Kumaradas T N

Kumaradas T N

Associate Professor and Head, Screen Acting

Bio

I am a classically trained Indian actor with 20 years of experience in theatre direction, design, and education. I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Screen Acting from FTII (2016-2018) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Dramatics with a specialization in Theatre Technique and Design from the National School of Drama (2006-2009). Additionally, I graduated in Political Science from Mahatma Gandhi University, qualified UGC-NET in Performing Arts (2020), and hold a Certificate in Phonetics and Phonology from the Mumbai University (2023).

I’ve directed and designed numerous plays both in India and internationally, with my work showcased at prestigious platforms such as GATS China and the Prague Quadrennial. Notable directorials include “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” at Pondicherry University, “Ravunni” at Tagore National School of Drama, “Goi” at Madhya Pradesh School of Drama, “Trojan Women” at Punjab University and National School of Drama and “Nagamandala” in Ireland. As an actor, I have been featured in various web series and films, including the Amazon Original series “Poacher”, Hot Star series “City of Dream” season 1, Sony Liv Series “Avarodh” season 1, 70th National Award winner for best Music Direction “Fursat” and the feature film “Do Aur Do Pyaar”. I have also directed a documentary film on the Tribes of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh titled “Baiga Bhoomi”.

My extensive formal training includes working under renowned practitioners such as Naseeruddin Shah, Benjamin Gilani, Tom Alter, Anirudh Khutwad, and Uttara Baoker in acting; Dr. Anuradha Kapur and Abhilash Pillai and Robin Das in theatre direction; and Suresh Bharadwaj, Neil Fraser in theatre design. I am also trained in various traditional and contemporary performance arts, including Yoga, Chau, Taekwondo, Kalarippayattu, and Yakshagana.

I won Best Actor for “Boudhavapuram” (Utopia) at the Mankada Ravi Varma Short Film Festival (2023) and nominations for Best Actor for “Pound of Flesh” at the 11th Mumbai International Cult Film Festival (2022) and Best Light Design for “After Death” at the Mahindra Excellence Theatre Awards (2016). My work has been recognized and featured in multiple international film festivals, reflecting my contributions to the arts.

As an educator, I was a former Head of the Department at Madhya Pradesh School of Drama and held visiting faculty positions at several esteemed institutions, including the National School of Drama, K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts, Pondicherry University, and the Central University of Hyderabad.

My upcoming releases include a multi-starrer Malayalam film “Idi Mazha Kattu”, “Rudhiram”, starring Raj Shetty and Aparna Balamaurali, directed by Jisho Lon Antony, and Dabba Cartel, a Netflix original series.

Projects

SELECTED SCREEN ACTING CREDITS (Recent)

Poacher : Prime Video Original series | 2024

  • Featured as Santosh in Poacher, an investigative crime series on the largest ivory poaching ring in Indian history created by Emmy-award-winning filmmaker Richie Mehta, helmed by Alia Bhatt, Nimisha Sajayan and Roshan Mathew.

Do Aur Do Pyaar : Feature Film | 2024

  • Featured as Pulli in Do Aur Do Pyaar, a 2024 Indian Hindi romantic comedy directed by Shirsha Guha Thakurta based on Azazel Jacobs’s The Lovers (2017). It features Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D’ Cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy.

Fursat : Short Film | 2023

  • The 2023 short film, starring Ishaan Khatter and Wamiqa Gabbi, Salman Yusaff Khan and Kumaradas TN was notably shot on an iPhone. Music by Vishal Bhardwaj. Commissioned by Apple and Produced under the banner of Absolute Productions and VB Pictures.

Bhranthu : A mediated performance | 2019, 2022

  • A mediated performance based on Malayalam writer Ayyappan’s short story titled Bhranthu (Madness). The focus of the performance is to stimulate the sensorial experience of the visible and invisible bodies.

Boudhavapuram (UTOPIA) : DIPLOMA FILM | 2019

Featured as the main protagonist. A final-year diploma film by the 2016-2019 batch of the Film and Television Institute of India, directed by Ravishankar Kerala Varma. Won Mankada Ravi Varma Puraskaram for best actor, best film and best editor 2023.

UPCOMING FILMS :

  • Ronth : Malayalam Police Procedural and Crime Drama by National Award winning director Shahi Kabir. Roshan Mathew and Dileesh Pothan in lead roles.
  • Dubba Cartel : Netflix original series Dabba Cartelstars Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Shalini Pandey, Sai Tamhankar, Nimisha Sajayan, Anjali Anand, Gajraj Rao, Jisshu Sengupta and others. The series is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidwani’s Excel Entertainment and directed by Hitesh Bhatia.
  • Rudhiram : Raj B Shetty starrer Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam Multilingual feature ‘Rudhiram’ produced under the banner of Rising Son Studios. Rudhiram is directed by Jisho Lon Anthony who has also written the story along with Joseph Kiran George.
  • Idi Mazha Kattu : Idi Mazha Kaattu is an Action Malayalam movie directed by Ambiliy S Rengan. The movie’s star cast includes Chemban Vinod Jose, Sreenath Bhasi, Sudhi Koppa and Senthil.

PREVIOUS FILM PROJECTS :

Avrodh: The Siege Within (2020) is an Indian Hindi-language military drama series that premiered on SonyLIV, directed by Raj Acharya. The series is a retelling of the 2016 Uri attack and the alleged strike by Indian forces across the Line of Control.

City of Dreams (2019) is an Indian political drama television series available on Hotstar. It is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor starring Atul Kulkarni, and Eijaz Khan.

Innu Muthal (2021) is Malayalam fantasy movie directed Rejish Medhilia which stars Siju Wilson. The film directly released on Zee Keralam. The film was remade in Tamil as Yaanai Mugathaan.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

  • 2023 : Won Best Actor for ‘Buadhavapuram’ (Utopia), a final year diploma film by Ravishankar Kerala at Mankada Ravi Varma Short Film Festival, Kerala.
  • 2022 : Nominated in Best Actor category for the short film ‘Pound of Flesh’ at the 11th Mumbai International Cult Film Festival.
  • 2016 : Nomination for Best Light Design for ‘After Death’ in the Mahindra Excellence Theatre Awards.

FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION :

Films & Web Series

  • 2023 : The web series ‘Poacher’ by Riche Mehta had its world premiere at the Indie Episodic segment of Sundance Film Festival 2023.
  • 2022 : The short film ‘Distance Towards the Sea’ participated in the 11th Mumbai International Film Festival, Kautik International Film Festival, Marchula and was Official Selection at Jaipur International Film Festival.
  • 2021 : The short film ‘I am’ won the Best screenplay award in the Indian Film House National Level Short Film Festival including official selection at Falcon International Film Festival, Official Selection at Golden Jury International Film Festival (GJIFF) Mumbai and official selection in International Film Festival of Sriganga Nagar.
  • 2020 : Short Film ‘Distance Towards the Sea’ participated in 18th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) and Orange City International Film Festival, Nagpur.

SELECTED DIRECTORIAL WORK (THEATRE) :

The Caucasian Chalk Circle : Dept. of Performing Arts, Pondicherry University | 2023

  • The play was conceived with 35 students of MA Performing Arts at Pondicherry University, as part of a 3rd semester production commemorating the 125th Birth anniversary of renowned playwright, Bertolt Brecht. The entire performance-making was based on devising theatre methodologies, reincorporating various storytelling traditions from the folk and modern theatre of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The production premiered at Pondicherry University in December 2023.

Ravunni : Tagore National School of Drama, Bhopal | 2023

  • Ravunni is a notable Malayalam play written by PM Taj in the 1980s and it was produced in another language for the first time with the first batch of students from the Tagore National School of Drama, Bhopal. Premiered in Bhopal.

Goi : Madhya Pradesh School of Drama, Bhopal | 2016

  • The play “Goi” is a devised theatre based on the life of noted social activist and theatre practitioner Daya Bai, who has settled among the Gond Tribe in Madhya Pradesh. The play was conceived with 25 students of the Madhya Pradesh School of Drama as part of the annual production and premiered in Bhopal.

Nagamandala : I Mandala, Ireland | 2014

  • An International production of Nagamandala was performed for the first time by the Indian immigrant community in the context of  shared Indo-Irish history and cultural exchange. Production was conceived after a three-month rehearsal process and workshop with the Indian Immigrant community and premiered at Civic Theatre, Dublin in 2014.

Black talcum powder project : Performance Collective Wayanadu, Kerala | 2013

  • A contemporary Dalit theatrical ensemble of untouchable amateur artists from various tribal communities collaborated to retell the mutilation of Surpanakha, a character from Epic Ramayana, against the background of a woman who faced public humiliation for being an Auorikshaw driver in Kerala. This theatre project was supported by the Ministry of Culture; Government of India and previewed in Wayanadu.

Three Penny Opera : Dept. of Indian Theatre, Punjab University, Chandigarh | 2012

  • Multilingual musical theatre performance by the MA Performing Arts students of the Department of Indian Theatre, Punjab University in March 2012, as part of their annual production on World Theatre Day. The entire production is conceived using Augusto Boal’s approaches to devising theatre and political theatre.

Personal Impersonal : Shraddha Old age home and Perafin, Kota, Rajasthan | 2011

  • A Multimedia-storytelling theatre performance by old age home inmates and senior citizens of Kota, Rajasthan. The participants recollected their stories and retold them using the visual medium and documentary theatre. The workshop and production was organized by Perafin Group Kota and Shraddha Old age home, Rajasthan.

Short stories about Ufff : Dept. of Indian Theatre, Punjab University | 2011

  • A New Media, Devised, Pop, Documentary Theatre performance by the students of the Department of Indian Theatre, Punjab University, Chandigarh. It participated in the International Theatre Institutes Festival at NSD in 2012 January.

Trojan Women : A love story | Dept. of Indian Theatre, Punjab University | 2010

  • Originally based on Euripides’s Trojan Women, and has been devised as an annual production by the students of the Department of Indian Theatre, Punjab University, and Chandigarh. It participated in the National Theatre Festival of Kerala in 2010.

Trojan Women : National School of Drama, New Delhi | 2009

  • First directorial as part of the final diploma production in NSD with acting and theatre design students. The play dealt with the Dalitization of Indian women from Aryan invasion to contemporary times, drawing on Jean-Paul Sartre’s Adaptation of Trojan Women by Euripides. The play participated in the 11th ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’, New Delhi in 2010.

PLAYS AND PERFORMANCES :

  • 2018 : Play Aranyagatha by Madhya Pradesh School of Drama | 8th Theatre Olympics, India
  • 2017 : Anandha Raghunandan by Madhya Pradesh School of Drama | 19th Bharat Rang Mahotsav
  • 2015 : Aranya Gaatha by Madhya Pradesh school of drama | 18thBhart Rang Mahotsav and Rangayana National Theatre Festival
  • 2010 : Trojan Women | International Theatre Festival of India, Bharat Rang Mahotsav, National School of Drama
  • 2010 : Trojan Women: A love story | National Theatre Festival by Kerala State Information and Public Relations
  • 2010 : Strange Line | 11th Bharat Rang Mahotsav by the National School of Drama, New Delhi, Natrani Theater Festival Ahmadabad in 2011 and International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFOK) in 2011

SELECTED DESIGN PROJECTS :

  • 2011 : Exhibition design for Global Alliance of Theater School in Shanghai, China
  • 2011 : Student Design section | Prague Quadrennial 2011 in Prague, Czech Republic
  • 2010 : Multimedia design for ‘Macbeth’, directed by Sayed Jameel Ahamad in National School of Drama
  • 2010 : Design for “Strange lines” – A Multimedia theatre production by Pro Helvetia -Swiss Arts Council
  • 2010 : Associate production design on the Film “Dazed in a Doon by Aswin Kumar
  • 2009 : Scenic design for ‘King Lear’ directed by Ovlyakuli Kodhjakuli (Russia) in 2009 at NSD

Courses Taught

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