Centenary edition of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan to be held in Pimpri Chinchwad

The 100th edition of the ‘Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan’ will be held in Pimpri Chinchwad on January 6 & 7, 2024.

As per information, in the beginning, drama culture took root and grew mainly in the western parts of Maharashtra namely Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. After independence, Marathi theatre culture spread all over Maharashtra like Vidarbha, Marathwada and Konkan. With the help of the Municipal Corporation and the State Government, theatres were established in various cities.

In the year 1843, the Marathi theater culture started with Vishnudas Bhave. This theatre culture flourished in the entire Maharashtra and after almost 52 years, the first All India Marathi Theater Conference was held in Mumbai in the year 1905 and concluded under the chairmanship of Khaparde. Drama writers, directors, actors and actresses, editors, journalists and theatre lovers flocked to every Marathi Natya Sammelan. Now, in the year 2024, the 100th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan is being held at Pimpri Chinchwad.

Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan was started in 1905. But it could not be held consecutively every year due to various difficulties. Interestingly, in the first 50 years from 1905 to 1955, a total of 40 meetings were held in the three big cities of Pune, Mumbai and Nashik. So far, 22 All India Marathi Theater Conferences have been held in Pune and the centenary conference is also being held at Pimpri Chinchwad near Pune.

In the 100-year history of the Marathi Natya Sammelan, the rare combination of both mother and daughter holding the post of president of the Natya Sammelan is seen. Veteran theatre music singer Jaymala Shiledar presided over the 83rd sammelan held at Ahmednagar. His daughter Keerti Shiledar brought about this rare feat by presiding over the 98th sammelan held in Mulund, Mumbai in 2018. Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan has been rejuvenated by this centenary year.

The inauguration ceremony of the Centenary Natya Sammelan will begin in January 2024 at Pimpri Chinchwad and conclude at the end of May 2024 at Ratnagiri. During the period from the opening ceremony to the conclusion, the regional theatre meet will be held at Ahmednagar, Solapur, Beed, Latur, Nagpur and Mumbai.