Mumbai: It has been a rocky start to the Kitab festival this year. The festival, organised by Pablo Ganguli has generated controversy after his former teammates sent out an email alleging that they were not paid for last year's event.
Many participants including Mahesh Bhatt and Shobaa De are now boycotting this annual literary festival.
An email, sent to the press and the writers, has created so much bad press, that many participants like Shobha De, Dilip Chitre, Namita Devidayal and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt have boycotted Kitaab 2008.
However, with so much viciousness floating around, the party's now been called off.
"I decided to back out after the mail,” says filmmaker, Mahesh Bhatt.
"The festival has lost its raison d'etre,” says writer, Namita Devidayal.
The man in the hot seat, Pablo Ganguli, sees these allegations as a personal attack by his former teammates. He says ‘it’s absurd’.
The festival may be still on, however, with so many participants dropping out, it seems to be a bit of a write off.
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