kanishk pandey

kanishk pandey is a writer, director, and exile. He believes that art must be in constant conflict with society to express the love that all beings deserve. He uses the label exile, inspired by the works of James Joyce as well as his own experience as a member of the South Asian diaspora, to describe a relationship with nationality that is forever nomadic and critical. His work is unified by the belief that consciousness can only exist through dialogue and interaction, and that every living creature shares an unspoken connection. Therefore, he seeks to nurture a sense of community in his work. These are the core philosophies that guide his work, be it theater, film, fiction, or even scholarship. As long as he gets to connect with you.

kanishk is a graduate of NYU Tisch’s Dramatic Writing...

kanishk pandey is a writer, director, and exile. He believes that art must be in constant conflict with society to express the love that all beings deserve. He uses the label exile, inspired by the works of James Joyce as well as his own experience as a member of the South Asian diaspora, to describe a relationship with nationality that is forever nomadic and critical. His work is unified by the belief that consciousness can only exist through dialogue and interaction, and that every living creature shares an unspoken connection. Therefore, he seeks to nurture a sense of community in his work. These are the core philosophies that guide his work, be it theater, film, fiction, or even scholarship. As long as he gets to connect with you.

kanishk is a graduate of NYU Tisch’s Dramatic Writing program and an alumni of Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writers Group. He is a 2024-2025 New Voices Van Lier Fellow at Rattlestick Theater. His work has been recognized by institutions such as Synecdoche Works, O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Austin Film Festival, and New York Stage and Film. He has had his playwriting supported by companies such as Rattlestick Theater, Ma-Yi Theater Company, Clubbed Thumb, Exponential Festival, The Brick, SPACE on Ryder Farm, The Lark, Sanguine Theater, and Boomerang Theater, and his screenwriting developed by institutions such as The Layar Project. He co-founded the theater festival collective 3POP, the Submerged Writers Group, as well as the theater development company, GIFTSHOP.

Scripts

Tripsitter

by kanishk pandey

Synopsis

Yuna has always been curious about shrooms, but fear of...well, fear of everything inside her brain has stopped her. Enter Vish, with the promise of tripsitting her to keep her safe. However, no one can predict the world bending moment when the shrooms begin to hit and the avatars of our universe burst forth from Yuna's anxiety.

Yuna has always been curious about shrooms, but fear of...well, fear of everything inside her brain has stopped her. Enter Vish, with the promise of tripsitting her to keep her safe. However, no one can predict the world bending moment when the shrooms begin to hit and the avatars of our universe burst forth from Yuna's anxiety.

PRISONCORE!

by kanishk pandey

Synopsis

Lucky is starting his job as the night shift guard in the guard tower of a new panopticon prison. Rain is continuing her job in the recording studio of a popular online casino as the VTuber dealer. In a moment of indifferent cruelty, the two lives intersect and learn what it means to have freedom, and who gets sacrificed for that freedom.

Lucky is starting his job as the night shift guard in the guard tower of a new panopticon prison. Rain is continuing her job in the recording studio of a popular online casino as the VTuber dealer. In a moment of indifferent cruelty, the two lives intersect and learn what it means to have freedom, and who gets sacrificed for that freedom.

Gardens @ Glennshead

by kanishk pandey

Synopsis

On her way to plant her late mother's four herbs, Karna awakens a long sleeping Giant. The Giant has been waiting for a human to come its way so that it may pass on an ancient prophecy. However, as Karna tries to avoid this prophecy, the world around both Karna and The Giant begins to fold in on them.

On her way to plant her late mother's four herbs, Karna awakens a long sleeping Giant. The Giant has been waiting for a human to come its way so that it may pass on an ancient prophecy. However, as Karna tries to avoid this prophecy, the world around both Karna and The Giant begins to fold in on them.

Let Me Let Me Rot

by kanishk pandey

Synopsis

When Mangal's suicide attempt fails, he suddenly finds himself in an awkward predicament: face to face with a recent meet on a dating app, Death herself. Together, they investigate why he tried, and whether their relationship can survive.

When Mangal's suicide attempt fails, he suddenly finds himself in an awkward predicament: face to face with a recent meet on a dating app, Death herself. Together, they investigate why he tried, and whether their relationship can survive.

The Fate of the Online Cow

by kanishk pandey

Synopsis

The Cow spends her life in front of a camera, playing video games for an active chat, earning money for her owners, Mud and Hue. Up until this point, her life has been simple but fulfilled. However, when a game of Minecraft leads her to consider her own predicament, she must come to terms with the oppressive conditions she exists under and the act of earned revolution.

The Cow spends her life in front of a camera, playing video games for an active chat, earning money for her owners, Mud and Hue. Up until this point, her life has been simple but fulfilled. However, when a game of Minecraft leads her to consider her own predicament, she must come to terms with the oppressive conditions she exists under and the act of earned revolution.

Caretake of Her

by kanishk pandey

Synopsis

Cyrus is in a listless part of his life. He has quit his job to start a directionless podcast, and is growing more and more resentful of his fiance, Lily. However, he is suddenly thrown into a spiral when his vegetable grandmother is moved into his and Lily's one-bedroom apartment as she enters hospice. As he discovers her past and comes to view himself as a member of a lost royal community, he begins to bring...

Cyrus is in a listless part of his life. He has quit his job to start a directionless podcast, and is growing more and more resentful of his fiance, Lily. However, he is suddenly thrown into a spiral when his vegetable grandmother is moved into his and Lily's one-bedroom apartment as she enters hospice. As he discovers her past and comes to view himself as a member of a lost royal community, he begins to bring chaos into what was a quiet life for him and his partner.

Lanka in the Clouds

by kanishk pandey

Synopsis

Faria is brought by Hunter to the US. Faria has to get a job. Faria wants to tell stories. All breaks.

Faria is brought by Hunter to the US. Faria has to get a job. Faria wants to tell stories. All breaks.