Sai Paranjpye declines presidency of 100th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan

Veteran film director, producer and writer Sai Paranjpye has declined to accept the presidency of the 100th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan. The Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad had approached her for the post and had also made a formal request. She has since conveyed her refusal to the Parishad.

Sunil Mahajan, the Parishad's local secretary, had contacted Paranjpye and asked her to accept the presidency of the historic 100th Sammelan. She told him clearly that she would not.

The question of why she refused naturally arose. According to Mahajan, Paranjpye has cited her health as the reason.

Talk that Paranjpye would preside over the Sammelan had earlier gathered pace. With her refusal, the question of who will take the post remains open.

As this year's Sammelan is the 100th, it is bound to be a historic one. Mahajan had approached Paranjpye, but she declined. All eyes are now on who will get the honour of presiding.

The Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad has called another meeting in November. The president of the historic 100th Sammelan will be decided at that meeting. With Paranjpye having declined, it will be important to see whose name is finalised.

Paranjpye is a towering name in cinema. Her parallel films drew audiences to theatres. Besides being a fine director and producer of many quality films, she is also a writer.

She is a Marathi author, playwright and screenwriter. She is also known for writing children's plays and staging them. She has written many quality children's plays.