Prospectus 2012 - National School of Drama

Faculty Faculty
acting
TRIPURARI SHARMA
Professor, Acting
Prof. Tripurari Sharma is a graduate in English from
Delhi University and a diploma holder in direction
from the National School of Drama. She has written
and directed many plays, and has been associated with
several theatre groups throughout the country and
abroad. A playwright of repute, she has written plays
like Bahu and Kath ki Gaadi, and translated Indian and
Western plays like Andha Yug and Othello; and has been
associated with films like Mirch Masala and Hazaar
Chaurasi ki Maa. She was the Indian representative at
the First International Women Playwrights’ Conference
held in USA in 1986. Prof. Sharma received the Sanskriti
Puraskar in 1986; was honoured by the Delhi Natya
Sangh in 1990; received the Safdar Hashmi Award from
U.P. Sangeet Natak Akademi; and was among the ninetynine
women from India nominated for the 'Thousand
Women for Nobel Peace Prize' by an international
initiative. She has worked with various folk forms like
nautanki, khayal and pandavani. Her play Kath ki Gaadi
has been translated into French, and her other plays
have been translated into several Indian languages as
well as English.
HEMA SINGH
Associate Professor, Acting
Hema Singh has a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science from
Delhi University, and graduated from the National School
of Drama (integrated course) in 1982. A well-known
actor in Indian theatre, she has essayed fifty major roles
under reputed Indian and international directors. She was
associated with the NSD Repertory Company for ten years.
She is known for her innovative work in Parsi theatre and
poetry presentation. She has conducted workshops in
India and abroad, written articles and translated books on
theatre, and developed scripts for the NCERT, television
and radio. She has been Associate Professor (Acting)
at NSD since 2003. Ms. Singh received the prestigious
Manohar Singh Smriti Award for her contribution to
theatre in 2008.
ABDUL LATIF KHATANA
Associate Professor, Acting
and Chief, Sanskaar Rang Toli
Abdul Latif Khatana graduated from NSD in 1986 with
specialisation in acting. In addition to devising, writing
and directing several plays that have been nationally and
internationally performed, he has conducted numerous
workshops on acting. He is the founder of Adabi Sangat
(Kashmir) and of the theatre group, Kirdar. He was also
a founder–actor–teacher of NSD’s Theatre-in-Education
Company, of which he later became Chief. He is credited
with conceptualising and organising the Company’s first
national theatre festival for children called ‘Jashnebachpan’,
followed by another national festival, ‘Bal Sangam’, of folk
and traditional performing arts by children. Mr Khatana
has worked extensively with schools, institutions and
NGOs to cultivate the need of theatre/drama for children
at multiple levels. He has contributed to devising the
theatre/drama syllabus for NCERT for classes 1 to 12.
DINESH KHANNA
Associate Professor, Acting
A graduate from Lucknow University with a diploma
in acting from Bhartendu Natya Academy and a postgraduate
diploma in acting from the National School
of Drama in 1986, Dinesh Khanna has been involved in
acting, direction and teaching for the last twenty years.
Deeply interested in literature and translation, he has
written several articles on theatre. His published works
include Kucch Aansu aur Kuchh Phool and Abhinay Chintan.
RATNA PANIKKAR
Associate Professor, Music
With a B.A. (Hons) and Master’s degree from Delhi
University in Carnatic music, Ratna Panikkar went on to
complete her doctorate in Indian music from Madras
University on ‘A Comparative Study of Hindustani and
Karnatak Raga System’. In 1991 she joined the National
School of Drama as a lecturer (in music), and has since
conducted several theatre music workshops at national
and international levels. A singer of classical Carnatic
music, she has scored music for a number of plays, and
has also acted in productions of the Nirakar group. Ms.
Panikkar was Dean (Academics) at NSD in 2002–03.
SURESH SHETTY
Associate Professor, Acting–Movement
and Dean, Academics
With a diploma in acting from the National School of
Drama in 1982, Suresh Shetty went on to join the NSD
Repertory Company as an actor. He has performed major
roles in the Repertory as well as with different theatre
groups. He has done extensive experimental work
with the human body, puppets and other elements of
visual theatre, and has developed a detailed method
of expression through body language. Mr Shetty has
also visited France on an assignment to study modern
techniques of movement and mime.
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