Show-Me State Times

Saint Louis University is set to host a virtual panel discussion featuring filmmaker Mira Nair on November 13. The event, originally scheduled for October 30, will be held via Zoom at noon.

Mira Nair directed “The Namesake,” a film based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, who has been named the 2026 St. Louis Literary Award honoree. The panel will include Edward Ibur, executive director of the St. Louis Literary Award Programs; Joya Uraizee, Ph.D., English professor at SLU; Ruth Bouman, a senior majoring in English and History; Sharonda Stith, a graduate student in Theological Studies at SLU; and Charles Turnell, a junior political science major and treasurer of the SLU Cinema Club.

Nair is recognized for her films such as “Salaam Bombay!” which won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 1988, “Mississippi Masala,” “Hysterical Blindness,” and “Monsoon Wedding.” She has also adapted several works of literature into film and television projects including “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” and “A Suitable Boy.” Her most recent work includes directing "Monsoon Wedding the Musical," which premiered in New York City in May 2023 and is expected to open in London’s West End in 2026.

Upcoming projects for Nair include feature films about Amrita Sher-Gil and another titled "BRO." A book about her cinema is planned for publication by Rizzoli in 2026. In addition to her filmmaking career, Nair founded Salaam Baalak Trust for street children in India and Maisha Film Lab to train filmmakers in East Africa. She was awarded India's Padma Bhushan honor in 2012.

Jhumpa Lahiri’s literary achievements include novels such as "The Namesake" and "The Lowland," short story collections like "Interpreter of Maladies"—which won the Pulitzer Prize—and non-fiction works including "Translating Myself and Others." Her writing often explores themes related to love, identity, immigration, and cultural transition.

The St. Louis Literary Award is presented annually by Saint Louis University’s College of Arts & Sciences. It recognizes writers whose work provides insight into human experience and compassion. Past recipients have included Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, Eudora Welty, John Updike, Saul Bellow, August Wilson, Stephen Sondheim, Zadie Smith, and Tom Wolfe.