The undulating scroll of credits for Indian art films has many names and often one name: Paresh Kamdar. “Edited By, “Mentored By” or Thanks To” to Paresh Kamdar has been turning up with unerring regularity in the indie productions that have been creating waves at international film festivals over the past two decades.

Kamdar’s credits as editor include Miss Lovely, Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Le Jaa Riya Hoon and I’m Not the River Jhelum. He has been a mentor on numerous projects, among them Eeb Allay Ooo!, Aise Hee, Kayo Kayo Colour, In Retreat, Humans in the Loop, Sabar Bonda, Songs of Forgotten Trees, Secret of A Mountain Serpent and Shape of Momo.

Frequently working with first-time directors a few decades younger than him, 67-year-old Kamdar closes the gap between a promising film and an excellent, festival-worthy and potentially award-winning film. Kamdar is revered for his brilliance in teasing out a narrative’s inner meaning and respecting its idiom, rather than impose himself on it.

Anuparna Roy, whose Songs of Forgotten Trees was the first-ever Indian production to win the Orizzonti Award for Best Director at Venice earlier this year, described Kamdar as a “guide and a friend”, somebody who despite indifferent health selflessly worked with her and the film’s editor, Ashish Patel.

“He was the one who understood the personal element in the film,” Roy told Scroll. “He saw the rough cut and said,...

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