As we all know, film-making in India was basically institution-based, i.e., a handful of prominent film companies that had their own studios and equipment and employed writers, technicians, and artists more or less permanently. During those days, there were hardly any independent producers.

After the late 1940s, the institution-based characters of the film industry began to disintegrate as multiple independent producers ventured into film production. This started a chain reaction by writers, artists, and technicians to start freelancing and also accepting multiple assignments simultaneously. By the early fifties, independent producers were emerging, and the institution-based character of film employment began to fade away. This change had its advantages &  disadvantages too. The advantages were that the writers, artists, and technicians were free to accept films from several producers, and the disadvantages were that if the independent producer ran out of funds, the whole unit, i.e., writers, artists, and technicians, all had to suffer or share the financial crunch. And so sometimes the writers, artists, and technicians were paid and sometimes not by the producers. Later on, non-payment of their remuneration by most of the producers led a few decisions among the writers, technicians, and artists to think about how to secure their earned wages and remuneration.

Vision For Protection & Unity

It was in such an atmosphere that, in the year 1953, steps were taken to organize the Editing section of the Film Industry. The initiative of this move came from our editor, Mr. Shivaji Awdhut. He discussed this with fellow editor Mr. R. V. Shrikhande about his idea, and Mr. Shrikhande wholeheartedly supported and agreed to transform it into a reality along with him.

Thereafter, an informal meeting of some prominent editors was held at Mr. Awdhut’s residence, where he and Mr. Shrikhande explained the whole idea. As it was something new and unheard of, it took a lot of effort from both of them to convince the gathering. Finally, the decks were cleared for the launching of the first-ever organization of Editors and Assistant Editors.

The Foundation of a Legacy & Birth of an Association

During this period, there was a move to hold an All India Technicians meeting at Madras in order to make preparations for it. A meeting of Film Technicians of Bombay was held at Shree Sound Studios, Dadar. At this meeting, Mr. Shivaji Awdhut got a chance to put forth his ideas and thoughts about organizing film employees into more effective and militant societies. It was decided in that meeting to form a society on trade union lines. Mr. Shivaji Awdhut informed the gathering that he, along with his fellow Editors, had already covered a lot of ground towards forming an “Editors Society” through a letter dated August 6, 1953. Mr. Awdhut, with a few like-minded friends of his, invited Editors and Assistant Editors in Bombay to attend a meeting at the Embassy Preview Theatre. Three days later, i.e., on August 9th, in his letter, he had proposed to form a “Society of Cine Editors.” In that meeting, it was unanimously resolved that a Union of Film Editors and their assistants be formed under the name of “Society of Film Editors” and appointed an ad hoc committee to draft the constitution thereof and to make all preliminary arrangements.

First Draft of the Constitution of the Editing Association

On October 4, 1953, at another General Body Meeting of Film Editors, the draft of the Constitution was prepared & passed. An ad hoc committee was formed whose task was to enroll members and get the organization registered with the Registration of Societies. In 1953, the Society of Film Editors was registered under the Society Act.

First Executive Committee

The beginning of 1954 witnessed the formation of the first executive committee of the society, and the first meeting of the executive committee was held on March 24, 1954. Thereafter, the executive committee met as and when necessary. At the general body meeting of the Society held at Shree Sound Studios, Dadar, on July 11, 1954, it was decided to celebrate its first Annual Day on August 15, 1954. An event that has been celebrated every year ever since then by our Association.

Formation Of Federation

The next step was to have a parent body of film employees with a view to ensuring coordination and cooperation among the various film craft unions. The first ever reference to the formation of a federation of all the different associations in the film industry is contained in the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on September 17, 1954. The meeting welcomed and discussed the proposal and mooted further talks to explore the possibilities of forming such a federation. An extraordinary general body meeting of the Society held on December 12, 1954, reviewed the progress made in this direction and decided to await the receipt of the draft constitution of the proposed organization. The prime mover in its formation was Mr. Krishna Gopal, who made it possible for the formation of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees in the year 1956.

On September 10, 1954, the executive committee, in its meeting, decided to give a send-off party to Mr. Hrishikesh Mukherjee, a prominent member of the society, who was proceeding to the Soviet Union as a member of an Indian Film delegation led by Mr. K.A. Abbas.

Registration Under Trade Union

As the Society of Film Editors was not registered as a trade union, it did not enjoy the benefits and protection of the Trade Union Act. Therefore, the August 15, 1955, meeting of the general body of the Society took the historic decision to change its name from “Society of Film Editors” to the Association of Film Editors, and that it be registered as a trade union under the Trade Union Act of 1926.

On February 26, 1956, another extraordinary general body meeting of the Association was held, and it was presided over by Mr. Goverdhanbhai Patel, a leading Cinematographer and Special Effects Technician, who held the post of the President of the Association eleven times between 1955-56 and 1970-71. In this meeting, Mr. Shivaji Awdhut announced amidst cheers that the Association had been registered under the Trade Union Act, 1926 (Registration No. 7193 of 31-1-1956). And it was in this meeting that the Constitution of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees was adopted.

Felicitating Editorial

In February 1961, the Association of Film Editors decided to issue Certificates of Merit to the editors of the three best edited films, which are judged 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in a particular year, with retrospective effect from the year 1955. Today, every year, the Association honors the winners with Awards at the Annual General Body Meeting.

The Association of Film Editors celebrated its Silver Jubilee on August 15th, 1979, at the Scouts Pavilion, Shivaji Park, Dadar, which was well attended by prominent film personalities from Producers, Directors, and Technicians. It also took out a commemorative volume, which would not have been possible without the help and hard work of esteemed senior Journalist Shri Pandit Shilpi.

Continuing The Journey

At the beginning of the 90s, the video technology & editors were emerging very rapidly, so the Association, at its annual general body meeting held on November 7, 1993, took a unanimous decision to enroll Video Editors into its fold. And the name of the “Association of Film Editors was changed and amended at the Trade Union as “ASSOCIATION OF FILM & VIDEO EDITORS” on dt. 17/12/1999. The rules and regulations for enrolling them remained the same as those of Film Editors.