Suresh Bhardwaj


Suresh Bhardwaj is an Indian theatre, film and television director as well as a lighting and scenic designer. He is the director of , a Delhi based theatre group and is currently in charge of the National School of Drama's regional centres at Bengaluru,Gangtok and Agartala. He is also a faculty member of the National School of Drama
In 2005 he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for lighting design from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama.

Life and career

He holds an M.A degree. He subsequently joined the National School of Drama in his home city where he became a research fellow in the extension wing of the school before his 1981 promotion to technical director at Rangmandal in the Bharat Bhavan arts complex, Bhopal.
In 1985, Bhardwaj formed the theatre group Sambhav in Delhi, bringing together an artists' ensemble that became a landmark phenomenon in modern Indian theatre and which featured in the research work of eminent art scholars. The same year, he shifted his emphasis to film, television and cinema and worked in various capacities as a writer, director and scenographer as well as for various satellite channels and public television broadcaster Doordarshan as a freelance director, designer and writer. Bhardwaj conceived and directed many popular programmes including Aap Ki Adalat for Zee TV as well as Aasmaan Kaise Kaise, Lekhu, Gumraah, Uth Jaag Musafir, Apne Apne Sapne and many more for Doordarshan.
Bhardwaj joined the faculty of the National School of Drama as visiting professor in 1988 and was appointed a regular faculty member in 1991 as a lecturer in stage lighting. He was promoted to the post of associate professor and is currently working as a Professor. He served as dean of National School of Drama from 2000 to 2002, and was also appointed Professor of Extension Programmes in February 2002. Bhardwaj is currently a professor at this pioneering Indian institute. He was also the Director of Academy of Excellence, School of Acting.

Awards

Juries

Bhardwaj is known for his contributions in the field of theatre education and has conducted more than 200 theatre workshops throughout India and abroad. He also designed the lighting and sound systems of many of India's prestigious theatres including the Antrang and Bahirang auditorium at Bharat Bhavan Bhopal, and the indoor and outdoor theatre at Preetnagar, Amritsar. He acted as lighting, sound, acoustic and stage furnishing consultant at Rabindra Bhavan, Bhopal and was also a consultant on the auditorium of BHEL, Bhopal and Jammu University, Jammu.Consultant and Designer of Kalidas Theatre of NZCC, Patiala.

Writings

Bhardwaj has also worked with directors such as Fritz Bennewitz, Bansi Kaul, Ratan Thiyam, Anuradha Kapur, Kirti Jain, Prof.Mohan Maharishi, Alakhnandan and Neelam Mansingh Chowdhrey