(Top, l – r) “Mirzapur” director Anand Iyer; an author talks to an attendee during a book signing event (Janam A. Gupta/Siliconeer). (Bottom) Bollywood director Imtiaz Ali (Artforum).

Poetry, literature, book signings, paintings, photographs, Mirzapur director Anand Iyer, legendary Imtiaz Ali, and Shashi Tharoor… The list of artists goes on and on. 

Yep, it was the 2024 SALA Festival. The South Asian Literature and Art Festival was held on the prestigious grounds of Stanford University on September 28-29. 

Local South Asian artists showcased their best works and interacted with art enthusiasts. 

Poets and authors exchanged dialogue and engaged in book-signing. Local chefs and restaurateurs discussed the behind-the-scenes of culinary arts. 

On a sweet note, legendary movie director Imtiaz Ali and TV director Anand Iyer engaged with fans. 

Remember “Jab We Met” and “Tamasha”? We can thank Imtiaz Ali for those childhood memories. 

In the OTT world, Anand Iyer rocked us with “Mirzapur.” 

The SALA Festival was organized by Art Forum SF in coalition with the Stanford Center for South Asia.