Her journey began as an announcer with All India Radio in Pune, and today, life seems to have come full circle. For the very first time, legendary filmmaker Sai Paranjpye (89) will present a unique solo presentation Darwal (Fragrance) on October 11 at Jyotsna Bhole Sabhagriha. A recipient of Padma Bhushan and several National and Filmfare Awards, Paranjpye has shaped Indian cinema and theatre in unforgettable ways with iconic films like Chashme Buddoor, Sparsh and Katha. The first major woman filmmaker of contemporary India, Paranjpye told The Indian Express that in this programme, she will narrate an account of her creative journey. She began her writing career when she was eight with a collection of fairy tales in Marathi. A graduate of National School of Drama, Paranjpye worked at the All India Radio and over the years wrote and directed several plays in Hindi, Marathi and English for adults and children, apart from several children’s books. Her work has stood out for its warmth, wit and the way it powerfully reflects the world around us. Her contributions continue to inspire generations of artistes and storytellers and in Darwal, Paranjpye revisits the magic of her acclaimed films, stage plays, television serials and children’s theatre. The performance will be in Marathi with touches of Hindi and English. Recently, the filmmaker donated a collection of original handwritten drafts and screenplays of films, telefilms, teleplays and stage plays in Marathi, Hindi and English to Ashoka University’s Archives of Contemporary India.
