Selection Committee
Deepa Gahlot
Deepa Gahlot is a critic, columnist, editor and author. She writes extensively on cinema, theatre, the arts, women's issues for several publications and websites including her own, deepagahlot.com. She has won the National Award for Best Film Criticism and edited several cinema journals; her work has appeared in anthologies on women's studies and cinema. Her books include The Prithviwallahs (co-authored with Shashi Kapoor), and biographies of Shah Rukh Khan and Shammi Kapoor, Take 2: 50 Films that Deserve a New Audience and Sheroes: 25 Daring Women of Bollywood. She is currently consulting editor for mumbaitheatreguide.com
Jino Joseph
Jino Joseph, playwright and director, is known for his extensive contribution to theatre, both in India and internationally. He has written and directed more than 50 plays. A two-time recipient of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards, he has also received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his work Matthi. Jino has been a recipient of the Kalamandalam Sunil Kumar Award, Bharat P. J. Antony Award, Ashokan Kathirur Drama Award for his contributions to theatre. A sought-after trainer, he has conducted numerous workshops for children and theatre professionals, and is widely recognised for his vibrant contributions to children’s and campus theatre.
Keval Arora
Keval Arora has taught drama and theatre at the Department of English, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, for over four decades. As the Faculty Advisor of THE PLAYERS, the college theatre society, his work has involved sensitising students towards the interrogative and performative potential of theatre, and in mentoring their creations. In addition, he has curated the Old World Collegiate Theatre Festival since 2003. He has been a jury member for the National Film Awards, Hindu Metroplus Original Script Awards, Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards, Sanhita Manch Script Awards, amongst others.
Satyabrata Rout
Satyabrata Rout, theatre director, scenographer, author, and a professor, known for his pioneering contributions to contemporary Indian theatre and visual dramaturgy, is the author of the seminal work, Scenography: An Indian Perspective. A graduate of the National School of Drama (NSD), he has been a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. A Fulbright Fellow, he has delivered lectures, workshops, and performances across the globe. He Professor and Head of the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Hyderabad until his retirement in 2023.
Swaroopa Ghosh
Swaroopa Ghosh - an actor and trainer by profession she has been performing and training aspiring actors for nearly 45 years. She was trained by the late Shri Ebrahim Alkazi and worked with various eminent directors. She taught theatre at The British School and actively participated in children's theatre. In the past few years, alongside theatre, she started working in films and web series such as Piku, Vicky Donor, Love ve Hostel and more to expand her repertoire as an actor. Besides India, she has performed in various international festivals too.