear Team Lamakaan,

Greetings from Lighthouse Theatre Group.

“The Worker” is a Telugu adaptation intended for a live theatre audience.
Synopsis of The Worker

The Worker is a sharp, symbolic play that explores the quiet violence of modern labour. Set in an urban middle-class household, the play follows a corporate employee trapped in a cycle of job pressure, emotional exhaustion, and moral compromise. As his workplace demands increasingly dehumanizing “favours,” the strain spills into his domestic life, turning love, , and dignity into transactions.

Through satire, repetition, and intimate domestic moments between husband and wife, the play exposes how systems of power invade personal spaces, reducing individuals to obedient workers even within their own homes. The Telugu adaptation places the story in a contemporary Indian corporate setting, making the conflict deeply familiar and unsettling. The Worker questions whether survival within such systems is possible without losing one’s humanity.

Looking forward to your response.
Entry fee: 0

Warm regards,
Lighthouse Theatre Group,
Faheem
8555875297

stories written by poets- kavulu rasina kathalu book release and discussion.

Let's Celebrate Sankranti with stories, stitches & sustainability ♻️
Join our Upcycled Fabric Jewellery Workshop where you will
🌻Make 1 pair of earrings,1 pendant
🌻Learn upcycled jewellery techniques
🌻Take home what you create
📩 DM to register, limited spots ♻️
No prior experience needed ♻️
Anyone who loves sustainability, crafting something from their own hands can join our workshop 💚
Entry Fee : 850

Art and literature can be seen as extensions of the human mind. Very often they can reveal what lies within, sometimes visibly, and, sometimes, not quite so visibly. The movie club is (we hope) a fun way of looking deeper into the emotions, perceptions and thoughts that weave human relationships together or tear them apart. A movie may be treated as a true story or, alternatively, can be used as a tool to try and figure out what went on in the directors head when the movie was made. Either way, it’s a different way of understanding human behavior and relationships. In the end, by looking deeper into another’s story, we hope, perchance, to understand ourselves better.

A solo Classic Dastangoi performance by Kafeel Jafri narrating the magical story of a fantasy world (tilism) with Aiyaars (tricksters), especially Amar Aiyaar, trying to fight off the Saahirs or Jadugars (magicians) and their magician army. There are buildings, cities and jungles, all made using magic, by magicians with an intention of catching the tricksters. This constant tussle between the two groups is what makes the performance highly dramatic with diverse set of characters, delivered in mellifluous Urdu, with a mix of urdu poetry. These Dastans are 150-250 years old and Dastangoi as a form went extinct around 1920s and was revived in Mid 2000s

The Centre for Development Policy and Practice (CDPP), in collaboration with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and A-CODE, cordially invites you to a special anniversary edition of Bazm-e-Sukhan:

“Kuchh Ishq Kiya: Faiz Ahmed Faiz”

An evening celebrating the life and poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, featuring Mir Ali Hussain and musical renditions by Smita Bellur.

As the New Year 2026 dawns with fresh beginnings and renewed imagination, Lamakaan ushers in January with a festival of Federico Fellini—inviting audiences every Wednesday evening to step into his dreamlike cinema, a perfect way to start the year by celebrating creativity, fantasy, and the art of storytelling.

About the Director: Federico Fellini was born on January 20, 1920, in Rimini, Italy, and passed away on October 31, 1993, in Rome at the age of 73. His journey from a small-town boy sketching caricatures to becoming a towering figure of world cinema is itself a story of imagination. Fellini began his career as a screenwriter in post-war Italy, contributing to the neorealist movement, but soon broke away to craft a style uniquely his own—one that fused fantasy, memory, and baroque imagery with earthy human detail.

Across masterpieces like La Strada (1954), La Dolce Vita (1960), and 8½ (1963), Fellini redefined cinema as a medium of dreams. His films are populated with clowns, carnivals, and surreal spectacles, yet always grounded in the emotional truths of loneliness, desire, and the search for meaning. He won four Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, more than any other director, and his influence continues to ripple across generations of filmmakers.

Film Title: LA STRADA | 1954 | 108 Mins | Italy | Italian Language with English Subtitles

About the film: La Strada, also translated into English as The Road, is a 1954 Italian tragedy film directed by Federico Fellini and co-written by Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, and Ennio Flaiano. The film tells the story of Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), a simple-minded young woman sold by her mother to Zampanò (Anthony Quinn), a brutish strongman who takes her with him on the road.

Screening followed by Discussion. All are Welcome. Entry is free and open to all!

Kulhad is a student-made and independently funded short film centered on two engineering students in Hyderabad, Abeer and Vihaan, whose brief interaction brings together two very different lived realities. Abeer, living far from home, struggles with isolation and mental health, while Vihaan, who lives with his family, grapples with dissatisfaction and pressure despite being rooted in his home environment.

The film aims to be relatable to those who feel displaced as well as those who feel unsettled even while staying at home, reflecting the complicated relationships and emotional negotiations people navigate daily. Through a grounded, minimal narrative, Kulhad shows how something seemingly insignificant, a shared laugh or a moment of warmth, can offer unexpected peace.

Using the kulhad as its central motif, the film stays rooted in everyday routines, portraying how something as simple as a cup of chai can help one step out of a heavy headspace.

Özge Baykan Calafato explores the transnational histories linking the late Ottoman Empire and Hyderabad through photography. Focusing on the marriages of Ottoman princesses into the Nizam’s family, the talk examines how royal photographs shaped memory, migration, and ideas of cosmopolitan modernity across Turkey and India, and how these images continue to circulate today through nostalgia, exile, and archival afterlives.

"Vibhata Sandhyalu" is a distinctive and important Telugu literary anthology published under the editorship of C.V. Subbarao, which has provided works with a revolutionary perspective by integrating poetry, criticism, and social sciences, giving a new direction to literary criticism and making a distinguished contribution to Telugu literature.

Through "Vibhata Sandhyalu", C.V. Subbarao showed literature not only as an artistic medium but also as a tool for social change and a revolutionary perspective. This marked a significant turning point in Telugu literature.

I am gathering all traders in stock markets, they are also coming to meet me in person I am from Hyderabad Saai who have around 15k followers in Instagram. Its a free event just meetup discuss and gather have tea coffee snacks

Listen Circle is a peer-support space for queer and neurodivergent.Space for queer and neurodivergent people to come together to engage in a therapeutic discussion along with arts based therapy
Dance Movement Therapy based Listening Circle by ADHD QUEEPLE. We'll be using elements from creative movement therapy to look at social connection, self and co- regulation and then move on to sharing with each other as a community.

The facilitation will be done by Angela Melanie Rego who is a trained dance movement therapy practitioner and co-facilitated by Priyanka who is trained to provide psycho social support and support groups.

The US imperialist attack on Venezuela and abduction of its president Nicolas Madurao on 3rd January is a momentous event in world history. Not that this is the first such imperialist interference into a sovereign nation, but coming as it is at a time when US imperialism is clearly on its decline in the face of increasing rivalry with the Sino-Russian imperialist axis, it clearly is an ominous sign for the global politics in the days to come. This becomes especially dangerous because a reckless person like Donald Trump is at the helm of affairs in the US. Against this backdrop it is pertinent to ask what is the motive of US attack on Venezuela? What it means for the current world order? Where the imperialist system heading the humanity to? What the justice loving people across the world need to do for securing a better future for humanity? It is to discuss these questions that In Defense of Reason has planned this discussion. All are welcome to attend this important discussion.

నేను ప్రపంచంలోని పిల్లల సినిమాలను అధ్యయనం చేసి 25 బెస్ట్ పిల్లల సినిమాల సమాచారంతో ' పిల్లల సినిమా కథలు ' అనే పుస్తకం ప్రచురించాను. ఆ బుక్ సూపర్ హిట్. ప్రస్తుతం దొరకదు. ఇప్పుడు అనిల్ బత్తుల పబ్లికేషన్స్ , లమాకాన్ సంస్థలు కలిసి ' CHILDREN FILM FESTIVAL 2026 ' నిర్వహించబోతున్నాము. 2026 సంవత్సరం పొడుగునా ప్రతి నెలా ఒక ఆదివారం రాత్రి 7 నుండి 9 వరకు పిల్లల సినిమా స్క్రీన్ చేస్తాం. భారతీయ విదేశీ ఉత్తమ పిల్లల సినిమాలు ఇక్కడ ఉచితంగా ప్రదర్శిస్తాం. పిల్లలు, తల్లిదండ్రులు ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ ఈ గొప్ప అవకాశాన్ని సద్వినియోగం చేసుకోమని మనవి.


- మీ అనిల్ బత్తుల

I studied children’s films from around the world and published a book titled “Children’s Film Stories,” featuring insights on 25 outstanding children’s films. The book was a great success and is currently unavailable.

Now, Anil Battula Publications and Lamakaan are jointly organizing the Children Film Festival 2026. Throughout 2026, on one Sunday every month from 7:00–9:00 PM, we will screen some of the finest Indian and international children’s films free of cost.

As part of this festival, we will be screening 'Children of Heaven', the much-loved Iranian children’s classic. We warmly invite children, parents, and all film lovers to join us for this special celebration of children’s cinema.

Hosting a Panel Discussion for the National Youth Day event, providing an informative session for the audience and raising awareness.

Perhaps Zora Neale Hurston's quote "Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose," prompted the Late Jayant Pawar, a renowned Marathi playwright and critic, to meet a Crematorium keeper in the Municipal Crematorium, Worli, Mumbai, to explore the intricacies of life – and the dead - there.
Adapted as a play by Sutradhar, Hyderabad from the not so publicized 1993 interview of the late Jayant Pawar with a Worli Municipal Crematorium keeper, it offers a no-holds barred peep into the lives of those who do not merely witness mortality, but inhabit its geography—physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Hour after hour, day after day.
The interview termed as ‘mulaakhat’ and published in Marathi as PASSWALA has been translated by Vrushali Singh Bayas and devised and directed by Vinay Varma.
At the heart of the story is the crematorium keeper, K.G. Mohite, a man who’s seen thousands of bodies reduced to bone and ash, and yet wakes each morning to write a pass for another dead, have another pyre lit, and carry on with life. He’s someone who has long ceased to react, but has never ceased to observe. His presence is marked by endurance and not by emotion. His stoicism stems from a philosophy refined through years of disciplined proximity to the temporal world. He does not sentimentalize the dead, nor does he recoil from them. His silence is precise, deliberate, and functional. Surrounded by fire, grief, bureaucracy, human faeces and forgotten bodies, the keeper operates with an unflinching sense of duty. He neither resists nor embraces his environment—he inhabits it fully, as one might inhabit a vow.
Life continues for those who have made the crematorium their home. People go to work, carry their daily chores, dance and sing, argue, fall in love, and stay normal—while surrounded by death.
The story explores hard, often uncomfortable questions:
Is there a sensitive soul behind the calm and detached demeanour of the crematorium keeper?
How human rituals of joy—marriage, childbirth, and other celebrations—retain their vitality in a space designed for endings?
Are unclaimed bodies really cremated imperviously?
How does one preserve dignity and belief when surrounded by decay, stench and silence?
What mechanisms, rational or superstitious, do people devise to hold off the ‘imagined’ ghosts of the dead?
How is a burial spot identified so as to not disturb the already buried?
But underneath it all, Passwala isn’t just about death. It’s about what refuses to die: hope, absurdity, guilt, and the absurd persistence of laughter even when it shouldn't exist. Told with honesty and restraint, Passwala doesn't rely on spectacle or sentimentality. Instead, it quietly observes the rhythms of daily life in a place most people avoid. It is a story of survival, dignity, and human resilience. Of people who don’t choose to be near death, but find ways to live fully in its presence.
Come, watch how the custodians of death negotiate the fragile machinery of the living. Listen to the Philosophy of life – and death – explored through pauses, muted dialogues, resilience and routine gestures of a marginalized professional.
Although the setting of the play is Mumbai, the theme of life and death resonates across the universe. This play is particularly an eye opener for those who never visit a crematorium, for various reasons including fear!