THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, October 1: The 49th edition of the Soorya Festival begins in Thiruvananthapuram today, launching a 111-day celebration of Indian art and culture featuring more than 2,000 artists from across the country.
The festival will bring together music, classical dance, theatre, cinema, painting, poetry, storytelling, lectures and workshops, continuing its tradition as one of India’s longest-running cultural festivals.
49th Edition Begins Today
The festival is scheduled to open at 6:45 pm at Ganesham – Soorya Nataka Kalari in Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram.
The opening marks the beginning of an extensive cultural calendar featuring artists from multiple disciplines and different parts of India.
More Than 2,000 Artists to Participate
More than 2,000 artists are expected to take part during the 111-day festival.
The programme covers a wide range of artistic disciplines, including Carnatic and Hindustani music, classical and contemporary dance, theatre, films, visual arts, literature and storytelling.
The scale of participation has made the festival an important annual platform for established as well as emerging artists.
KS Harishankar to Open Festival
Playback singer and Carnatic vocalist K S Harishankar will present the opening programme today.
His performance will begin the first phase of the festival, which focuses primarily on dance and music.
The opening segment will continue until October 10.
Leading Dancers Join Opening Phase
Several prominent performers are scheduled to participate during the first 10 days.
The lineup includes Parshwanath Upadhyaya and troupe, Meenakshi Srinivasan, Priyadarshini Govind, Hareesh Ramakrishnan, Pallavi Krishnan, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Asha Sharath, Navya Nair and Janaki Rangarajan.
The programme will showcase different Indian classical and contemporary performance traditions.
Shobana Performance Rescheduled
Actor and classical dancer Shobana had initially been scheduled to perform on the opening day.
Her performance has been moved to another date due to health-related reasons.
The revised schedule is expected to accommodate her performance later during the festival.
Women’s Festival Planned From October 11
Following the initial dance and music programme, the festival will host the Pancha Ratna Women’s Lecture and Women’s Film Festival from October 11 to 15.
The programme will provide a dedicated platform for women speakers, filmmakers and creative voices.
It will be followed by another specialised arts segment later in October.
Choreography Festival Begins October 16
The Choreography Festival is scheduled from October 16 to 20.
The programme will focus on movement, dance composition and choreographic practices across different performance traditions.
It forms part of the festival’s broader effort to showcase different aspects of performing arts rather than restricting the programme to conventional stage performances.
Hindustani and Carnatic Music Get Dedicated Festivals
The Jalsaghar Hindustani Chamber Concerts are scheduled from October 21 to 25.
They will be followed by the Sindhubhairavi Carnatic Music Festival from October 26 to 31.
The dedicated segments will provide audiences with opportunities to experience both major traditions of Indian classical music.
Theatre and Cinema to Take Centre Stage in November
November will feature a wider mix of dance, music, theatre and cinema programmes.
A national theatre festival and a Malayalam-Tamil film panorama are among the major programmes planned during this phase.
Film screenings will run alongside live performances as the festival moves beyond its opening music and dance schedule.
Around 40 Painters to Join Soorya Art Gate
Visual arts will receive a dedicated platform through Soorya Art Gate, scheduled from December 1 to 20.
Around 40 painters are expected to participate.
The programme will expand the festival beyond performing arts and provide audiences with an opportunity to engage with contemporary visual art.
Short Film Festival Planned in December
A dedicated Short Film Festival will be held from December 11 to 20.
The event will showcase selected award-winning short films in multiple languages.
Cinema has historically remained an important part of the Soorya Festival alongside theatre, dance and music.
Literature and Youth Programmes Also Included
The 2026 edition will also feature the Sugathakumari Literary Festival, a Mohiniyattam festival and a youth festival.
Talks, poetry, storytelling and workshops will further broaden the programme.
The combination of different art forms has traditionally been one of the defining characteristics of the Soorya Festival.
Indian Panorama to Screen 20 Films
An Indian Panorama Film Festival is scheduled from January 11 to 20.
The programme will screen 20 films in different Indian languages, providing audiences with a selection of cinema from across the country.
The film segment will form one of the major programmes during the final phase of the festival.
First Edition Without Founder Soorya Krishnamoorthy
This year’s festival carries particular emotional significance because it is the first edition to be held without founder Soorya Krishnamoorthy, who died in September.
He founded the cultural movement in 1977 and remained closely involved in planning and organising the festival for nearly five decades.
Much of the programme for the current edition had already been planned by him before his death.
Committee Takes Forward Founder’s Plans
The festival is now being managed by a committee of around 15 members, with Krishnamoorthy’s son Laxman Moorthi serving as secretary.
The Soorya Kiran volunteer group is also assisting in organising and hosting the programmes.
Preparations for the 2026 edition had largely been completed in advance, allowing the festival to continue according to the plans developed by its founder.
Golden Jubilee Edition Already Being Planned
The next edition will mark the golden jubilee of the Soorya Festival.
Preparations for the milestone edition had reportedly already begun before Krishnamoorthy’s death.
This year’s festival therefore serves both as a continuation of his cultural legacy and as a bridge toward the organisation’s 50th anniversary.
Thiruvananthapuram Begins 111-Day Cultural Celebration
With more than 2,000 artists and programmes spanning music, dance, theatre, cinema, painting and literature, the Soorya Festival will keep Thiruvananthapuram’s cultural calendar active for more than three months.
The 49th edition begins today with K S Harishankar’s Carnatic concert and will continue through an extensive series of performances, exhibitions, screenings and cultural events.
Source – The New Indian Express / Times of India The New Indian Express
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