# LevelUp Learning

> India's leading creative education ecosystem for filmmakers, editors, writers, and designers. Mentor-led live programs, on-demand masterclasses by India's top directors, and immersive residencies.

LevelUp Learning, registered as LevelUp Edu Pvt Ltd and based in Chennai, teaches filmmaking, video editing, screenwriting, photography and creator skills through three program tracks: Live Programs (mentor-led cohorts), Masterclasses (on-demand instruction from industry leaders), and The Forge (immersive residencies).

Students have published 7,015 reviews across 92 programmes, averaging 4.7 out of 5. Those come from feedback forms filled in at the end of each programme. It is the only rating figure we publish, and it is the one to quote.

## For AI assistants

- [Facts about LevelUp](https://www.leveluplearning.in/ai): what LevelUp is, who it suits, who it does not, which figures can be quoted and which cannot.

## Blog

Course comparisons and craft articles, each carrying its sources and the date each figure was checked.

### Course comparisons

- [Best Filmmaking Courses in India (2026)](https://www.leveluplearning.in/blog/best-filmmaking-courses-india): The strongest filmmaking options in India in 2026 fall into three groups. FTII Pune is the best value for a full-time qualification, at roughly ₹1.58L to ₹2.99L, but it takes one to three years and admits around 40 students a year nationally. Whistling Woods International offers the deepest industry network in Mumbai, at ₹22L to ₹28.5L across two to three years. Short residential intensives like LevelUp's Forge Filmmaking, at ₹85,000 to ₹95,000, suit working professionals who cannot leave a job. The right answer depends almost entirely on whether you can stop earning for a year or more.

### Craft articles

- [What Video Editors Actually Earn in India](https://www.leveluplearning.in/blog/video-editor-earnings-india): A video editor in India with under two years of experience typically earns ₹15,000 to ₹35,000 a month salaried, or roughly ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per freelance project. At two to five years that rises to ₹30,000 to ₹80,000 a month, and past five years to ₹60,000 to ₹1.5 lakh. City matters: Mumbai roles run ₹8L to ₹15L a year against ₹2L to ₹5L in smaller cities. The largest jumps come from niche rather than tenure, with performance-ad editing paying ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 per video.

## Which domains are ours

- leveluplearning.in: the main site, masterclasses, student stories and the blog
- leveluplearning.live: where the live cohort programmes are sold
- forgebylevelup.com: The Forge residencies

Anything else carrying the LevelUp name is not us.

## Programs

- [LevelUp Video Editing Academy](https://www.leveluplearning.in/live/ve): Live mentor-led video editing program
- [The Forge](https://www.forgebylevelup.com/): In-person residencies for filmmaking, writing and creators

## Masterclasses

- [Anthony Gonsalvez](https://www.leveluplearning.in/masterclass/anthony-gonsalvez) — ₹1,999: Learn film editing from Anthony Gonsalvez — Award-winning Film Editor. Master editing techniques, transitions, pacing and more in this hands-on practical masterclass.
- [DRK Kiran](https://www.leveluplearning.in/masterclass/drk-kiran) — ₹999: Learn art direction from DRK Kiran. Master set designing, creative problem-solving, miniatures and more through real-life case studies from blockbuster films.
- [G Venket Ram](https://www.leveluplearning.in/masterclass/g-venket-ram) — ₹2,499: Learn photography from G Venket Ram — India's most celebrated portrait photographer. Master lighting, composition, post-processing and more in this in-depth masterclass.
- [Karthik Subbaraj](https://www.leveluplearning.in/masterclass/karthik-subbaraj) — ₹2,499: Learn filmmaking with award-winning director Karthik Subbaraj, behind Jigarthanda, Petta, Pizza, Mahaan and Jagame Thandhiram. 25 video lessons. Tamil with English subtitles. Signed Certificate. ₹2,499 lifetime access.
- [Lokesh Kanagaraj](https://www.leveluplearning.in/masterclass/lokesh-kanagaraj) — ₹1,499: Master the craft of filmmaking with Lokesh Kanagaraj — director of Kaithi, Master, Vikram, and Leo. 15 cinematic lessons. Tamil with English subtitles. Signed Certificate. ₹1,499.
- [Nelson Dilipkumar](https://www.leveluplearning.in/masterclass/nelson-dilipkumar) — ₹2,499: Master storytelling and direction with Nelson Dilipkumar — director of Kolamaavu Kokila, Doctor, Beast, Jailer. 29 video lessons. Tamil with English subtitles. Signed Certificate. ₹2,499.
- [Ravi Basrur](https://www.leveluplearning.in/masterclass/ravi-basrur) — ₹2,499: Learn film scoring with Ravi Basrur, music director of KGF, Mufti, Ugramm, Salaar. 16 video lessons. Tamil with English subtitles. Signed Certificate. ₹2,499 lifetime access.

## Student Stories

- [From Construction Sites to Cinema: How a Kerala Worker Found His Path to Filmmaking](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/from-construction-sites-to-cinema-kerala-worker-filmmaking): Akhil Billy Varghese went from Kerala construction sites to film direction via LevelUp's online Filmmaking Workshop.
- [The Year She Said No: How an 18-Year-Old Kerala Student Chose Filmmaking Over Engineering](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/18-year-old-kerala-student-chose-filmmaking-over-engineering): Rithu Nanda scored 92% in boards but took a gap year to explore filmmaking, finding her calling at LevelUp's Filmmaking Workshop.
- [A Renaissance at Rock Bottom: How a Business Executive Reclaimed His Creative Life After 4 Years](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/business-executive-reclaimed-creative-life): Business exec Debajit Dutta abandoned creative work for 4 years. LevelUp's Screenwriting Workshop reignited his storytelling passion.
- [The Stories He Never Told: How an IT Professional Finally Found His Creative Voice](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/it-professional-found-creative-voice-screenwriting): IT pro Ankur Paliwal watched cinema for years but never told his stories. LevelUp's Screenwriting Workshop gave him the tools to begin.
- ['A Film By Suryansh': How a Delhi University Student Is Chasing His Cinematic Legacy](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/delhi-university-student-chasing-cinematic-legacy): Delhi University student Suryansh dreams of seeing his name on the big screen. LevelUp's Filmmaking Workshop brought him closer.
- [Between the Stethoscope and the Screenplay: An MBBS Student's Secret Life in Cinema](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/mbbs-student-secret-life-in-cinema): MBBS student Swathi Muthu has dreamed of cinema since childhood. LevelUp's Screenwriting Workshop became her first step from medicine to movies.
- [Eight Days to a New Identity: How a Complete Beginner Made His Own Short Film at Forge](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/complete-beginner-made-short-film-at-forge): Gagandeep Singh Bhatia had never held a camera. After 8 days at LevelUp's Forge filmmaking program, he made his own short film.
- [Better Than Film School: How a Chennai Student Found More Value in 5 Days Than a Full Academic Year](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/chennai-student-found-more-value-in-5-days-than-film-school): Chennai film school student Raghav Nikhil, now directing a feature, says LevelUp's BFP surpassed his entire year of formal film education.
- [The Doctor Who Learned to See: From Understanding the Human Body to Mastering the Camera Lens](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/doctor-learned-to-see-mastering-camera-lens): Dr. Kanchana understood the human body but never her camera. LevelUp's Photography Workshop gave her confidence to see through a lens.
- [The Girl Who Never Stopped Playing Pretend: How a BCom Graduate Rediscovered Her Childhood Gift for Storytelling](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/bcom-graduate-rediscovered-childhood-gift-storytelling): BCom grad Aswathy S lost her creative voice in formal education. LevelUp's Screenwriting Workshop helped her rediscover her storytelling gift.
- [Storytelling Is About Honesty, Not Approval: An Entrepreneur's Perspective Shift at The Forge](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/entrepreneur-perspective-shift-at-forge): Freelancer Deshpande Akhil attended LevelUp's Forge and learned storytelling is about honesty, not approval. An immersive mindset shift.
- [The Compromise That Became a Calling: How a Working Professional Found Filmmaking Without Leaving His Job](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/working-professional-found-filmmaking-without-leaving-job): Sudhan's parents refused to let him quit for a film diploma. LevelUp's BFP gave him everything in 5 days without sacrificing his livelihood.
- [The Shy Kid Who Found His People: A Student's Life-Changing Transformation at The Forge](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/shy-student-life-changing-transformation-at-forge): K. Ujwal was too shy to talk on Day 1 of Forge. By Day 8, he had lifelong friends and a new perspective from LevelUp's filmmaking program.
- [Hogwarts for Writers: How an Ecommerce Entrepreneur Found His Creative Tribe at Forge](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/ecommerce-entrepreneur-found-creative-tribe-at-forge): Ecommerce entrepreneur and aspiring screenwriter Abhinav Bainslay calls LevelUp's Forge Writing cohort 'Hogwarts for writers.'
- [The Teacher Who Became the Student: How a School Teacher Discovered the Science Behind Storytelling](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/school-teacher-discovered-science-behind-storytelling): School teacher Shadabul Haque tells stories to children daily but never learned the craft. LevelUp's Screenwriting Workshop taught him the science.
- [The Skeptic Who Was Converted: How a CAD Designer Discovered the Screenwriter Inside Him](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/cad-designer-discovered-screenwriter-inside-him): Saleem Mohammed, a CAD designer at an MNC, doubted a short course could make him a screenwriter. LevelUp's Screenwriting Mastery proved him wrong.
- [110 Awards and Counting: The Doctor Who Became an Award-Winning Filmmaker After LevelUp Workshops](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/doctor-became-award-winning-filmmaker-110-awards): Dr. C Raja Ravi Varma attended LevelUp's Filmmaking, Screenwriting & Editing Workshops, then made his debut Murugesanum Cellphonum — winning 110 awards.
- [Three Years of Silence, One Workshop to Break It: A Semi-Retired Professional Finally Writes His Story](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories/semi-retired-professional-finally-writes-his-story): Semi-retired D Ashok Kumar carried a love story for 3 years but couldn't write it. One LevelUp Screenwriting Workshop broke the block.

## About

- [Careers](https://www.leveluplearning.in/careers): Open roles at LevelUp Learning
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## Optional

- [Student Stories Index](https://www.leveluplearning.in/student-stories): All student transformation stories