Faculty Members

About

An accomplished academician and film professional with over two decades of experience in film education, production, and institutional leadership. Currently serving as Dean (Films), with a long-standing association with the Film and Television Institute of India, contributing significantly to academic development, governance, and creative practice in cinema.

Academic Qualifications

• Postgraduate Diploma in Film and Television Direction (Three-Year Program) 

• Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Drama 

• Qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) in Drama 

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Journalism & Mass Communication 

Professional Experience

With 20 years of experience in academia and film practice:

• Associate Professor, Film Production (2006–2019) 

• Dean (Films) (2019–Present) 

At the Film and Television Institute of India, has held several key administrative and academic roles, including:

Coordinator (Admissions), Liaison Officer (SC/ST/OBC), Internal Committee Member, Anti-Ragging Committee Member, Controller of Examinations, and Registrar.

Also actively engaged as a member of governing and academic bodies:

• Academic Council, Film and Television Institute of India 

• Executive Council, Film and Television Institute of India 

• Standing Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, CILECT (International Association of Film and Television Schools) 

Academic & Institutional Engagements

Served on various committees and boards of prestigious institutions, including:

• Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak 

• Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute, Pune 

• Balchitravani, Pune 

• National Film Archive of India, Pune 

• National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad 

Also served as Member, Board of Studies at Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Chennai.

Industry & Jury Engagements

• Jury Member, Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), 2008 (Documentary, Short Films, Animation) 

• Panel Member, Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation (Selection of Marathi films for Cannes Film Market and IFFI Film Bazaar) 

• Special Invitee Member, Film Grant Committee, Uttarakhand Film Development Council 

Creative Practice

Extensive experience in writing and direction, including:

• Short Fiction Films 

• Short Non-Fiction Film 

• Public Awareness Campaign 

• Feature-Length Fiction Film 

Awards & Recognition

• Silver Conch (Best Short Fiction, National Category), Mumbai International Film Festival (2008) 

• Best Short Fiction, Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (2008) 

• Silver Award for Best Screenplay, Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (2008) 

• Certificate of Merit (Children’s Jury), Golden Elephant Children’s Film Festival (2009) 

Film Festival Participation & Selection

Films have been showcased and selected at prominent national and international festivals, including:

• International Film Festival of India (2004, 2007) 

• International Film Festival of Kerala (2008) 

• International Film Festivals of Film Schools, Munich, Germany 

• DC Independent Film Festival, Washington DC, USA 

• Osian’s International Film Festival 

• Bodhisattva International Film Festival 

Official Selections Include:

• Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) 

• Bollywood and Beyond Film Festival, Stuttgart, Germany 

• South Asian International Film Festival, New York, USA 

• BRICS Film Festival 

International Conferences & Engagements

Active participant in global academic forums:

• CILECT Conferences: Mumbai (2018), Moscow (2019), Rome (2023), Beijing (2024), Guadalajara (2025) 

Also participated in:

• Kino Bravo International Film Festival, Sochi, Russia

About

Prof. Sandeep Shahare holds Diploma in Electronics from Cusrow Wadia Institute of Technology (CWIT), Bachelor's Degree in Electronics & Telecommunication (E&Tc) from Pune University and Master's Degree in E&Tc from Govt. College of Engineering, Pune (COEP).

He is with FTII since 2006 and is presently working as Professor, TV Technical Operations since 2010. Before joining FTII, he worked as Assistant Professor in MIT Women Engineering College, Pune, for 04 years and was also working with Army Institute of Technology, Pune, from 1996 to 2002. He worked as Service Engineer in CWIT for about a year and for a short period, also worked in Electronics Industry.

He is having 19+ years of experience of teaching multi-camera technical operations in FTII and is having in-total professional & teaching experience of 30 years. He is Life Member of The Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) since 2004 and has published no. of National & International papers in the field of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.

At present he is Dean (TV) and also Head of TV Engineering Department. He was National Coordinator of Skilling India in Film & Television (SKIFT) and is now Executive Head of Centre For Open Learning (CFOL) under which various short courses are conducted by FTII all over India in offline as well as online mode.

He is Member of Board of Studies at Department of Mass Communication, Sanjay Ghodawat University, Kolhapur. He is Academic Council member of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune, and Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University (SRTMU), Nanded.

About

Shri. Harish K.M. holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Madurai Kamaraj University, a Diploma in Audio Engineering from SAE Institute, Chennai, and a B.Sc. in Mathematics from Calicut University.

He has worked as a music recording engineer in multiple languages across the southern film industry under prestigious banners.

His paper, “Teaching Sound for Cinema,” was accepted for the CNA “Sound and Storytelling” conference conducted by Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

He has been teaching in the Film wing Sound Department at FTII since 2010 and is currently the Head of the Department.

About

About

Shri Sumit Kumar is a graduate of BHU, Varanasi and holds a Diploma in Film Editing from FTII, Pune.

His documentary The Donkey Fair was selected for Indian Panorama at IFFI Goa (2013) and received a Special Mention at the 1st National Student Film Awards. His short film Innovative Dream won the Best Film Award at the Porsche Film Award (2015), Stuttgart.

His notable works as an editor include an EESL advertisement (PR Asia Awards 2016), the feature film 1982: A Love Marriage (Best Romcom Film, 10th Jaipur International Film Festival) and the campaign Make Love, Not Scars (Silver Lions, Cannes Lions 2017).

He joined FTII in 2017 as an Assistant Professor in the TV Editing Department and is currently serving as Head of the Editing Department, Film Wing.

About

About

Sandeep Chatterjee is a distinguished alumnus of the Film &Television Institute of India, Pune. He began his teaching career as Assistant Professor at Satyajit Ray Film &Television Institute in Kolkata, from its inception in 1997 and later joined FTII in 2009. He also has taught in various film schools and has conducted workshops and lecture sessions in India and abroad.

His film “Sundar Jeebon”based on a story by iconic Bengali poet Jibanananda Das, has won the National Award. His other influential films like “Raat Koto Holo”and “Reconnaisance”  had also won him critical acclaim.

With his experience as filmmaker and as a teacher for more than 25 years, he is currently the Professor and Head of the Department of Direction and Screenwriting.

About

 He completed his Ph.D. in E&TC Engineering  from the College of Engineering Pune, affiliated with SPPU (Savitribai Phule Pune University). His research focused on applying Artificial Intelligence to photography images. His work has been published in prestigious journals such as Springer and Elsevier. Additionally, he served as a reviewer for renowned journals, including IEEE's Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems and IET's Image Processing.

His research interests include Artificial Intelligence-based systems, signal processing, AI applications in filmmaking, and social computing. In 2018, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Indian Film Studies from SPPU, followed by a Diploma in Theater Arts from IGNOU in 2022. He also earned an eleven-month Postgraduate Certificate in Data Science from MIT World Peace University and KPMG India, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Management and Administration from IGNOU in 2024.

About

Dr. Bishwa B. Behura is a cinematographer and faculty member at FTII Pune specializes in teaching electronic cinematography. He earned his diploma in cinematography from the Biju Patnaik Film & Television Institute of Odisha, Cuttack. He also holds a master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His Ph.D. focuses on analysis of visual approaches in Pioneer Cinematographer Santosh Sivan's films.

Before joining FTII Pune, Dr. Behura worked on several fiction and non-fiction productions in the Mumbai film industry. He has also been associated with the Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia University. Dr. Behura has published several research papers in Scopus-indexed and UGC CARE-listed journals. He possesses extensive knowledge in visual aesthetics and is well-versed with the latest technology and equipment used in the domain of digital cinematography.

Currently, he is heading the Department of Electronic Cinematography at FTII, Pune.

About

Milind Damle is a FTII alumni with specialization in film and TV editing 2004. He has been practicing Radio, TV, Film in various creative positions such as writer, producer and director. Dwijaa, the Diploma film he wrote and edited won a National Award in 2005. Adwait Sangeet, which was honored as opening film of Indian Panaroma, IFFI 2011 was co-produced by him. He has also worked as Coordinator for UNDP FTII Planning Commission Project “Films for Human Development” producing 32 films in 13 states of India.

After working with the Star TV as Executive Producer, now he serves FTII as faculty since 2012. While in service Mr. Damle has completed MA Mass Communication and Journalism from Madurai Kamraj University. Along with teaching, he also practices Film Editing in Regional Indian Cinema.

About

About

About

Jijoy P.R. is a theater artist, film actor, trainer, producer who observed performing art as a tool for scientific temperament and incorporates it through acting workshops mostly in India and in Middle Eastern countries.  A graduate in B.A. Economics and in B.T.A (Theater Arts) from Calicut University, Jijoy Secured First Rank in both M.A. And M.Phil (Drama and Theater Arts) from Pondicherry University.  As an actor Jijoy has 55 Films, 40 Plays, 10 Serials and 25 Short Films in his credit. He has performed nearly 400 International Theater shows across the 4 continents i. e. Australia, Europe, North America and Asia, along with The Royal Shakespeare company, Act Productions UK, The British Council and The Japan foundation Asia Center.

He is recipient of Junior Fellowship from Ministry of Culture and the young artist scholarship from MHRD.  He has been teaching at FTII's acting department since year 2014.

About

Shri Mandar Digrajkar is an academic and industry professional with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in fine arts and cultural studies. He holds a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Sambhajinagar, and a Master’s degree in Indology from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune. He also earned a G.D. Art Diploma (equivalent to a degree) in Commercial Arts from Kolhapur, along with an Advanced Diploma in Computer Animation from C-DAC, Pune.

With over 14 years of professional experience prior to joining academia, Shri Digrajkar has contributed to a wide range of national and international films, television productions, and advertising projects as a VFX Supervisor. His core expertise lies in compositing for live action and animation projects, where he has played a key role in crafting high-quality visual effects.

In 2011, he joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, as an Associate Professor in the Television Graphics Department. Since then, he has been actively engaged in teaching, mentoring, and academic development of long-term as well as short term courses. 

He is also a recipient of a prestigious fellowship from the National Film Archive of India (NFDC–NFAI), Pune, for authoring a monograph titled “Pramod Pati: A Forgotten Pioneer of Indian Animation.”

Currently, he serves as the Head of the Department of Television Graphics at FTII, Pune.

About

 Vaibhav Gham has completed his graduation in Electronic Science from Nowrosjee Wadia

college Pune in 1990 followed by the Diploma in Sound Recording and Sound Engineering from

FTII Pune in 1994. He has been heading TV Sound Dept. for the past 15 years.

He has worked extensively in Mumbai film industry for different production houses

involved in the production of Films, TV Serials and Music programmes for 8 years as a freelancing

Sound Engineer.

Due to his industry experience in the field of Sync Sound recording, Sound Design and

Audio Post-production he is well versed with the different challenges and demands posed by the

industry in these fields, ultimately making students ready for such challenges.

 His knowledge in the field of Electronics and experience about Installation and maintenance

of Audio equipments has always helped students understand these topics thoroughly making them

technically ready for such tasks.

About

Wasimbarry Maner ETV FILM Production, Film and Television Institute of India. He is a cinematographer, writer, and director. He has been active in the world of cinema and audiovisual since 2003. Along with working in the field of Cinema, advertisement films, and music videos, he has some documentaries, Promotional films, Wildlife films, Corporate, Biographical films, Educational Docudrama, and agricultural films to his name. He has written, cinematographed, and directed a Marathi feature film -Hou de Jarasa Ushir, known for its maiden run in the Oscar qualifier in 85 Academy Awards. A documentary on sacred groves "Devine Capoies" directed by him for a student project at MIT ADT University won SCERT All India Children's Educational e-content Award.

Wasimbarry has a keen interest in teaching cinema and has been teaching cinematography, writing, and direction since 2007. He has been visiting faculty, adjunct faculty, and assistant professor in many colleges and universities before joining FTII. He has conducted workshops all over India and abroad on filmmaking. He has been associated with SKIFT FTII as a course director of cinematography.

Wasimbarry loves to write, story is his forte. He was an NVFS fellow in 2015 for screenwriting organized by the Asia Society and Time Warner Foundation. Children's literature is his passion. He writes and illustrates for several children's magazines and book publishers. One of his books "Mauje Pustak Sanch Ek" in Marathi won the Maharashtra State Award for Children's Literature in 2020.

About

 Working as Assistant Professor, TV Technical Operations with FTII, TV Engineering Department since May-2024. He is also a Liaison Officer: SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Ex- Servicemen at FTII. He has received Ph.D. in Next Generation multigigabit Optical Access Networks from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University’s Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT), Ch. Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India. He has completed his Masters in Engineering from S.G.G.S. Institute of Technology (Formally Government-Aides College of Engineering), Maharashtra, India. He has 19 years teaching experience with different engineering colleges associated with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) (Formerly Pune University). His research area of includes Transmission & Broadcasting Technologies, TV Technical Operations, Virtual Production (VP), AI-ML in VP.  He has published 15 papers in peer revived journals, conferences international publisher.  He has also published an authored book entitled 'Future Optical Access Networks (FOAN)' with an international publisher Springer Nature. He is a life member of Indian Society for Technical Educations (ISTE). He was criteria coordinator for multiple criteria’s for NAAC accreditation process of different engineering colleges and Universities.

About

He holds Ph.d in Wireless Communication in 2021. M.Tech in Electronics and Telecommunication from VJTI and IIT Mumbai. Before Joining to FTII he worked as an Assistant Professor at COEP Technological University Pune.

He has more than 40 research papers in National and International Journals and Conferences. He is having total 14 Years of experience in Research, Industrial and Academics. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in Television (TV) Engineering Department.

About

 Ashutosh holds BFA in Applied Art from JJ School of Arts, Mumbai, 1995. Masters in Indology and completed PG Diploma in Art Direction from FTII, batch of 1996. He has a professional experience of 25 years, that includes 21 years at Film and Television Institute of India, Pune in various academic and non-academic capacities.

He possesses keen interest and in-depth knowledge on Indian Ancient Indian Culture, especially Temple Architecture and is currently working on Monograph of late Indian veteran Art Director,

Sh. Bansi Chandragupta.

About

Educated at St.Xavier's College, Kolkata, Amlan Chakraborty, holds degree in B.Sc from the University of Calcutta in (1998) and Post-graduate Diploma in Editing specialization from FTII in (2002). He has also completed Initiation to Filmmaking programmeat Chitrabani, Kolkata in 1999. As student in FTII, he received "Outstanding Asian Student Film Award" in 2005 at the Student Film and Video Festival organized by the Beijing Film Academy.

He joined FTII in 2014 as a dedicated educator with a strong commitment to student-centered learning, employing innovative teaching methods to enhance engagement and academic performance in diverse classrooms.

About

Holds Post Graduate Diploma in editing , FTII Pune.

About

Issac Newton is an Assistant Professor of Sound Recording at the Film and Television Institute of

India (FTII), with over two decades of professional and academic experience in sound recording,

sound design, and post-production for audiovisual storytelling across cinema, television, and digital

platforms.

He holds a B.Sc. in Physics (1999–2002) from Vivekananda College of Arts and Science,

Kanyakumari, affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. He

completed a Diploma in Film Technology & Television Production with specialization in Sound

Recording and Sound Engineering (Honours) from the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu

(FTIT), Chennai (2003–2006 batch), and later earned an M.Sc. in Visual Communication from

Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.

He has contributed to numerous professional projects, including feature films, documentaries,

animated television series, and OTT web series, working as a Sound Recordist, Sound Editor, ReRecording Mixer, and Sound Designer. His industry experience includes serving as a Freelance

Quality Control Engineer (Trade Channel) for Walt Disney and Cartoon Network Productions,

handling television animation series and theatrical releases.

He has played a significant role in studio and theatre design, having designed a 5.1 Digital

Surround Sound Studio at the Films Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government

of India, Mumbai. At FTII, he has served as Sound Architect (Acoustics, Integration, and

Calibration) for the design and commissioning of five 5.1 surround sound mixing studios, two

recording studios, and a Dolby Atmos 9.1.4 mixing and mastering studio in TV Sound department.

Additionally, he has been involved in the design of over 25 theatres and studios—including preview

theatres, sound design studios, and recording/mixing facilities—across India and abroad, equipped

with state-of-the-art technology.

Internationally, he has worked as a Sound Designer for Colombian filmmaker Hugo Santander

Ferreira (First Film Productions, Colombia). Alongside his academic responsibilities, he remains

actively engaged with the film industry through select commercial and independent feature film

projects, ensuring strong industry–academia integration in his teaching and research.

In recognition of his academic and research contributions, he was awarded the prestigious ANRF

(Anusandhan National Research Foundation) Advanced Research Grant (ARG) in December 2025

for a joint FTII–IIT Jodhpur research project titled “Immersive Spatial Audio for Augmented and

Virtual Reality Applications in Six Degrees of Freedom (6DoF).

About

About

Dr. Syed Tanveer Tahir is a highly accomplished educator, producer, and consultant with an extensive background in film, television, and digital media. Since August 2010, he has served as an Assistant Professor at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, where he has contributed to the parent department and Film, TV, and short courses wing. His academic foundation is robust, featuring a Doctor of Philosophy from Symbiosis International University, Pune, where he researched and analyzed cartoons by R.K. Laxman, applying design principles, as well as a Master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Dr. Tanveer's professional experience is equally diverse, with 19+ years of experience in research, industry, and academia, spanning from an Internship at Ramoji Film City to freelance journalist for Times Now (Reuters) to the production of over 50+ educational television programs for CEC (EMMRC, Jodhpur) and national broadcast on Doordarshan. He has extensive knowledge of visual aesthetics and is familiar with the latest technology and equipment. He has been involved in Animation, VFX, cinema, and audiovisual fields since 2005. He also has experience in teaching multi-camera technical operations at FTII since 2010.

In addition to his academic and production roles, Dr. Tanveer has held numerous leadership and administrative positions at FTII, including Controller of Examinations, Estate Manager, and Officiating Head of Department in Graphics and Animation (under his leadership, his students won 5+ Film awards at various Film Festivals, nationally and internationally). Presently, he is holding the additional charge of Assistant Director (Official Language). 

He is recognized for his technical expertise in VFX, animation, and virtual production, frequently utilizing advanced software such as Unreal Engine and the Adobe Creative Suite. His influence in the field extends nationally through his work as a resource person for the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and other prestigious institutions, where he has designed syllabi and led training programs in animation filmmaking. 

Dr. Syed Tanveer Tahir's work with Unreal Engine and Adobe Creative Suite is a key component of his technical expertise in modern film and media production. His involvement with the software includes formal training, professional skill development, and its application in emerging fields like virtual production.

About

About

He has completed his Graduation from Pune University. He is CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA) specializing in Routing and Switching validating his ability to install, configure, operate and troubleshoot small & medium-sized networks. Yogesh is an IT professional & faculty, having extensive professional & teaching experience of more than 20 years in IT Industry & teaching Undergraduate & Post Graduate students. 

He is working with FTII for more than 10 years and in addition to his present duties, he is also managing entire IT infrastructure of FTII including storage, servers, network, website, DC & DR etc.

About

Aritra Ganguly is a graduate of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute ( SRFTI) where he specialised in Film Editing. 

He also holds a Masters Degree in Film Studies from Jadavpur University.

He has contributed as an assistant editor to acclaimed feature films like Dear Zindagi, Laal Singh Chaddha, Stree etc. As an independent editor, his work spans documentaries produced by the Films Division of India and PSBT, alongside numerous advertisements and short films. 

Aritra has also served as a Post-Production Supervisor for multiple feature film

About

Atul Lanjudkar is a multidisciplinary sound professional with a strong foundation in both technology and media. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), he brings over 12 years of experience as a Production Sound Mixer, Sound Designer, Audio-Visual Specialist, and educator, contributing to projects across India and abroad.

His academic journey includes a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from COEP(2008-2012), a postgraduate certificate in Sound Recording and TV Engineering from FTII(2012-2013) , a Postgraduate, a Master’s degree in Sound Engineering from Singhania University(2020-2021), and Diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism from IGNOU(2021-2022).

His notable projects include "National Geographic’s Megastructures (Mundra Port)"; multiple award-winning films "Kajal/Kohl", "Chudala"; "Pahuna: The Little Visitors", which screened at Cannes and won international and national awards; Feature film "Gone Kesh"; Egyptian feature film "Gahim Fel Hend" .

He worked as Sound Designer in "Mhorkya" which won 65th National Awards and other awards in PIFF 2018 for which he has

been nominated as Best Sound Designer in Filmfare Marathi 2021.; as Location Sound Mixer in "Amazon Originals: Inside EdgeSeason 3" a Emmy Awards nominated web series.

In addition, he has worked in the professional audio industry as a Technical Support Engineer and Product Trainer, collaborating with leading global manufacturers such as Yamaha Audio, Neumann, Sennheiser, WAVES Audio, and RØDE during his tenure in Dubai, UAE.

About

Recipient of Sahitya Akademi Yuva Award (2012), Dharmakiriti Sumant has done his Masters in Creative Writing - Scriptwriting from University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK) under Inlaks Overseas Education Scholarship Award (2017-18). He's an alumnus of Screenwriting department (FTII) with released films such as 'Maunraag' (2013), 'Phuntroo' (additional dialogue) (2016), 'CRD' (2017) and 'Ashleel Udyog Mitra Mandal' (2020). With an academic background in political science, Sumant is also a visiting faculty at SCMC, SIMC (Symbiosis), SPPU: Lalit Kala Kendra, FLAME; as well as a playwright with published Marathi plays namely 'Pani, Charu Aro Ity' and 'Geli Ekvees Varsha'.

About

Creative and academically driven film professional with expertise in production design, and visual storytelling. Experienced in teaching, mentoring, and guiding students in practical and theoretical aspects of cinema. Strong background in film aesthetics, and industry practices.

About

Prof. Kaamod L. Kharade is a distinguished sound designer, production sound mixer, and acoustician, celebrated for his contribution to Indian cinema and sound technology. An alumnus of FTII (2002), he completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Sound Recording and Sound Engineering, which laid the foundation for a career that now spans over 18 years.

Prof. Kharade is the recipient of the 58th National Film Award (2010) for Best Audiography for the Hindi feature film Ishqiya. His work on Thappad earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Sound Design (2021). Over the years, his name has become synonymous with excellence in sound, as reflected in his multiple Filmfare nominations for acclaimed films such as Article 15, Thappad, and Anek. His nominations also extend to other prestigious platforms, including Zee Cine Awards, Star Screen Awards, and Producers Guild Awards, reaffirming his stature as one of the leading figures in sound for Indian cinema.

With an impressive filmography of 38 feature films, 4 OTT web series, and numerous short films and documentaries, Prof. Kharade brings both creative and technical mastery to his work. His expertise extends beyond post-production, encompassing on-location sound recording, sound design, and final mixing, making him a complete sound professional.

In addition to his cinematic accomplishments, Prof. Kharade holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (Pune University) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control from the prestigious Institute of Acoustics (UK). This rare combination of disciplines has enabled him to excel as an acoustician, designing state-of-the-art auditoriums, recording studios, conference halls, and gymnasiums. He has also contributed to social and educational projects, such as setting up Radio Nagar 90.4 FM, a community radio station in Ahilyanagar, and consulting for professional sound studios in India and Australia.

Prof. Kharade has conducted workshops and masterclasses at leading media institutes and organizations, sharing his knowledge of sound design, recording techniques, and acoustic design with professionals and students alike.

Currently serving as Associate Professor at FTII Pune, he is also leading the design and implementation of two Dolby Atmos sound stages for the Film Sound Department, further strengthening FTII’s position as a center of excellence in sound education.

About

Maheen Mirza, an independent filmmaker and cinematographer, trained in Electronic Cinematography at FTII, Pune (2010), also holds a postgraduate degree from TISS (1997). Committed to collective filmmaking, she has spent over a decade making independent films that challenge commercial cinema's conventions while nurturing a culture of inclusivity. Capturing localized aesthetics, her organic approach to cinema, opens new avenues for design, technique, and skill. Collaborating with grassroots collectives and organizations nationwide, she has scripted, shot, and directed fiction and documentary films on socio-political issues. Her acclaimed films, including Ek Jagah Apni (2022), Agar Wo Desh Banati (2018), and Turup (2017), explore the lives of women, children, and people from indigenous, Dalit, minority, queer, and transgender communities. Her work has been showcased at festivals like SXSW, Tokyo International

Film Festival, Goteborg Film Festival, MAMI, Mumbai Film Festival; International Film Festival of Kerala and the Kochi Biennale

About

Before Graduating from FTII, where I pursued One Year Certificate course in digital cinematography, I completed my PGD in Still Photography and visual communication from AJKMCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. 

After Graduating from FTII, I worked in a number of Hindi as well as regional films. Some of the short films that I worked on as a cinematographer have been selected for prestigious film festivals across the world. 

About

Nuvendra Singh is a distinguished alumnus and faculty member of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. A Post Graduate Certificate holder in TV Direction from FTII (2006), he brings over two decades of hands-on industry experience across feature film production, international co-productions, television, live events, and post-production to every dimension of his academic work.

Currently serving as Associate Professor in Film Production and Academic Coordinator, he oversees curriculum delivery, semester planning, result management under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), and student administration across multiple batches. His industry career spans collaborations with directors such as Danny Boyle, Craig Gillespie, John Madden, and the Wachowskis — credentials that lend singular authority to his teaching of the craft.

About

Phani Kiran Damara is a graduate in Physiotherapy and holds a Diploma in Film Editing from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. His work brings together an interdisciplinary background and visual storytelling, with areas of interest in human perception and AI filmmaking.

He has worked as Video Editor on The Story of Indian Animation, a research-based video series documenting the contributions of Indian animators, developed under the e-Kalpa initiative at IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay. He has also directed a documentary video series on the scholarship of Prof. Walter Spink, as part of the MHRD project Revisiting Ajanta - Design Intervention and Pedagogy at IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay, engaging with art, history, and academic research.

About

Sanjay More, an alumnus of FTII with a Postgraduate Diploma in Screen Acting and a Master’s in Theatre and Films, is a dedicated acting coach and educator. With a strong focus on research-oriented, individualized training, he has mentored aspiring actors across India through his extensive teaching experience. Sanjay served as an Associate Professor in the Screen Acting Department at FTII and has conducted workshops nationwide under FTII’s Centre for Open Learning. He has also worked as Acting Department Head at the Indian Television Academy’s School of Performing Arts, Pune, and as a visiting faculty member at institutions like Dramalay School of Acting. Combining his academic insSanjay More, an alumnus of FTII, holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Screen Acting and a Master’s degree in Theatre and Film from SRTM University, Nanded. He has also qualified for the National Eligibility Test (NET) in Performing Arts.

He is a dedicated acting coach and educator with a strong focus on research-oriented and individualized training. Through his extensive teaching experience, he has mentored aspiring actors across India.

Sanjay has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the Screen Acting Department at FTII since 2019. He has conducted workshops nationwide under FTII’s Centre for Open Learning (CFOL). He has also worked as the Head of the Acting Department at the Indian Television Academy’s School of Performing Arts, Pune, and as a visiting faculty member at institutions such as Dramalay School of Acting, MIT School of Design & MIT school of Film Studies in Pune.

Combining academic insight with professional experience, Sanjay’s teaching emphasizes the psychological and emotional nuances of performance, with a strong focus on process, discipline, and practical application in screen acting.ights with professional experience, Sanjay’s teaching emphasizes the psychological and emotional nuances of acting, making him a respected figure in the field of screen acting education.

About

Schooled at bishop cotton school, Shimla, he did his post graduation from st. Stephen's college in Delhiin English honours, before joining the acting course at FTII in 1972.

He has been senior professor of acting at whistling woods international (2006 -2010), and was visiting faculty at fine arts institute in Rohtak, Haryana, and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) Kolkata, and Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.

Benjamin Gilani is presently mentor of the screen acting department in the Institute.

About

Studied film direction at the FTII and holds a master’s degree in communication studies from Pune University. Hisdocumentary film Voices across the Oceans,  was awarded the Golden Lotus for Best Direction at the 53rd National Film Awards in 2005. Also, Traveling in a Cage, a portrait of renowned poet-artist Dilip Chitre, received a special mention award at the 12th UGC-CEC Annual Video Competition in 2000. His Hindi translation of selected Marathi poems of Dilip Chitre titled 'Barf ke Din' AKA ' Days of Snow' has been published in the journal of Hindi literature, Samās, in 2017. 

Before joining FTII as a faculty, he has taught filmmaking and film appreciation at Pune University and Tilak Maharashtra University, Pune.  

About

BSc Physics from Calicut University in 1986.

FTII Alumni of 1988 batch, PG Diploma in Cinema with specialisation in Sound Recording and Sound Engineering.

Recorded and designed sound for a number of feature films and documentaries. Some of the feature films are ‘Merry X’Mas’ 2024, ‘Andhadhun’ 2018 (Won Screen Award for Best Sound Design), ‘Badlapur’ 2014, ‘Agent Vinod’ 2012, ‘Johnny Gaddar’ (Won Filmfare Award for Best Sound Design) 2007, ‘Ek Hasin Thi’ 2004, ‘Evening Shadows’ 2018 (The film won 8 various International Awards),’Weather Report’ 2017,’Gattu’ 2015, ‘The Firm Land’ 2008, ‘Arimpara’ (Co writer) 2003,’Throne of Death’ (The film won Camera D’ OR 1999 at Cannes 1999). ‘Dharavi’ 1991 (The film won multiple National Awards) , and many more.

Was part of the sound team of ‘Ahoka’2001, ‘Company’ 2002, ‘Bhooth’ 2003, ‘Bhoothnath’ 2008, ‘Dhoom’ 1&2, 2004 & 2006, ‘Gayab’ 2004, ‘Heroes’ 2008, ‘Darna Zaroori Hai’ 2006, ‘Agyath’ 2009, ‘Kaal’ 2005, and many more.

Some of the documentaries are ‘Chasing Shadows’-In search of Snow Leopards (Wild life) Part 1 & 2, 2022, ‘The Garden of Forgotten Snow’ 2017, ‘Raag Prayag’ 2017, ‘Breaking Free’ 2015 (The film had won National Award), ‘Red Ant Dreams’ 2013, ‘Jashn-e- Azadi’ 2007, ‘Manjuben Truck Driver’ 2008 and many more.

Some of the documentary series for Channel 4 include ‘A Different Life’ 2003, ‘Miracles of Faith’ 2000.

Worked with Mani Kaul as his chief assistant in the films ‘The Cloud Door’, ‘The Servant’s Shirt’, ' Light Apparel 'and ' Bhoj ', during 1992 to 1999.

A student of Dhrupad Gurukul, Palaspe, Panvel and has been engineering and recording many live concerts associated with the Gurukul in various venues.

About

Graduated in English & History from Calicut University in, 1993, and later with Post Graduate Diploma in Film Making (Editing specialisation), FTII Pune 1996 Batch. Worked in many Editors-Sujata Narula, Paresh Kamdar, Aseem Sinha on commercial & offbeat films (Hindi) as assistant Editor, in Mumbai from 1997 to 2005 and later as Assistant Director ( Train to Pakistan, Private Detective, Jhooth Bole Kauvva Kaate.

Worked as Editor to many National Award winning documentaries in Malayalam- Pakarnattam, Minukku, Nottam.Journeys. Started making spots and Independent Documentaries for UNDP from 2001, directed independent feature film Anthiponvettom, ( Malayalam) in 2008. 

Worked as Executive Producer to Malayalam feature film Vairam & involved in Film Distribution with CinemaNSR Mumbai.Made two independent documentaries Suvarnam ( 2004) & Journey Inward on the educationist & Reformer  Sri M (2013). 

Academic work experience

Course consultant to at Sims, Sahlom Tv, Hod & Associate Professor at KRNNIVSA, Kottayam Kerala ( 2014 to 2018) Faculty ( Editing) Xavier Institute of Communication (Mumbai) 2019. Documented & revived age old Sanskrit texts, performed in Koodiyattam (World’ oldest Sanskrit theatre) like Naganandam, Bhagavadhoothu for international audience 2004.

Documentary on Vastu Exponent " Krishnayanam" in 2024, Edited two Documentaries Oru Kavyapustakam -playback singer P Jayachandran and Kathakali Masetro Kalamandalam Balasubramanian "Kalluvazhiyude Kalivettom" in 2025. 

Received and successfully completed  Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture to "Role of Humour in Traditional art of Storytelling -Chakiar Koothu" in 2026.

About

Graduated from FTII in early 1996 with a specialization in film editing

and worked mainly as a freelance editor for over 25 years. Since 2022, he has been a faculty member of the Video Editing Department at FTII, Pune.

He has edited more than two dozen feature films.

Among his notable editing credits are:

the Marathi films “Shwaas” (National Award for Best Feature Film, 2004; also India's official entry for the Oscars, 2005), “Valoo” (2007), “Vihir” (2009), “Dahavi F” (2002), “Nadi Vahate” (2014), “Kshitij” (2016), “The Last Mile’ (2020). 

He has also edited “K Sera Sera” (2016, Konkani) and “Glory” (2019, Konkani), the Gujarati film “Dhh” (2017) and the multilingual “Lailaa Manju” (2022).

He has also worked on the Hindi films “Zindagi Zindabad’ (1997), “Kuchh Dil Ne Kahaa” (1999), “Aurangzeb” (2013) and “Class Of ’83” (2019).

He has also worked extensively in non-fiction, having edited over thirty documentaries and an equal number of short fiction films, most notably the documentaries "Kalighat Fetish", (Best Documentary 2001, Tampere Film Festival, Finland);; "Cinema ka Sapna Dekha Hai?", “Moner Manush", "Yeh Gulistan Hamara", "Begum Hazrat Mahal”, “Dancing Othello”.

As part of his work with students, he has edited over fifty non-fiction projects and an equal number of fiction projects. Several of these have been shown on national television and have also won several awards at various festivals around the world.

He has been involved in academics for over two decades,teaching theory as well as the practical aspects of film in general and editing in particular at various places.

In the past, he has conducted several workshops at FTII, including the short courses in Video Editing conducted by FTII under PMKVY and SKIFT, from the inaugural edition in 2017 to 2021.

He has been a part of the regular Visiting Faculty at the Social Communications Media Department, Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai (2005 to 2016) and Digital Academy, Mumbai (2011 to 2018). 

He has also taught frequently at the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, Whistling Woods International,Mumbai and conducted workshops at IDC (IIT Bombay),

MRID (MSU Baroda), MIT (Loni Kalbhor) and also with organizations such as Majlis, Point of View, Filament Pictures, Living Bridge (Pune) among others.

About

Siddharth Shasta is a graduate in History (Hons.) from Hindu College, University of Delhi, and an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. An actor, writer and filmmaker, he maintains an active creative practice alongside his work as a teacher and mentor in screen acting. Through his association with SKIFT, FTII, he has designed and conducted specialised acting programmes with a distinctive focus on enabling theatre actors to transition effectively into screen performance. His work is particularly recognised for its unique approach to adapting the Stanislavski system—as further developed by Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg—into the Indian cultural and social context, making it more accessible, practical and relevant for contemporary actors.

He has served as Course Director and faculty for the Short Course in Screen Acting at prestigious platforms such as Rashtriya Sanskritik Mahotsav, Banaras, and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa. In 2018, he was deputed by FTII to lead the “Special Screen Acting Course” for Nepali actors in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. He has also been serving as a Member of the Academic Council at the Madhya Pradesh School of Drama (MPSD), Bhopal, for the past four years.

As a director, he has helmed over 25 full-length theatre productions along with several short films. He wrote and directed the Screen Acting Department’s thesis film at FTII in 2024, and has recently completed his debut feature film as writer and director. He has been teaching at FTII since 2014 and has been serving as Professor and Head of the Screen Acting Department since 2018, contributing to curriculum design, academic planning and overall departmental leadership in line with UGC frameworks.

About

About

Vaibhav Jadhav is a documentary filmmaker and a screenwriter trained from Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). With an academic background as an engineer from IIT Madras, he has made over 15 documentary films and worked in the Hindi film industry as a screenwriter garnering an experience of more than eight years. Some of his films have been selected at national and international film festivals. He has also worked as a creative director as well as a production head at different production companies. His interest lies in exploring new narrative possibilities through engagement with ground reality, collaborations and skill sharing.   

About

Sushant Sharma is an FTII alumnus, acting educator, and industry professional with over a decade of experience in film education, casting, and performance. He has served as Associate and Assistant Faculty for the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII–CFOL) programs, and has conducted intensive screen acting workshops at the University of Ladakh and SRTMU, Nanded.

His pedagogy emphasizes core acting tools such as movement, relaxation, improvisation, scene work, and acting for the camera, blending rigorous training with practical industry insight.

Alongside teaching, Sushant has an extensive professional career as an Associate Casting Director on acclaimed projects including The Sir, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Dasvi, City of Dreams, and Chutzpah. As an actor, his work includes films such as Ghayal Once Again, Half Girlfriend, and The Whistleblower, as well as award-winning film like Muhafiz – The Protector. With a strong theatre background and appearances in over many television commercials with brands, he brings a hands-on, real-world perspective to actor training.

About

Swamy Rajan K. earned his Post-Graduate Certificate in Video Editing from FTII, Pune in 2017. Mainly working as an editor and colourist since then, he has worked on a wide range of projects. He is the editor and colourist of two feature films : “We Don’t Have Photos Together’ (Hindi-English, 2022) directed by Ramana Dumpala and “Inko Coffee” (Telugu, 2025) directed by Lalith Bankupally. Apart from that, he has worked as associate editor on the feature films “Taxiwala” (Telugu, 2018) directed by Rahul Sankrityan, “Ranam : Detroit Crossing” (Malayalam, 2018) directed by Nirmal Sahadev, “Naragasooran” (Tamil, to be released) directed by Karthik Naren. He has also edited several short films and documentaries.

Prior to joining the Video Editing Department, he worked as a colourist for over three years in the Electronic Cinematography Department at FTII, during the course of which he graded over a hundred student films. In 2025, he graded the Tamil feature film “Neela Aththi Kili” (“Blue Fig Parrot”), directed by Vignesh Kumulai.

He has written and directed two short films : “Andha Naatkal” (“Those Days”) and “Baaram” (“Burden”). He is keenly inclined towards writing and works on screenplays as well as short stories and essays in his spare time.

About

A National Film Awardee, Swapnil Vasant Kapure is an alumnus of the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune. He holds a Master’s degree in Communication Studies with a specialization in Video Production from the Department of Media & Communication Studies at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Maharashtra. With a career spanning over a decade, Swapnil has made a significant impact in the world of cinema and audiovisual media since 2009.

He has collaborated with several prominent directors, contributing as associate director or co-director on films such as Salaam, Tuhya Dharm Koncha?, Loose Control, Oli Ki Suki, Sumbraan, Aatpat Nagar etc. Additionally, he has directed and written a variety of documentaries, corporate films, and ad films independently.

During his time at FTII, Swapnil created remarkable work as a student. His documentary Thiyya (Labor Spot), won the prestigious CILECT Asia Pacific Award (CAPA) in 2018. His final diploma film, Bhar Dupari (The Afternoon), received the National Film Award in the non-feature category at the 65th National Film Awards of India in 2018. The same film was also selected for the Indian Panorama Section at the 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa that year. Additionally, he wrote, directed, and produced the long short film Don Jagatala Kavi - Poet In Two Worlds, an adaptation of a short story by the eminent Marathi writer Balaji Sutar. Swapnil's films have been screened at numerous festivals across India and abroad, earning multiple accolades.

Beyond his filmmaking expertise, Swapnil is passionate about teaching cinema and has conducted workshops and lectures on Direction and Writing. Before joining the Television wing, he served as the Assistant Film Research Officer in the Department of Screen Studies & Research at FTII. During this time, he coordinated several winter and summer film appreciation courses, in collaboration with CFOL (Centre for Open Learning) and NFDC (NFAI), and facilitated student film submissions to national and international festivals in consultation with various departments.