About Us
The Silk Route is an Indian art organisation founded in 2019 by a group of young artists who strongly felt the need to share Knowledge, to make ‘Knowledge in Art’ more accessible to young people from all walks of life. In a country like India, where there is an increasing drift between Contemporary and Traditional art practices. There is an increasing need to create critical conversations between artists, to transfer knowledge to younger generation and create systems to preserve the livelihood of artists.
People Behind Silk Route
Kalieaswari Srinivasan
Kalieaswari Srinivasan is an actor based in Chennai, who works with theatre groups in India, Europe and Australia. Her latest work is with the legendary theatre director Peter Brook and his long time collaborator Marie Hélène Estienne on their play THE PRISONER, which premiered at The Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, March 2018. Her first film venture was the Cannes 2015 Palme’d Or winner DHEEPAN directed by the French director Jacques Audiard, where she played the female protagonist, Yalini. Along with the Golden Palm, the movie was part of major film festivals around the world. She had been individually involved in theatre with and for children, specifically from the south of India, in rural areas and cities alike, working with a wide spectrum of children, including those with special learning needs and Autism. Her focus also involved working with educators and children to make education through theatre and theatre in education, more accessible.
Vasanth Selvam
Vasanth Selvam Vasanth Selvam is a theatre actor. He learnt theatre by practice from his mentor Koumarane Valavane, along with whom he later co-founded ‘Indianostrum Théâtre’, a theatre company based in Pondicherry. Under the direction of Koumarane Valavane he has performed in notable creations like Land of Ashes, Kunti-Karna, Karuppu, Chandâla, impure, which have been performed in leading Indian Theatre festivals, at Theatre du Soleil, Paris, France and at The Festival of Francophonie at Limoges, France. He made his debut in cinema with Jacques Audiard’s Palme d’Or winner movie ‘Dheepan’ in 2015. He is a regular practitioner of Kalaripayattu – a martial art form from Kerala. He has also undertaken training in Theru Koothu and Kathakali – traditional theatre forms of Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively. Recently, he worked with legendary theatre director Peter Brook on his production of “The Prisoner”.
Joseph Bernard
An avid motorbikes collector, Joseph has been associated with Indianostrum Théâtre’s Pondicherry chapter for many years. Welder by profession, Jospeh’s love and interest for theatre got him working with Indianostrum as set fabricator. His innovative and simplistic set ideas have added a character to the performance.
Banupriya Jagatheesen
Banupriya Jagatheesen “I believe arts and literature can help to look at things differently and to understand them better. It has been helping me to talk about complex issues with people in a more meaningful way. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people on diverse projects involving theatre, film, art and literary programs for children. I have always been fascinated by the rich variety of programs that emerge when individuals from diverse backgrounds collaborate. I hope Silkroute will be able to create interesting programs for different people to meet, share and learn.”