The entertainment industry in India is one of the largest in the number of films produced yearly. It covers various languages. Movies, TV shows, web series, and everything else come under Indian cinema. They capture the hearts of millions all around the world. The excellent storytelling of Indian cinema comes through the art of video editing.
Yes, it is “Video Editing” which shapes the raw footage into stories that you watch in cinema halls or at home. It makes a flow by adding the right scenes, effects, music, and color tone. Video editing is among the top factors that make any movie, web series, or music video successful.
This is the main reason why so many people are learning video editing and joining post-production.
Evolution of Video Editing in the Indian Entertainment Industry
We can study the evolution of video editing through various stages in Indian entertainment.
Early Days with Manual Editing
In the beginning, the editing of films was cut and pasted with scissors and splicing tape. Early editors had to work on physical film reels with a lot of precision and patience. Mughal-e-Azam (1960) is one of the main examples.
Analog Editing
We saw the advent of analog editing machines in the 1970s and 1980s. These machines were faster and made the process easier. Now editors were using videotapes and they stopped working with film reels. The Bollywood block-blaster Sholay (1975) is an ideal example of analog editing.
Non-Linear Video Editing in the 1990s
The 1990s brought a big change to Indian cinema. This is because of the use of non-linear video editing. Avid technology was India’s industry standard for film editing at that time.
Non-linear editing (NLE) software like Avid and Apple’s Final Cut Pro replaced traditional methods of film editing. These applications gave a smart way of working with editors. Now they were free to work on clips in any order which also gave them freedom for experiments with cuts and effects.
Films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) were edited using NLE technology.
Modern-day editing with VFX and Compositing
Today we see modern editing methods in the entertainment industries around the world and India is not an exception to it. In the current era, editors use advanced digital tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and After Effects. These tools create VFX and make better compositing of footage. For example, we saw stunning visual effects by V. Srinivas Mohan in Baahubali (2015-2017) and color grading by Rajesh G. Pandey in Padmaavat (2018). These two are the classic example of modern video editing in Indian cinema.
Also, VR and AI are adding new dimensions to editing.
Impact of Video Editing on OTT Platforms in India
OTT series is also becoming a cornerstone part of the Indian entertainment industry these days. No doubt, video editing plays an important part in shaping the OTT content in India.
As per the report of the Economic Times, there are approx. 547.3 million people watched OTT content in India.
These numbers are growing every year. A large part of the audience is on the platforms like Disney+Hotstar, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.
Here, it becomes very important to deliver professionally edited content to the audience. Thus, we can’t ignore the value of video editing.
People like the series Sacred Games and Mirzapur not just because of the story but also because of their flashbacks and smooth transitions. Even short-form trailers and teasers require a lot of editing skills to make a big impact on the audience.
Key Technologies Transforming Video Editing Today
Today, we have various technologies that top editors in India use with video editing to improve footage. These technologies also unlock new career options for existing editors in the industry.
1. Motion Graphics and Visual Effects (VFX)
Both motion graphics and VFX have become indispensable in post-production. Editors need to learn tools like Adobe After Effects these days to create dynamic visuals.
Every larger-than-life battle scenes in Baahubali and sci-fi effects in Robot 2.0 are the result of 3D motion graphics, compositing, and VFX. You can learn these skills with our 3D motion graphics master course.
2. 4K and 8K Video Editing
Ultra-high-definition content on OTT platforms and cinemas is very much in demand these days. Thus, editors need to upgrade their sequence settings and match with the high-resolution sizes.
Options like Proxy editing in Premiere Pro help in editing on low-resolution sizes and exporting output on UHD sizes.
3. Cloud-Based Editing
The use of real-time and cloud technology is also growing. Platforms like Frame.io and Blackmagic Cloud allow editors, directors, and clients to work together remotely. They can easily share files and feedback.
Other types of technology cover VR and 360° videos that video experts should learn.
Scope of Video Editing in the Entertainment Industry
Here’s a closer look at the scope of video editing:
1. Film Production: One of the main areas to work in is film production for video editors in India. They are like the heart of the post-production stage of video production.
2. Television Shows: Other areas to work include news broadcasts, reality shows, live events, and daily soaps work projects. Every editor spends hours making engaging episodes by adding sound effects, cuts, and background music. Big examples of it would be reality shows like Bigg Boss or Indian Idol.
3. Music Videos: Music videos also require editing to convey emotions to people. The main part is synchronizing video with audio beats properly. Transitions and colors should match up with the theme of the music.
4. Commercials and Advertisements: How can we forget commercials and advertisements? They are incomplete without a professional level of editing. Top Advertising Agencies in the world hire video editors to make ads to grab the attention of audience and convey the message of the brand. These ads make a big impact on the brand image.
E.g. memorable commercials like Amul’s Taste of India or Cadbury’s Silk ads. Everyone is known for the excellent composition of videos and audio. Every ad guru in India understands this and works closely with editors.
Check out the video composition of the classic commercial “Amul The Taste of India” below:
Other areas are social media, animation, and VFX industries.
So, there is a lot to do when comes to video editing. Many career opportunities are there, all you need is to learn the right skills and gain practical knowledge.
Learning Video Editing
Video editing is no doubt an exciting skill with a good scope in the future. Being a student, it is important to learn from fundamentals and gradually climb up the advanced skills.
Video Editing Training at ADMEC Multimedia
Our institute has courses for complete beginners as well as skilled editors. We cover training in editing, motion graphics, compositing, and VFX. Some of our top most liked programs are given below.
Top 4 Courses:
Conclusion on the Role of Video Editing in the Entertainment Industry in India
We have seen that there is a big role of video editing in the entertainment industry in India which includes OTT content, TV shows, and social media. So, you must be ready to become the next editor in a few months. Start your training today.
