In his latest interview, Peddi and Rangasthalam cinematographer Rathnavelu shared that many filmmakers have stopped using the clapperboard on set. For Peddi, they have brought back that discipline.
Most mainstream Indian films traditionally dub dialogues in post-production rather than using sync sound. "When audio is dubbed later, the need for precise on-set audio-video synchronization via a clap decreases tremendously," a Film Companion article once stated.
Analysts say that the presence of the clapboard has simply changed with new technology. "Modern digital cameras use wireless timecode to sync sound and picture automatically. This makes the physical clap less urgent than it was during the era of film," a cinema article in a national daily once mentioned. That said, crews still use digital slates as a reliable backup. "These electronic boards display a running clock that matches the audio recorder exactly," the article added.
A technique called tail slating has also made the old-school clapboard less relevant. "Directors often want to maintain a quiet atmosphere for the actors. They record the scene first and use the board at the end. They hold it upside down to show the editor it is a tail slate," a Hollywood technician said in 2019.
