States » SouthPosted at: Sep 27 2026 9:43PM


Lipika Singh Darai: ‘The director doesn’t make the film; everyone makes the film’

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 27 (UNI) Filmmaker Lipika Singh Darai and editor Irene Dhar Malik shared insights into filmmaking, creative ownership, independent cinema and the evolving role of women in the industry at an ‘In Conversation’ session held as part of the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) here on Saturday.
The session brought together the two filmmakers, both graduates of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, and originally from Odisha, representing two generations of practitioners in Indian cinema.
Malik, who has been working as an editor since 1992, recalled her journey into filmmaking, beginning with sound recording, and her 17-year seniority over Darai. The conversation explored how their respective experiences shaped their approaches to cinema and creative collaboration.
Darai, who specialised in Sound Recording and Design at FTII, said her early training in Hindustani classical music had a strong influence on her decision to pursue sound. Growing up in Baripada, a culturally rich town in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, she developed a close connection with music from an early age.
However, she later realised that working exclusively with sound restricted the range of her creative expression. On returning to Odisha, she began making films in Odia at a time when documentary filmmaking in the language remained relatively unexplored.
Speaking about her decision to edit her own films, Darai said limited budgets and the lack of access to professional editors often led her to take up the editing process herself. She said she needed an editor who could engage with the film creatively rather than merely handle its technical aspects.
The experience, she said, also transformed her understanding of authorship in cinema.
“The director doesn’t make the film; everyone makes the film,” Darai said, underlining the collective nature of filmmaking.
Malik highlighted the importance of an editor maintaining a certain distance from the footage. Referring to From the Shadows, she explained how an editor's detachment helped the team explore alternative creative approaches after the film's central subject decided not to reveal her face.
Darai, who has edited all her films so far, said she would like to collaborate with another editor for her future longer projects, bringing a new perspective into the filmmaking process.
The filmmakers also discussed the loneliness associated with directing, financial responsibilities often shouldered by independent filmmakers in India and the difficulties involved in securing funding for documentary projects.
Darai recalled the making of her film on witch-hunting in Odisha, which evolved through her interactions with people in remote villages and listening to the experiences of women and communities affected by the practice.
The discussion also focused on women's experiences in the film industry. Malik recalled that there were far fewer women professionals when she began her career, while the growing presence of women editors and stronger professional networks have contributed to a more supportive working environment.
Asked whether she had ever wished she were a man, Malik responded humorously, referring to one of the practical challenges faced by filmmakers while working in the field: “Peeing.”
The session concluded with five quirky questions, bringing a lighter and more personal dimension to the conversation and offering the audience glimpses into the personalities behind the filmmakers' professional journeys.
UNI DS
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