Prof Waman Kendre appointed as Director of National School of Drama by the government

Updated on: Friday, August 02, 2013

Noted theatre artist Prof Waman Kendre has been appointed as Director of National School of Drama (NSD) by the government after more than a year.

His appointment is for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge or till superannuation on 62 years of age or until further orders, whichever is earlier, an official statement said.

The delay in appointment of NSD Director had raised concerns among the artist fraternity as the term of outgoing NSD Director Anuradha Kapur had expired in July last year.

Kapur continued till April this year as the government had failed to decide about her successor. She finally stepped down in April leaving the premier institution without a full-time head.

According to sources, the delay was due to alleged non-adherence of selection procedure by the NSD selection committee comprising Shyam Benegal, Girish Karnad, Satish Alekar, Govind Deshpande and Amal Allana.

Demanding immediate appointment of the NSD Director, several theatre artists had met Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch.

Prof Kendre, an alumnus of NSD and now the Head of the Department of Theatre Arts at Mumbai University, was one of the probables apart from Arundhati Nag from Bangalore and Abdul Latif Khatana from Jammu and Kashmir.

Kendre has directed a number of plays such as Zulva, Janeman, Mohandas, Tempt Me Not, Dusara Samana and others. His latest venture is an adaptation of Sanskrit playwright Bhasa's 'Madhyam Vyavog' in three different languages.

Kendre had done his research in Kerala folklore.

Prof Waman Kendre appointed as Director of National School of Drama by the government

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