Karan Shinde: I Want My Films to Be Understood Without Subtitles or Explanations (Filmmaker, Editor, 137K Followers)

Karan Shinde Interview

“From a small town keypad phone to symbolic cinema that crosses language barriers”

Q. Before becoming a creator, who was Karan, and where did this love for visuals and filmmaking begin?

Before anyone knew me as a creator, I was just a curious kid from a small town. As a child, I actually wanted to become a scientist. I loved experimenting, finding new ways to create something out of nothing. I didn’t end up becoming a scientist, but later I realised that same curiosity lives inside my filmmaking.

My journey started with my father’s old keypad phone. I used to shoot small videos just for fun. One memory that still stays with me is when I placed ladoos on a plate, paused the video, removed one ladoo at a time, and then played it back. It looked like the ladoos were disappearing. That illusion felt magical.

From there, I started making spoofs, comedy videos, and short films with friends. To improve them, I discovered editing. I began on a mobile app called VivaVideo, then moved to KineMaster, and eventually taught myself Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. What started as playful experimentation slowly became a serious creative path.

Q. You began as an editor and later moved into directing and acting. How did editing shape you as a filmmaker?

Editing shaped the way I think about filmmaking more than anything else. In the beginning, I didn’t always have people available to act or shoot with me, so I had to step in myself. That pushed me to write my own concepts and perform them too.

Editing taught me that a strong edit depends on strong ideas and performances. Even today, when I’m shooting, I’m already editing the film in my head. I know exactly which shot will be used and where it will cut. Because of this habit, I only shoot what I know I’ll need. It keeps my process clear and focused from shoot to final edit.

Q. Your short film The Ball relied heavily on visuals rather than dialogue. Why does silence matter so much to you?

Films like The Ball, The Age, and The Bottle are mostly silent because I’m deeply inspired by Mr Bean. He communicates emotions without language, and people across the world understand him. That’s the kind of storytelling I believe in.

I want my films to be understood without subtitles or explanations. Visual storytelling removes language barriers and allows emotions to travel freely. Every project I make carries a social message, and the most rewarding part is when viewers find meanings I didn’t consciously plan. When audiences share their own interpretations, I feel the story is truly connected.

Q. How do you decide whether a story becomes a reel or a full short film?

I never decide the duration before shooting. I shoot everything the story needs, usually around four to five minutes. The real decision happens during editing. I try to cut it down to one minute or ninety seconds, but if the story doesn’t work that way, I don’t force it.

Some stories need time to breathe. If a film needs three or four minutes, I upload it as it is, like I did with The Camera or my Inception spoof. The only reel-specific thinking I do is for the opening hook. After that, I always think like a filmmaker, not just a reel creator.

Q. You often work with the same creative circle. How do you collaborate while protecting your own creative voice?

I work very practically. Whoever is available and fits the role, we collaborate. Sometimes I act while someone else shoots, and sometimes it’s the other way around. I usually guide the framing and camera angles and we make it work with whatever resources we have.

Coming from a small town, I have a strong jugaad mindset. To keep my creative voice consistent, I follow a few rules in every project: minimal dialogue, a clear social message, and at least one hidden detail or intentional mistake that makes viewers pause, notice, and comment. No matter who I work with, these elements stay the same and define my style.

Bio

Karan Pralhad Shinde, is an Indian filmmaker, editor, and visual storyteller with over a decade of experience in video creation. Hailing from a small town, Karan built his craft through experimentation, self learning, and a deep curiosity for cinema.

He is best known for his silent, symbolic short films that communicate powerful social messages without relying on dialogue. His very first viral reel, Multiverse of Madness, gained massive traction on Twitter and was featured by multiple news channels, marking a turning point in his creative journey.

Karan has received the Best Film Award at an international film festival and first prize in a government reels competition in his division. With a strong jugaad mindset and a belief in visual storytelling beyond language barriers, he continues to create films that invite viewers not just to watch, but to observe, interpret, and reflect.

Instagram: Karan Shinde

Interviewed by Monika Bhardwaj