Sai Paranjpye: December 28, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: From January 15 to 19, 2025, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will host the 10th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival (AIFF 2025), an annual celebration of distinctive films from all over India and the world. This year, the renowned director, screenwriter, producer, and playwright Sai Paranjpye will receive the Padmapani, Lifetime Achievement Award, the festival’s most prestigious honor, in recognition of her significant contributions to Indian cinema.
Nandkishor Kagliwal, the chairman of the AIFF organizing committee, Ankushrao Kadam, the chief mentor, and Director Ashutosh Gowariker, the honorary chairman of the AIFF, made the announcement here today. Famous film critic Latika Padgaonkar (Chairperson), director Ashutosh Gowariker, Sunil Sukthankar, and Chandrakant Kulkarni make up the Padmapani Award Selection Committee. The prize includes a Padmapani memento, a letter of honor, and two lakh rupees in cash.
At the festival’s opening ceremony on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Rukmini Auditorium, MGM University Campus, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Sai Paranjpye will receive the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award. A wide range of national and international artists, notable figures, and moviegoers from all walks of life will be in attendance at the ceremony. For the next five days, the film festival will be held at PVR INOX, Prozone Mall. For more than 40 years, Sai Paranjpye has been a well-known figure in Indian cinema. Her influential Hindi films have contributed to the distinctive character of Indian cinema.
Her films are renowned for their profound emotional impact and perceptive analysis of interpersonal relationships. Sparsh (1980), Chashme Buddoor (1981), Katha (1983), Disha (1990), Choodiyan (1993), and Saaz (1997) are a few of her well-known pieces. Mrs. Paranjpye has directed a number of important plays and children’s dramas in addition to movies. Additionally, she has significantly influenced Marathi literature, especially children’s literature. In 2006, the Indian government honored her with the Padma Bhushan award in recognition of her outstanding contributions. In addition, she has received honors like the Maharashtra Foundation Award and the Filmfare Award. In addition, Paranjpye presided over the Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI) for two terms in a row.
The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) have endorsed AIFF, which is organized by the Marathwada Art, Culture and Film Foundation and presented by Nath Group, Mahatma Gandhi Mission, and Yashwantrao Chavan Center. The Government of Maharashtra, National Film Development Corporation Ltd., Maharashtra Film, State and Cultural Development Corporation Ltd., and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, also support it. The festival’s academic partner is MGM School of Film Arts, and its co-organizers are Solitaire Towers and Abhyudaya Foundation.
MGM University Vice Chancellor Dr. Vilas Sapkal, Festival Director Sunil Sukthankar, Artistic Director Chandrakant Kulkarni, Festival Convener Nilesh Raut, Creative Directors Jayaprad Desai, Dyanesh Zoting, Shiv Kadam and Akash Kagliwal, Dr. Aparna Kakkad, Dr. Ashish Gadekar, Dr. Rekha Shelke, Prof. Dasu Vaidya, Dr. Anand Nikalje, Prerna Dalvi, Subodh Jadhav, and Amit Patil have all encouraged the public to attend the festival.