Karthikeyan Palanisamy, co-founder of Planet in Pixel, is a renowned identity in India’s video editing world– known for his creativity, determination and guidance. Karthikeyan grew up in Tamil Nadu and started his business with a borrowed GoPro and a dream in his mind. His enthusiasm for storytelling, along with his perseverance to learn the trade, got him to international fame even with limited resources and landed him the GoPro award in 2015.
Despite being a self-taught editor and videographer, Karthikeyan’s life changed when he migrated from Adobe Premiere Pro to DaVinci Resolve. His passion led him to become an expert in the software and encouraged him to extend the knowledge he has gained. Today, Planet in Pixel has become India’s biggest DaVinci Resolve platform where more than 4500 students have benefited from his “Zero to Hero” classes and “Pixel Marathons”.
In addition to his professional knowledge, Karthikeyan is an enthusiastic storyteller who wants to help those who are just starting on this path. His story has become an example to thousands of people who struggle everyday to achieve their dreams against the odds. In Planet in Pixel, Karthikeyan’s work has progressed further and he has expanded the limits of video editing and is also training the new generation of filmmakers. Here are some Questions that Best For Him has specifically curated for Karthikeyan and his respective answers, to inspire your creativity and determination for tomorrow.
1. Could you provide insights on your journey from Tamil Nadu to Canada and how it shaped your career?
I believe that, Moving to Canada expanded my horizons beyond anything I had imagined. As being from a small village, I had limited resources–It taught me to take risks and embrace learning without boundaries. These lessons were crucial in shaping my career and fueling my passion for creative work.
2. How can one achieve their goals with limited resources and exposure to industry trends?
It might seem difficult at first but it's definitely possible. Start with what you have, use free resources such as online tutorials and communities, stay curious, and build a network. Focus on impactful skills and stay persistent. Passion, creativity, and consistency are key. And most importantly, Stay persistent.
3. How do you ensure equal opportunities and guidance for your 4,500 students?
We divide students into smaller groups, provide daily live support, and use screen recordings for personalized solutions. Queries are addressed live or within 15 minutes, ensuring everyone gets the guidance they need.
4. What, according to you, is the key to pursuing one’s passion as their profession?
Clarity, consistency, and resilience. Treat your passion with professionalism, stay dedicated, and adapt. Effort and discipline turn passion into a fulfilling career. Treat your passion with professionalism—learn, adapt, and deliver value.
5. What inspired you to start Planet in Pixel?
It began as a travel page To showcase my global experiences, but followers appreciated my editing more than the travel content itself! The more I polished the skill, the more they loved it. Additionally, I had always wanted to be a physics teacher, and combining that passion with my love for editing, I decided to create Planet in Pixel to teach video editing in a more hands-on and impactful way.
6. How has Planet in Pixel positively impacted your life? What's the most rewarding aspect of it?
The most rewarding aspect has been the transformation I’ve witnessed in over 4,500 students. It helped me grow as a teacher and witness life-changing transformations in students. Hearing, "Sir, my life has changed," is the most rewarding part. These stories, from people who have built successful careers to those who have overcome physical challenges, are what drive me. This is the ripple effect of belief—when we transform ourselves, we empower others to transform too
7. How do you keep your creative juices flowing while managing a community?
I schedule time daily to write scripts, learn new techniques, or brainstorm. Prioritizing creativity over deadlines keeps ideas fresh.
8. What does a day in your life look like, and how do you balance personal and professional life?
Balancing work and life is tricky,especially since my passion is now my profession, but I take Mondays off to enjoy quieter days. In the past, I had to squeeze work, passion, and personal time into one day, but now it's well balanced. The only downside is that I mostly work on weekends when friends and family are free, as my students are also free during that time.
9. How do you handle creative blocks?
Creative blocks are something many of us face, and it can be stressful when ideas aren’t flowing. I keep a ‘brain dump table’ to capture ideas at any time. When blocked, I revisit it for inspiration. My advice: keep recording ideas, even if you don’t use them immediately.
10. What advice do you have for men aspiring to pursue video editing?
Start now; there’s no perfect time. Don’t aim for perfection—improve as you go. Get hands-on experience and learn by doing. Delaying only makes it more competitive. Video editing is like learning to ride a bike—the more you watch or consume content, the less you learn. You have to get hands-on, press the pedal, fall, and learn from experience
11. What lessons have leadership and community-building taught you?
One of the biggest lessons I've learned in leadership and community management is that your community reflects what you give to them. With a diverse group of people, from different backgrounds, ages, and languages, it's important to be genuine. We have students ranging from 8 to 72 years old, and from various linguistic backgrounds. I believe in under-promising and over-delivering. Teaching isn’t just about technical skills—it’s about guiding students on what to focus on, when, and how to stay motivated.
12. What are your upcoming goals for Planet in Pixel?
Train 10,000 students in three years and create job opportunities for editors. I want to inspire men to turn their passion into careers. I aim to inspire men to turn their passion into successful careers. While we're India’s largest video editing community, our ultimate goal is to become the best globally.
13. Is experimentation important in creative fields?How does fear of leaving the comfort zone affect men's career growth?
Yes, growth happens outside the comfort zone. Embrace risk and experimentation—it’s essential for success. The fear of stepping out of our comfort zone is rooted in our DNA, stemming from ancient times when venturing beyond the safety of caves was dangerous. But today, that fear no longer serves us
14.Do you think creativity is often overlooked in the face of rationality and practicality in a man's professional life and mainstream career options?
Yes, I believe creativity is often overlooked in favor of rationality and practicality, especially in mainstream career paths. Many people, particularly in traditional career fields, are conditioned to prioritize stability, logical thinking, and structured paths to success. Creativity, however, is the driving force behind innovation and growth. The challenge is that society tends to value conventional achievements over creative exploration. But, creativity drives innovation and should be seen as essential, not a luxury.
15. What should someone pursuing goals abroad keep in mind?
From an Indian perspective, many people pursue their goals abroad through education but often stay confined within a small circle of friends and avoid exploring beyond that.
The key is to step out of your comfort zone. Explore opportunities and embrace the experiences around you.
16. How has being self-taught influenced your teaching philosophy?
My experience as a self-taught editor made me face many challenges, frustrations, and moments of demotivation.
As a teacher, I focus more on guiding students on what not to do rather than just what to do, and how to stay motivated, avoiding the roadblocks I faced.
17. What role did failure play in your journey?
My first attempt at teaching editing was a failure. By the last day of the class, no one was there. This hit me hard, and I questioned everything—my career choice, my abilities, and whether I should have left my high-paying job. However, this failure led to an important realization: Belief is the first step to transformation, but it requires accepting responsibility for our actions. I realized that the poor turnout wasn’t bad luck—it was my teaching and approach.
Failure taught me to take ownership of my actions and improve. It’s a key step to transformation.
18. What’s one thing you wish someone told you earlier?
You can’t figure everything out alone. A mentor or coach makes a huge difference.
19. How do you handle constructive criticism? What advice do you have for other men when it comes to handling criticism and taking feedback?
I used to struggle distinguishing between feedback and noise. Noise is just noise—people will always criticize no matter what you do. But feedback is gold.
Distinguish feedback from noise. My advice to others, especially men, is to recognize the value in constructive criticism. Embrace it, learn from it, and use it to grow.
20. How do you stay updated and improve your skills?
Consistent learning is essential, especially as trends shift rapidly. Stay curious and adapt.
Rapid-Fire
Where do you find happiness amidst your busy schedule: Time with my son.
How do you stay in touch with your roots, despite success: Feeling content with what you have.
Go-to meal: Fruits and boiled egg whites.
Fitness: 3-5 workouts a week.
Advice to teenage self: Don’t believe everything people say about you.
Favorite read: 5 AM Club.
Staying grounded: "I know one thing: that I know nothing" – Socrates.