Faculty

Over the past three decades, Pankaj Rakesh has been engaged in the business of making films. During this tenure he has contributed extensively towards the making of memorable feature, documentary, corporate, training and advertising films. He has also worked in various capacities with international crews from leading foreign media organisations on their projects in India and also overseas. He brings to the classroom a rich and varied experience in filmmaking, photography, radio, print and advertising.

He is also a published author and photographer with a number of articles and books to his credit.

Above all, he draws from his understanding of having taught graduate and under graduate students the nuances of filmmaking for more than 14 years at various prestigious media institutions.

Hannah is an Associate Professor at Amity University in India, since December of 2018, and served at the Cultural Attaché in India between 2011-2018. She studied Directing and Editing at The Sam Spiegel Film and TV School, Jerusalem, Dance-Movement at the Academy of Music and Dance of the Hebrew University, and also studied at The Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, Tel-Aviv University and at the program in Cultural Studies at The Open University of Israel.

Her Berlin International Film Festival project, ‘The Unkosher Truth’, won her national and international awards, including the Rehovot International Women Film Festival First Prize Award in 2008, Israel, The Astra International Film Festival First Prize Award in 2008, Romania, and The Jerusalem International Jewish Film Festival Special Mention Award in 2006.

Nitin Mane graduated in Theatre from University of Mumbai before starting to work as a fulltime actor in theatre, television and films industry. During this tenure he performed and directed stage productions at diverse noteworthy locations and institutions across India. He also prospered as a writer and scripted several solo performances and one-act plays.

Subsequently, he pursued MFA in Acting at Louisiana State University, USA.

On the pedagogic front, he has taught Acting at Louisiana State University and at Annapurna College of Film and Media, Hyderabad. He is a recipient of the prestigious ‘Film Research Fellowship’ from NFAI - National Film Archives of India, Pune. He has cleared UGC NET certification for Assistant Professorship in Performing Arts.

Prof (Col) RK Dargan is currently working in the capacity of Advisor to the Amity School of Communication and the Amity School of Film and Drama. He began his career with the Indian Army, and after 32 years of service, post retirement, he joined the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

He has worked as consultant to the Governments of Nagaland and Mizoram and was on the panel of trainers for BBC World Service and ICRC. He was instrumental in introducing Media Education for Defence Forces, and was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation medal for his meritorious services.

He has been in education for 24 years now, and set up a News and Virtual High Definition Studio in Amity University, and assisted in establishing the Amity School of Film and Drama.

Pulkit is an Assistant Professor with the Amity School of Film and Drama, and has over 8 years of teaching experience. Specialising in Film Making and Advertising, he has done his postgraduation in Advertising from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Amity University, Noida.

Before getting into education, he worked with various production houses where he handled on-set direction and coordinating with production and art departments, for various film and TV projects.

He has also been the Creative Head of an advertising agency in Mumbai, providing creative solutions for movie setups. His work experience also spans Public Relations for Government and Private clients, and working for News Channels in Delhi.

Shushmita is a performing artist, trained at the Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra, a sociologist and a CID UNESCO certified Dance Movement Therapist and Educationist. She is currently a Movement Expert at the Amity School of Film and Drama. She has been professionally involved with on stage choreography and dance movement therapy/education programs for several years now.

Her professional clients include top brands like Pogo, DD National, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and many others. A Sociologist from the Delhi School of Economics, she wrote her M.Phil dissertation on ‘Dance and Masculinity’.

She is also a M.A. Sociology, Gold Medallist, from Jamia Millia Islamia. She has innumerable on-stage and on-screen performances since 2008, and has also worked as an active theatre artist and a choreographer.

Currently, the Director of the Amity School of Film and Drama, Somnath is a renowned Filmmaker and Educator, with over three decades of experience as Director, Director of Photography, Editor, and Scriptwriter, in over two hundred feature films, documentaries, music videos, television series and commercials in India, United States, UK, Canada, etc. Trained in the Masters’ Program in Film Directing from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, Somnath has made critically acclaimed features such as “Leela”, “Faisla”, “Gora” among others. He has been teaching filmmaking for the last 15 years, and has taught at USC, FTII, Whistling Woods International.

He has also lectured in, and conducted workshops, across the World, in Universities like Syracuse University, NY, DePaul University, Chicago, Chapman University, Los Angeles, University of Colorado, Denver, Montana State University, Bozeman, and many more.

Ms. Umme Maria completed her postgraduate degree of MA in Animation Filmmaking from the prestigious Mass Communication Research Center (MCRC) at Jamia Millia University.

Subsequently, she has been associated with several notable projects in the Indian Media & Entertainment Industry.

As an academic, she has the rich experience of teaching at the celebrated Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Pune. Presently, she is Assistant Professor at ASFD mentoring students in Animation as well as Media Studies.

Dr. Meera Shirodkar completed her graduation in English (Hons) from Hindu College, Delhi University. She has a Masters in Mass Communication from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (Pune) specialising in Audio-Visual Production. This was followed by professional stints in several reputed film and television production houses as well as in corporate and documentary filmmaking. She successfully qualified for the UGC-NET Examination for lectureship. Thereafter she has been actively engaged in teaching film and its related subjects in renowned institutions such as Lady Shri Ram College (New Delhi), the YWCA (New Delhi), International School of Business & Media (ISB&M), Asian Academy of Film & Television (Noida) and the Xavier’s Institute of Communication (XIC, Mumbai) to name a few. Meera was also a full-time faculty in the Mass Media Department at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

In April 2020, she completed her PhD in Film from the University of Southampton, UK. During her doctoral studies she was invited to present her research at various prestigious Universities in UK, these include the Cardiff University and the University of Bristol among others.

Mr. Swapnil Kumar has worked as a professional Cinematographer in India and the US for over a decade. He started his career with Star TV and went on to work for commercial Hindi films, TV shows and documentaries. His expertise ranges across still and motion picture photography for fiction and non-fiction genre of films.

Mr. Kumar has earned a MFA Degree in Film & Television Production , specializing in Cinematography from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, US. At Amity University, Mr Kumar is working as Assistant Professor teaching Cinematography courses for Undergraduate and Graduate Batches.

Mr. Varun Sharma has 14 years of rich experience in academics and training. He is a creative 3D Animation and VFX professional with a sound knowledge of the world's leading Autodesk and Adobe software. He also works as a freelancer, NTPC PMI & Career Launcher are among his clients.

An IME graduate in BCA, Mr. Sharma hold a professional Diploma in High-End 3D and Visual Effects. He also has a master's degree in Mass Communication from Mewar University.

He was conferred with multiple Autodesk (US) Merit Certifications in the field of 3D, High-End Editing & Effects. He has cleared several Unreal Engine badges as well.

Dr. Ankhi Mukherjee was awarded Ph.D. in Film Studies in 2017 from The English and Foreign Languages University (E.F.L.U.), Hyderabad for her thesis, “Contemporary Latin American Cinema: Locating the Transition from the National to the Transnational”. Her dissertation is one of the first few extensive studies on Latin American Cinema to come out from Indian academia. She did her M.A. in Film Studies with a First Class from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Her postgraduate dissertation explored the inherent contradiction of Eurocentricism and Orientalism while depicting the Non-Western paradigm in Herge’s Tintin. She has over nine years of experience in Research and Teaching since postgraduate study.

She has also worked as an Teaching Assistant during her Ph.D under her supervisor Dr. Hrishikesh Ingle, Film Studies, E.F.L.U. She has presented papers in national and international conferences on a wide range of subjects notable among them is her work on Alonso entitled, “The Relevance of the ‘Regional’ in the Transnational Latin American Cinema through the Films of Lisandro Alonso” presented at IAMCR, 2014. Her chapter on New Latin American Cinema will be published soon in the forthcoming anthology, Film Studies: An Introduction by Worldview Publishers (Delhi/Kolkata). Her research areas and interests are Latin American Cinema; Third Cinema; Transnational Cinema Theory; Post-Colonial Studies; Comics, Graphic Novels and Visual Culture; Eurocentricism and Non-Western Cinema; Intermediality and Pastiche; Cultural Memory Studies.

Sabah Saghir Bari is working as Teaching Associate in Amity School of Film and Drama. She is the winner of Boogie Woogie mummy's championship 2009, and India's Got Talent 3 fame. Sabah Bari is trained in Kathak and Bharatnatyam. She has done diploma in film and TV direction from Zima Zee institution of film and media. She has done Prabhakar in vocal classical. She has been dancing from last 32yrs professionally. She has done 4000 stage shows all over world.

She has been teaching from last 20yrs. She has also done more than 200 plays as a lead role in many theatres. She has done some Hindi and regional movies as a dancer. She has done two Hindi upcoming movies as a choreographer. She has won so many best dancers award like Mohammed Rafi Memorial Society, Amritsar, Luv kush Ramlila Committee, Delhi, Dron Natya Mandal,etc. She has been rewarded as style icon award from Parwaz Media Group, Delhi. She judged more than 50 dance competitions like Caliber in Delhi, Dance it out Mangalore, Dance Mania Bibhandi, Species D.Y Patil college, Sarraf college Annual Dance Competition, Bombay Hospital Annual Dance Competitions. My upcoming movies as a choreographer is -- *Anya*the other directed by Simmy Josef... initiatives films *Kismat ka ghanta*web series directed by Sahil Sinha Janhavi Production House. *Palak* Chitragupta Arts production.

Kripesh Jani is working as an Assistant Professor in Amity School of Film and Drama. He was Born 24 December ‘90 in Ujjain (MP), all from his early days was deeply involved into various theatrical as well as other cultural pursuits with Baalmanch in ujjain for almost a period of 24 years, graduated with Bachelor of engineering in Electrical and Electronics. Diploma in Dramaturgy from Madhya Pradesh School of Drama, Bhopal. Post-Graduation (Masters) in Performing Arts with specialization in Design and Direction from Central University of Hyderabad (UOH), Hyderabad. Diploma in Yoga from Vikram University, Ujjain.

During the journey he worked in about hundreds of different large and small scale productions under renowned directors like Raghubir Yadav, C.R. Jambe, Ranjeet Kapur, Bansi Kaul, Jayant Deshmukh, Sanjay Upadhyay, Satish Dave, Kanhaiyalal Kaithwas, Kumaradas T.N., Styabrata Rout, Lokendra Trivedi, Alok Chatterjee and many others. His Directorials Andha Yug, Afsarnama, Goonj, Ek Ladki Paanch Diwane, Mukhote ki Duniya, Refund, Panchlight, Tidorav, Madhyan bhojan me chuhe ki maut, Kaleidoscope and Prem Kabootar.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Having command in different fields of theatre like Acting, Direction, Designing and Singing and can play various rhythm instruments and percussion.
• Have performed more than 100 stage shows across the country.
• Have very good knowledge AKHADA.
• Having good command on CHHAU DANCE.
• Having a good knowledge of stage crafts like Light Designing, Property making, Stage Designing, Costumes, Stage Managent etc.
• Having good knowledge of folk songs and good sense of Folk Music.
• Worked as a Music Director, Composer and Rhythmist in many plays.
• Directed two short films Epiphany and The Virtual Demise.
• Worked in more than 10 Documentaries, 2 Advertisement films and a film Aahooti, Worked as a lead artist in Doordarshan. (Apne dil se pucho)

ACHIEVMENTS:

• Selected as a nominee for POGO AMAZING KIDS AWARD.
• Attended three times international theatre festival Bharat Rang Mahotsav for Drama held in Delhi.
• Got selected for the prestigious scholarship offered by (CCRT) centre of cultural resources and training (In 2004-05 and In 2014-15)
• Got the prestigious Junior Fellowship offered by (CCRT) centre of cultural resources and training (In 2016-17)
• Attended 3 times National Festival for Drama held in Delhi. (Jashn-ae-Bachpan)
• Performed in Play “Shree Krishna Ujjaiyani” in a glorious Theatre Festival “Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh 2010” held at Kalidas Academy, Ujjain.
• Directed play ANDHA YUG is performed in National Theatre Festival BHARAT RANGOTSAV at Bharat Bhavan Bhopal.

Mr. Biju Thekke Veetil (Biju Viswakarma) has total 22 years experience in Animation teaching. He worked in universities like Manipal University, Chandigarh University, Multimedia & Animation institutes like Arena Animation, Maac Animation, Picasso Animation College, Cavalier Animation College and Production Studios. He directed 10 Stop Motion Animation short films with his Students and one of his Students film selected for international Animation Festival; he is a member of “The Animation Society of India - TASI”. He is handling both Practical & Theory subjects in Animation and film making. Also his handle Special workshops especially his design for Animation students.

Mr. Jai Prakash Singh is working as Associate Professor in Amity School of Film and Drama. A recipient of an honorary degree from Bharatendu Natya Akademi, J. P. Singh has also received many prestigious awards like Akademi Samman for playwriting in 2007 from U. P. Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lucknow. He has been active in the field of theatre for the past 40 years. Along with Acting, Direction and Light Design, he has written many acclaimed plays. Under the nom de plume of Jayvardhan, he has written plays that include: Urgent Meeting, Kissa Maujpur Ka, Hi ! Handsome, Mayaram Ki Maya, Jhansi Ki Rani, Khairatilal Ka Kursitantra, Gorakhdhandha, Madhyantar, Jaisa Tum Kaho, Akhir Ek Din, Karmev Dharmah (Nautanki), Gandhari, Mastmaula, Daroga Ji Chori Ho Gayi and Babu Harishchandra. He has done an effective stage adaptation of Munshi Premchand’s timeless classic novel ‘Godaan’. He has published 15 plays, in addition to 6 children’s plays.

As an actor, his acclaimed plays mainly include : Rakt Abhishek (Vrihadrath), Samrat Ashok (Ashok), Ashadh Ka Ek Din (Kailidas), AdheAdhoore (Mahendranath Singhania), Hi ! Handsome (Colonel), Urgent Meeting (Narang), Panchvati (Lakshman), Khamosh Adalat Jaari Hai (Kaashikar), Godaan (Hori) and Babu Harishchandra (Harishchandra). Chief among plays directed by him are : Mantrimandal, Kissa Maujpur Ka, Jhansi Ki Rani, Zara Yaad Karo Qurbani, Mayaram Ki Maya, Ek Tha Gadha, Pagla Ghoda, Ek Aur Dronacharya, Aadhe Adhoore, Karmev Dharmah (Nautanki), Court Martial,Urgent Meeting and Jis Lahore Nahi Dekhya Wo Janmyayi Nai.

J. P. Singh has also functioned as a member of the Film Certification Board (Delhi Region). He has been a member of the Screening Committee of the National School of Drama, Delhi, for the years 2017-19 and 2018-19. He was also a member of the Selection Committee of Bharatendu Natya Akademi, Lucknow and Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi for 2 years. For his contribution to theatre, he has received several awards including those awarded by Natsamrat, Delhi; Bela Theatre Karawan, Delhi; Circle Theatre Company, Delhi and UPTAA, Meerut. He held the designation of Assistant Secretary (Drama) at the Sahitya Kala Parishad (Government of Delhi NCT) for 25 years.

Vishal Sinha is working as an Assistant Professor at Amity School of Film and Drama since July 2022. His screen name is Visshal Sinha. He is a filmmaking graduate from New York Film Academy, New York city with a diploma in Screenwriting from University of California, Los Angeles as well. He has an IT background and had been working with Deloitte as a management consultant in New York before switching over to films.

He has been working in the entertainment industry for the past 8 years and is currently an active part of the film industry. He has worked with various production houses as a Director/Writer having written and directed many ad films, short films, web series and feature films. His films have garnered millions of views and won many awards at film festivals. He has directed ads for brands like Kokila Mehndi, Myntra, Reliance, Project eve, Taj hotels and many more.

Mr. Abhishek Kukreja is working as Assistant Professor in Amity School of Film and Drama since 2022. For past eight years Abhishek has been involved in teaching courses and conducting workshops in the following streams:

• Film-Production; Film-Studies; Screenplay-Writing,
• Theatre-Production, Performance, Play-Writing,
• Culture Studies and Creative Arts

He has served at universities like Ambedkar University Delhi, AAFT Noida, SGT University Gurugram and Amity School of Communication Jaipur. Abhishek has submitted and presented my PhD thesis in Film Studies at School of Culture and Creative Expressions (SCCE), Ambedkar University Delhi.

Apart from academic commitment with universities, he holds regular sessions as an Educator at Conflictorium Museum, Ahmedabad. He has founded the research web portal in cinematic-art: stickfigurefilms.net

He is also practicing as a documentary filmmaker and theater-maker. The evolved creative productions have been presented among the university students.His research interests pertain to understanding art from a psychoanalytic point of view. And his pedagogic effort is to aid youth with reflections on ethics via creative expressions.