Leading Indian filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani drew a full house at the International Film Festival of India ( IFFI ) with a dynamic session unpacking how writing and editing shape a film’s emotional core, using examples from “ 3 Idiots ,” “Lage Raho Munna Bhai” and his wider filmography to show how meaning, tension and character can shift entirely through the arrangement of shots, sound and structure.

Joined by longtime collaborator Abhijat Joshi, he explored the idea that writing is emotion imagined while editing is emotion experienced, arguing that conflict remains the heartbeat of cinematic storytelling.

“A good editor plays with your emotion,” he said, referencing American filmmaker D.W. Griffith. “Magic can happen while editing.”

While editing, Hirani said, “Editing can really cha

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