The Hindu Lit Fest began in 2010, as a one-day show and grew into a three-day extravaganza, hosting brilliant authors and thinkers from all over the world. The brainchild of Dr. Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson, The Hindu Group, the festival reflects the spirit of the times and celebrates free speech and expression. The objective is to connect literature to the masses and travel beyond books. Since its inception, the festival has expanded by exploring fiction, non-fiction, politics, history, the arts, cinema, regional literature — in fact, all genres that celebrate ideas.

Till 2019, Chennai saw frenetic activity for three days in January, with writers, novelists, artists, performers and literary enthusiasts descending upon this coastal city in Tamil Nadu taking over the metropolis with performances, conversations, discussions and workshops. In 2021, the festival went virtual due to the pandemic and held gripping sessions that reflected the need of the times. In 2023, the festival returned to its on-ground avatar with authors, translators, theatre personalities, historians and chronicles of the world speaking and interacting with an interested and deeply engaged audience

What sets the festival apart and attracts discerning literature enthusiasts is that it strikes a balance between books and the world around them. No wonder, The Hindu Lit Fest is known as 'The Sharpest Literature Festival in India'.