Anupama Chabukswar is an Indian film editor based in Mumbai. A graduate from Sir JJ School of Applied Arts & Post graduate from FTII, Pune. She started her career in 2006 in advertising & since then she has worked on variety of projects ranging from feature films, advertisements & documentaries for international channels and popular OTT platform. Her work features in different languages including English, Marathi, Tamil & Telugu. In 2021 she had been nominated in the Best Editor of Foreign Film category at the Madrid International Film Festival for her Marathi film “Habaddi.”
As a child what were your early influences towards cinema? Art, literature, graphics, photography?
My Influence with Art & Photography started very early in life. My father run a small business of designs calendars and back in the day they had an image sourcing agency from Europe who send them sample in print. I was too young to know anything about a brush stroke or a backlight. From the White Lily by Claude Monet, the Sunflower by Van Gogh to photographs by Kim Anderson – the famous children photographer, I got influenced by Legends. While designing calendars I remember we (My parents, my sister & I) would sit and scan through those images. That was my start to the world of Art. It also developed the ability to recollect images & helped with my designing skills.
How did you first become interested in film editing?
During the period of 2000 to 2003 Star Movies would telecast Making of Films – Volcano, Speed, Invisible man and a few more before or after the film was telecasted. I was in JJ Applied Arts then. During my assignments I would keep the TV on, the films played in the background. Film making caught my fancy. I have watched the movie Speed 15 times along with the making. Seeing multiple camera setups, resulting in interesting footage followed by the choice made to that made into the final film, it was extremely fascinating.
My father noticed my keen interest in this and nudged me to apply at FTII. That’s when I made the choice of Editing.
What steps did you take to train yourself?
At JJ we had Storyboard as our college assignment. We had to think of an Ad film idea and submit a storyboard. Thinking of wide angles, close-ups, product windows etc. all that happened. We were told by our professors “We will guide you not hand hold you”. A lot that came out in the Story boards was observation and instinctive.
Have you assisted anyone? How does it help one?
Two years into working I had only Ads on my work profile. I was looking to work on a film when I got the opportunity to assisted Rameshwar Bhagat on the remake of A Wednesday made in Tamil & Telegu. Rameshwar was very encouraging and patient. He would complement if there a nice edit and also explain how one can better a given rough lineup. how to make the right choice to aid the narrative is what I learned observing him edit. Not just editing but how to treat your team, he is a gentleman.
How did your first film project come about? Tell us something about the experience.
My first film happened 3 years after I finished FTII. The first AD on the film was a friend.
The director was looking for a fresher in editing as he wanted to an active party in the edit process. Editing that film, I would say it made me grow up. The take away was I learned to edit songs.
What are your inspirations?
I derive my inspiration from this quote – “You are as good as your last work.” Wanting to do good work that leaves an impression pushes me creatively.
Is film editing intuitive or is it something you learn?
I think it’s both. I like taking a narration from my directors apart from reading the script. It brings out the nuances of the story which then gets guided by my instinct to add to that narrative. The reason I say both is because I firmly believe every project one learns something new, if one doesn’t learn how will one grow.
Do you think the audience is perceptive about an edit? What kind of feedback do you get from non-film maker audience for your work?
We are living in times where so much content is getting created that the minute someone breaks the format it immediately gets noticed. So I do think the audience now is aware of film making techniques. Most of my non-film maker friends want to know the thought that went about making the edit decisions. The feedback I have got is “ the edit was sleek”, “the story has a right pace”, “I enjoyed the watching this particular scene”.
Any hurdles you have encountered in your journey. Things that are blocks in a achieving your vision while working on your film.
I have been fortunate enough to have had complete creative freedom while working on my films. As much as editing is a solitary process, its bringing together of the vision of the Producers, Directors, DOP, Actors basically everyone who has got he rushes to the edit table, the key is to have clear communicate. Discussing ideas, debating over narration, understanding the inputs for all can happen with an open dialogue. Everyone on the team is working toward the best version of the film we have set out to craft.
How has the long form OTT Series affected the narration of stories? Do you think a module for editing for OTT should be taught at FTII?
OTT has created a space for diverse storytelling. There is a different skillset required to plot the story and character arc. Character need to have depth with a backstory and a reason to propel in the narrative forward. Being authentic and relatable is important to keep the audience engaged. Also a scope to branch the narrative in any particular direction in the next seasons yet not losing the base of the story is important.
Yes of course, Today it’s OTT tomorrow there might be another format, Teaching the basics is important but how to mold to the current tide is equally relevant.
Do you often get all that is in your wish list or is it a hard bargain every time?
It’s both, its depends on how much one hard bargains for all that’s there on their wishlist.
Your favorite films or editors? At least two of them?
My current favorite is the Webseries – “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. The show is sheer brilliance in every department of storytelling aided by brilliant acting & superb dialogue writing. The story arc of Midge is beautiful, evolution is relatable. One cry & laughs her & Suzie.
I am a big fan of Aarti Bajaj’s edits. “Rockstar” & “Highway” crafted by her are my top watched films. The way character dynamics & emotions evolve, making the emotion flourish, it’s such a pleasure to watch her craft.
What is in the kitty now?
I am presently working on a docuseries for an OTT platform. There are a few projects lineup for the coming year, excited about those too.
Any advice to the inspiring editors?
There is magic that gets created with help of the editing software. Concentrate on creating that magic.
Any memorable blunders?
Very early on in my career I was offered a Marathi film that went on to become a huge success, which I said No as the remuneration didn’t work out. I till date can’t get myself to watch that film.
Your dream project?
I would love to edit an animation film.
Who would you like to take out for dinner?
I am in awe of Hans Zimmer. Would be exhilarating to know the mind that creates such iconic experiences with his compositions.
What are you listening to right now? And most recent book? And Movie?
Spotify has a beatstumental playlist one should check it out.
I recently had a baby so a lot of my reading has been on child development.
I recently enjoyed watching the light comedy film “Ante Sundaraniki” on Netflix.
Anupama’s work profile is here. Here IMDB Profile is here.
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