Vinay Varma

Vinay Varma, founder of Sutradhar started out as an amateur theatre practitioner and is now a theatre personality of International repute. He has been passionately involved with theatre for more than thirty years. He's also been a part of more than 15 feature films in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and a Hollywood film.[5]

Vinay is well-known for many of his stage and screen characters. He has directed over 30 plays and acted in more than 50 plays with over 200 shows across India and abroad. Some of his acclaimed performances are in Natasamrat, Raktbeej,[6] Main Rahi Masoom,[7] Siyaah Haashiye, Stronger Than Superman, Main Nathuram Godse, Death Watch, Kanjoos Makkhi Choose,[8] David Mamet's Oleanna.[9][10] He is well-known for his play Main Rahi Masoom which is based on the life and times of writer Dr Rahi Masoom Raza. Besides Hyderabad, Main Rahi Masoom has been performed in Kala Ghoda Arts Festival – Mumbai, 3rd Minerva National Theatre Festival – Kolkata, Pratyay Theatre Festival – Kolhapur, 12th Bharath Rang Mahotsav – New Delhi, 22nd National Drama Festival – Allahabad, 8th World Theatre Olympics-Chandigarh, Film and Television Institute of India-Pune. It was also performed in Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bengaluru etc. Vinay Varma was also invited by the Society of Friends International, London, to stage Main Rahi Masoom.[11] On 2 March 2018, Main Rahi Masoom celebrated its 50th show, at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad, India.

As a Theatre Director, some of his well-known plays are:

• John Pielmeier's Agnes of God.[12]
• Dr. C.H. Phansalkar's Isosceles Triangle.
• Birjees Qadar Ka Kunba, an Urdu adaptation of The House of Bernarda Alba.[13]
• Pinki Virani's Bitter Chocolate.[14]
• Badal Sarkar's Ballabhpur ki Roopkatha
• Dr. Shankar Shesh's Raktbeej.
• Dr. Shankar Shesh's Phandi.
• Dr. Prem Janmejai's Sita Apaharan Case.
• Sagar Sarhadi's Kisi Seema Ki Ek Mamooli Si Ghatna.
• Surendra Verma's Maranoparant.[15]
• Neem Hakim Khatar e Jaan, a Hyderabadi adaptation of Le Médecin malgré lui.[16]
• Saadat Hasan Manto's Siyaah Haashiye (co-directed with Deepti Girotra).[17]
• Ismat Chughtai's Ismat – Ek Aurat.[18]
• Gandhi Ambedkar and Main Nathuram Godse (co -directed with Prof. Bhasker Shewalker)
• Mah Laqa Bai Chanda, based on the life of Mah Laqa Bai, an 18th century Urdu poet and the first woman to have a diwan (anthology) of her work.[19]
• Kanjoos Makkhi Choose, a Hyderabadi adaptation of The Miser.[20]

Vinay Varma had lent his voice in Urdu, English, and Hindi, for various Ad-Films, Documentaries, Corporate Films, and Educational Films. He also dubs for Telugu films. He has dubbed for Tinnu Anand in Telugu film Anji (film), for Nassar (actor) in Okkadunnadu, for the main villain in Vijay Devarakonda starrer Dear Comrade, for Tamil actor Ilavarasu in Donga (Telugu version of Karthi starrer Thambi (2019 film)), and for many other interesting characters.

Vinay Varma has been conducting Acting, Voice, and Body Language Workshops at Sutradhar since 1999, and has identified and trained more than a hundred talents. Some well-known faces trained by him are Vijay Varma,[21] Sree Vishnu, Aditi Sharma (Ahana of Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki), Vijay Deverakonda,[22] Y.P. Yashashwini (working as an Independent film editor for Hindi feature films). Some have won accolades for their short films, some do regular voice-overs and dubbing for feature films, ad-films, and documentaries, and some are assisting big-time film directors.

• Aarop (Actor)
• Bitter Chocolate (Actor/Director)
• Bus Stop (Actor)
• Deathwatch (Actor)
• Four Dimensions (Actor/Director)
• Gadha Ya Aadmi (Voice over for leather puppetry show)
• Gandhi Ambedkar (Actor/Co-Director)
• Godse – An Assassin speaks (Actor/Director)
• Good Bye Swami (Actor)
• Inspector Matadeen Chand Par (Actor)
• Isosceles Triangle (Actor/Director)
• Jaal – Dramatised play reading (Actor/Director)
• Kissa Karodimal Ki Laash Ka (Actor/Director)
• Kanjoos Makkhi Choose (Actor/Director)
• Main Nathuram Godse (Actor/Co-Director)
• Main Rahi Masoom (Actor)
• Maranoparant (Actor/Director)
• Natasamrat (Actor)
• Neem Hakim Khatar e Jaan (Actor/Director)
• Oleanna (Actor)
• On Vacation (Actor/Director)
• Pushp (Actor)
• Raktbeej (Actor/Director)
• Room No 13 Block No 14 (Actor)
• Saiyyan Bhaye Kotwal (Actor/Director)
• Shanivaar ke 2 Baje (Actor)
• Sita Apharan Case (Actor/Director)
• Siyaah Haashiye (Actor/Co-Director)
• Stronger Than Superman (Actor)
• The Stronger (Director)
• Voids, Spaces & Borders (Actor/Director)
• Andhere Mein (Actor/Director)[23]

• Peter the 2 (Telefilm)
• Madhavi
• Daanav Hunters
• Dharti Baney Phulwari
• Naghme ka Safar
• Main Phir Janma Hoon (Telefilm)
• Bala
• Ek Kahani
• Manushulu-Mamathalu

• Personal website