Chennai: Last week, visitors at Chennai book fair hummed along to James Vasanthan’s melodious renditions of classic Tamil movie songs. Another day, they watched artistes from across the state perform silambam. They also tuned in to panel discussions focussed on the craft of literature, and participated in contests—signalling the fair’s evolution—from a gathering of booksellers to a must-attend cultural event.This transformation, organisers said, was intentional and necessary to stay relevant and attract more readers in the digital age. “The fair is at an inflection point, trying to merge creativity, content and culture. At Sharjah book fair, for instance, content creators were invited to set up stalls to promote the event and attract Gen Z crowd. We are emulating a similar model,” said BAPASI member Shankar Gomathinayagam.
Visitors are embracing the change as well. Ramasamy Subramaniam Pillai, a 92-year-old entrepreneur who has visited the fair for the last three decades, said: “The fair is no longer a place to merely pick up titles. It is a platform for networking with authors, publishers and artists of all age groups.”The fair has grown from housing a mere 13 stalls in the first edition to more than 980 stalls and 500 publishers today. Next year, for the 50th edition, organisers plan to go digital. More food stalls, games for kids, and tech attractions for adults dot the venue, signifying the transition. “Together, they create a one-of-a-kind exhibition-like experience for visitors,” said BAPASI organizing committee member R Shankar.Despite these transformations, books remain central to the event, with publishers and authors holding sway, said BAPASI president R S Shanmugam. “The change is welcome, but we will ensure that publishers and writers remain at the core of the fair. Stalls and other activities will be on the sidelines and not overshadow the day-to-day functioning of bookstalls,” he added.
