Only a good storyteller can be a film editor: Namrata Rao

A favourite of Yash Raj Films Namrata Rao is considered one of the leading film editors in the industry today She bagged the National Award for Best Editor for Kahaani 2012 Namrata started her career with Oye Lucky Lucky Oye 2008 Ishqiya 2010 Band Baaja Baaraat 2010 and Love Sex aur Dhokha 2010 She also worked on this yearrsquos Detective Byomkesh Bakshy and Dum Laga Ke Haisha We caught up with her at the Yash Raj Studios in Andheri where she is busy working on the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Fan Excerpts from a conversationNamrata Rao Pic Nimesh DaveQ How has your journey been in the industry been so farA Itrsquos been great fun I didnrsquot even realise that itrsquos been eight years already I am lucky Irsquom doing something I enjoy I have only done films which I can connect to mdash every film has a part of meQ Bollywood has always been a maledominated industry How difficult was it to get a breakA Firstly to be a film editor was a tough call to take I took time to even convince myself There was no one from my family in this line But once I decided that Irsquoll jump off the cliff and see where I land I had also figured out my way up if I failed miserably The industry may be maledominated but that is the case with life as wellQ You have been associated with filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee for a long time How is it to work with himA I was editing a lot of documentaries when I was studying in Kolkata One of them I Am The Very Beautiful 2006 was directed by Shyamal Karmakar who was also my professor It was an interesting documentary about homosexuality After seeing the documentary Dibakar connected with me We spoke a lot about the docu and he later asked me to edit his film Oye Lucky Lucky OyeQ There is a growing audience for unconventional films nowadays What is your take on itA Therersquos a limitation on stories and there are limited stories to be told so then you start experimenting mdash thatrsquos the reason why people are loving the unconventional films and stories nowadaysQ How do you choose your projectsA The first reading of a script should touch me If it doesnrsquot I reject it I have to relate to the character or a part of the story to edit the filmQ What was your turning point in the industryA An important film for me was Kahaani I lived the pregnant character of Vidya Balan in the film myself For an entire year I was with Vidyarsquos character It is difficult for me to explain the experience but I had no connectivity with reality when I was editing the film Irsquom again waiting for that miracle to happen Oye Lucky Lucky Oye was also a game changer for me If Dibakar had not shown trust in me it would have been difficult When I did Ishqiya I realised how everyone has their own way of making a filmQ What was your first reaction when you heard about getting a National Award for KahaaniA I didnrsquot believe it I first got a call from a news agency asking for my reaction I told them you have the wrong information Then I saw it in the news mdash thatrsquos when I realised that I had bagged the award I was estaticQ Did life change after thatA My life did not change but it gave me more bargaining power for money I could make better choices But more than the National Award it was the success of the film that matteredQ You are in great demand right now and everyone wants to work with youA I donrsquot give much importance to all this I donrsquot even think about awards My biggest nightmare is when I finish the edit of a film I wonder if I will be able to edit another one With every new film I feel the same way Storytelling is a skill It keeps getting better with practice but you have to keep trying and do your bestQ How difficult was it to work on Kanu Behlrsquos upcoming film Titli after your divorce with himA Kanu and I know each other since we were teenagers We grew up together got married and then got divorced He will always be a part of my life After the divorce there was a bit of awkwardness but when we started working together it was just like old times It was the same problem the same fights and same issues and thatrsquos because we are still good friendsQ What are your suggestions for upcoming film editorsA They need to be fearless and believe in themselves Only a good storyteller can be a film editor You also need a lot of patience You need to take risks and then keep at it