India, Nov. 3 -- The auditorium lights dimmed to a soft amber glow and a hush rippled through the audience like the turning of a single giant page. Rows of expectant faces leaned forward, the rustle of brochures fading into silence. On stage, the lights gleamed softly, waiting-almost breathing-for the first voices to fill the air. As the audience waited for the start of the maiden Thane Litfest inside the Kashinath Ghanekar Auditorium, time seemed to be holding its breath for the stories about to unfold.

The two-day Thane Litfest, the first such event in this city, saw an enthusiastic crowd devouring every word spoken by writers Bachi Karkaria, Nadir Godrej, Devdutt Pattnaik, Namita Devidayal, Satya Saran, Jerry Pinto, Rasheeda Bhagat an...