From Silchar to Star Plus: Kaberi Roy’s Journey as a Continuity Director

From the lanes of Tarapur’s Assamese Basti in Silchar to the fast-paced world of Mumbai’s television industry, Kaberi Roy is steadily carving out a place for herself behind the camera. An alumna of Assam University’s Department of Performing Arts, batch of 2022, Roy is now working as a Continuity Director for Star Plus’s television show Tum Dena Saath Mera.

It is a profession that many television viewers may never have heard of, let alone paid attention to. While actors, directors and cinematographers often receive the spotlight, several lesser-known professionals work behind the scenes to ensure that a film or television show comes together seamlessly. Continuity direction is one such integral responsibility, without which even a beautifully shot production could end up looking inconsistent.

For Kaberi, the journey is only beginning, and she has a simple message for those who dream of entering the industry: “Where I am now is just the beginning of my journey, and I plan to end it with a bang.”

Explaining her role, Kaberi said a Continuity Director ensures that one scene matches the next. This involves keeping track of the actors’ appearances, actions, costumes, makeup and even props so that no continuity errors occur in the final output. The job also demands constant communication and coordination with the costume and art departments, setting dadas, dressmen and several other crew members.

The responsibility, however, comes with demanding schedules and considerable sacrifices. Kaberi admitted that maintaining a work-life balance in this industry is difficult. Yet, the satisfaction of seeing the final product makes the exhaustion worthwhile. “When I see the final outcome, all the tiredness I felt and the complaints I might have had just go away,” she said.

Kaberi completed her Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) in Theatre from Assam University and subsequently pursued her Master of Performing Arts (MPA) in Theatre at the Central University of Jharkhand, Brambe, Ranchi. Despite her academic qualifications, she believes that passion is what matters most in this field. According to her, aspiring professionals do not necessarily need to spend lakhs on expensive courses. What they need is passion, commitment and love for the craft. She emphasised that behind-the-scenes responsibilities in different capacities are integral to filmmaking and that one must be prepared to make sacrifices to pursue this profession.

Her journey, however, did not begin smoothly. Kaberi said professional connections often play an important role in securing opportunities in the entertainment industry. Those who manage to enter without such connections may have to begin as interns, as she did, and face financial struggles during the initial stages. Mumbai’s expensive lifestyle adds to the challenge. She pointed out that 10 days of expenses in Mumbai could be enough to sustain someone for nearly two months back home in Silchar.

Before moving into television serials, Kaberi worked with Kuku TV on more than 60 microdrama stories, taking up different responsibilities as a Prop Assistant, Costume Assistant and Chief Assistant Director. She subsequently entered television with Colors TV’s Dhaakad Beera, followed by DD National’s Seth Panna Lal Ki Baradari. She is currently working as a Continuity Director on Star Plus’s Tum Dena Saath Mera.

The transition from Silchar to Mumbai has also meant adjusting to two very different ways of life. Kaberi described people in Silchar as kind and friendly, where building a community comes naturally. Mumbai, on the other hand, moves at an entirely different pace. “Here, night never happens for anyone. Nobody sleeps. Everyone is busy working like a machine. Everyone is running after their dreams. Nobody has the time to look back at anyone,” she said. For someone coming from a place like Silchar, adapting to such a fast-paced and competitive environment can itself be a challenge.

But Kaberi’s ambitions extend far beyond her present responsibilities. She hopes to contribute five or six masterpieces to the world during her lifetime. A huge admirer of Imtiaz Ali, she dreams of creating films that leave a lasting impact like his work. She also admires Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grand, big-budget productions and hopes to be associated with a film that achieves tremendous success at the box office. “I want to show the world, from my perspective, how beautiful this world is. Of course, these are my dreams, not necessarily a plan, but something that keeps me going,” she said.

For audiences, the magic of cinema and television often lies in what appears on screen. But behind every memorable scene are people whose names and responsibilities may never become familiar to viewers. Continuity Directors like Kaberi ensure that the stories people love watching remain seamless, even when their own contributions go unnoticed. From a neighbourhood in Silchar to the television sets of Mumbai, Kaberi Roy is building a career in one such lesser-known yet essential profession. Her journey is also a reminder to young aspirants from Silchar and Assam that the world of filmmaking offers opportunities beyond acting and directing, and sometimes, the people behind the camera have stories just as inspiring as the ones they help bring to life.