Marathi playwright and filmmaker Sai Paranjpe has been engrossed in films and HIV-related projects. What made the recipient of two National Awards for kids' writing pick up her rusty pen once again?
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PIC/Anjana Vaswani |
Rigmarole, Sai Paranjpye's latest book contains three plays, one of which was born of a script-idea she dreamed-up for her grandson. Enacted in the courtyard of Cathedral & John Connon School in November 2007, that script and two others that have been translated from her Marathi works, find their way in a new book published by Penguin Group, and up for sale for Rs 199.
What made you decide to put Rigmarole together, now?
It's been so long. I can't even remember when my last children's book was published. I've been absorbed in filmmaking and with HIV projects, for the last few years. The first play in here, was one I'd written at my daughter's request for the school my grandkids went to. Inspired by the reactions it received, I decided to send the script to a publisher. The publishers suggested I translate some of my previous Marathi plays to club with this one, so, I chose two of my favourites.
Do your grandchildren feature in your stories?
A writer is essentially a sponge. We absorb what we see. In that sense, yes, my grandkids and their squabbles feature in my stories, as do the experiences I've had with my own kids.
There's a fictitious language in the first play, used by Princess Lizinia of Batuslavakia, who arrives in India on a State visit. Kids love secret languages. Another play, has a King who's adamant to have a unique pet, and eventually settles for a bed-bug; again, this is something a child might do.
Why do you favour scripts over stories?
My mother Shakuntala used to write and act on stage. She played a fisherwoman in one play. She was a perfectionist. Even though we lived in Pune, she'd trudge all the way to the fisherman's village at Mahim in Mumbai, and spend an entire day there, every week, to capture the essence of her character. I'm inspired by her.
Are the stories in this book meant to incite moral values?
I love entertaining. Good entertainment is a tonic for the soul. Kids don't need to be fed morals every time they open their mouth. Sometimes, a good story can serve to amuse, like the one about the King and his bed bug. It's healthy!
