Success Stories of VFX in Indian Movies
We cannot deny the fact that films and movies are a huge source of entertainment in our lives. To an audience, a film is just storytelling that exceeds not more than three hours. However, a lot goes into the making of these movies. Writers and directors use it as a platform to express their visualisation and imagination. They use it as a medium to bring their stories to life. Indian cinema has come a long way. Over the years, the industry has undergone a remarkable transformation, in terms of both technology and storytelling. People now compare Indian cinema to world cinema and Hollywood in particular. This change primarily occurred owing to the advent of VFX (Visual Effects). Indian filmmakers and directors are now able to create movies that are visually captivating and stunning. VFX has been very crucial in scenes where directors want to depict science-fiction, action sequences, mythological epics and supernatural.
Back in the day, the use of VFX was only for special situations. However, now it has become an essential part of every film. The success of the film depends on the kind of VFX used in it.
The demand for visual art and design experts has also increased. Besides VFX; SFX and CGI (Computer-generated Imagery) is also being used.
Over the years, VFX has aided in creating cinematic marvels which has surely left viewers spellbound. Through this blog, we aim at exploring the best Indian films that have rewritten VFX history.
Visual Effects in Bollywood: 5 Films with the Best VFX Shots
Adipurush
Adipurush, a rendition of the Ramayana, hit it out of the park with its VFX. The film had 8000+ CGI scenes. Though the film didn’t do well at the box office, the VFX was appreciated by many people. Om Raut, the director of the film, tried his best to give the audience a 3D experience. He succeeded at some places and failed at some. A lot of people even compared the CGI to the Game of Thrones. VFX was added to the animals and combat sequences as well. Undoubtedly, the VFX crew created a universe that was captivating and visually stunning.
Brahmastra – Part One: Shiva
Brahmastra is a fantasy action-adventure saga. Shiva was only the beginning of the trilogy. The film had more VFX shots than even the Avengers. Namit Malhotra was the man behind the VFX of the film. The audience compared it to Hollywood films. After the release of the film, a VFX breakdown was also uploaded on YouTube. The video showed how Shahrukh Khan’s character was created entirely on the computer for one shot. The final battle sequence was also shot in a digital environment. People called the visual effects in the film “magical” and were surprised that an Indian film could pull off something like this.
Baahubali: The Beginning
Did you know? Most of Baahubali’s VFX was “Made in India”. Comprising 4500 CGI frames, the VFX in the film was entirely executed by Indian VFX technicians. The VFX in the film was even given a higher rating than a few Hollywood films. No doubt, the film did very well at the box office. From the breathtaking waterfalls to the elaborate combat sequences, the grandeur of the film is something that will be remembered for time immemorial. The movie put together animation and electronics to mimic the movement of the animals so that they appear real. Srinivas Mohan was the man behind the astounding VFX in the film. Every scene appeared real, special and magnificent.
RRR
RRR is another cinematic marvel produced by SS Rajamouli. The film had 2800 VFX shots created by 18 VFX studios. Pre-visualisation was mainly done for the action scenes involving animals. To ensure every shot was visually stunning, the VFX supervisors liberally used miniature cams, radio-controlled cars, and more. The special effects in the film were so natural that the audience couldn’t differentiate between the reel and real.
Ra. One
Though Ra. One released back in 2011, the VFX is still talked about. For a film that was made more than a decade ago, people call it “ahead of its time”. It was regarded as the first VFX-heavy project Bollywood had ever made. The VFX cost around $9 million dollars. Being a superhero film, the VFX shots were definitely top-notch.
Conclusion
Hollywood has used visual effects for decades. However, Indian cinema and Bollywood in particular has taken VFX to another level. All thanks to the latest innovation of computer-generated imagery (CGI). The use of CGI is impressive in fantasy sagas, adventure films and science-fiction genres. If you’re someone who wants to gain insights on the different areas of production and learn more about VFX, you should consider pursuing a visual effects diploma programme. On completion of the one-year course, you can become a 3D animator, texture artist, stop motion animation, VFX assistant and so on.
