Dr Omkar Bhatkar

Dr. Omkar Bhatkar is a Sociologist with a doctoral thesis dealing with Proxemics and Social Ecology. He is a visiting professor in Film Analysis, Theatre Studies, and Aesthetics at Somaiya Vidyavihar University. He has also served as a faculty for the London School of Economics International Programmes in Sociology. His academic interest comprises Cultural Studies, Phenomenology, Film Theory, Theatre, Aesthetics, Visual Communication, Gender studies, Existentialism, and Inter-religious studies. He is the Co-Founder and Head of ‘St. Andrew’s Centre for Philosophy and Performing Arts aims to bridge art and academics. Dr. Omkar Bhatkar also runs his own theatre group known as Metamorphosis Theatre Inc. His works largely focus on Poetry in Motion, Existentialist Themes, and Contemporary French Plays in Translation. He has written and directed more than twenty plays, several of which have been performed at Art and Theatre Festivals. In collaboration with Alliance Française de Bombay, he has directed several Contemporary French Plays in English. He is also a Stage Critic and reviews plays. Dr. Bhatkar’s play ‘Blue Storm’ was selected at the Asia Playwrights Theatre Festival 2021 held in South Korea. ‘Blue Storm’ was also an invitation play at the International Women’s Theatre Festival 2021 held at Incheon, South Korea. Though he is grounded in theatre, he also explores the world of films. As a filmmaker, he has written and directed independent feature films like Perhaps Tea, The Farewell Band, Testament of Emily, and also a poetic documentary titled ‘Painted Hymns: The Chapels of Santa Monica’ He is a thalassophile and spends time reading, writing poetry, painting, letter writing, and conversations over tea but black.