Abhijay Karlekar has a Bachelor’s degree in History and started professional life as a copywriter with Hindusthan Thompson (JWT) in India. In 1977, Mr. Karlekar co-founded Shape – a print, film, and later web, communications design and production company engaged in advertising, advocacy and documentary film making. Shape provides services to a range of Indian and multinational corporations and non-governmental organizations.

It has been Shape’s policy to invest a part of its profits in documentation. Shape has so far produced 6 substantive documentaries – 4 of them directed by Mr. Karlekar. Of these, Future of Our Cities and Dharamtalla Ka Mela have had national television broadcast in India, the latter being selected for the Margaret Mead Festival and the Berlin Film Festival.

Mr. Karlekar serves on the Board of Calcutta Social Project, which provides services in education, vocational training, health and shelter to street and slum families in Kolkata; and is an Adviser to KASAM, an organic spice growing cooperative of tribal farmers in Kandhamal, Orissa.