Telangana, Feb 25 (UNI) Filmmaker SS Rajamouli unveiled the country’s most advanced motion capture facility at Hyderabad’s Annapurna Studios upcoming film Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
Speaking at the launch, Rajamouli described the facility as a milestone for Indian cinema. “India has always had some of the world’s best technicians, but we lacked an advanced facility at home. With A&M MoCap, that gap has finally been bridged,” he said, adding that the technology allowed critical sequences in Varanasi to be executed more efficiently.
The A&M MoCap Lab, a collaboration between Annapurna Studios, Mihira Visual Labs, and Hollywood-based Animatrik Film Design, was used to shoot crucial sequences of Rajamouli’s upcoming film Varanasi.
Describing the facility as a long-awaited milestone, Rajamouli emphasized its impact on domestic filmmaking, ” When I look back at some of my previous films like Bahubali, Eega etc., I reminisce how I could have made them even better if I had access to motion capture technology back then in India.”
He added, “With the introduction of A&M’s Motion Capture technology, that gap has finally been bridged. This will change how Indian filmmakers envision and execute their stories as we will no longer need to outsource. I have visited several Motion Capture facilities across the world, but what A&M offers is the perfect blend of precision and performance. We utilized this facility in the making of crucial sequences in Varanasi, and the results were simply fantastic.”
The lab’s launch coincides with Annapurna Studios’ 50-year legacy, underscoring its commitment to innovation. Actor and studio co-owner Nagarjuna highlighted the facility’s transformative potential, “For decades, Indian filmmakers have aspired to tell large scale stories that match global standards, but access to high end technology was often a limitation.”
He said, “At Annapurna Studios, our vision has always been to stay at the forefront of film making technology by bringing creativity and innovation together. At a time when Indian cinema is reaching audiences across the world, we wanted to raise the bar even higher. With A&M, filmmakers can now bring everything from epic adventures to intricate science fiction dramas to life right here in Hyderabad.”
Producer Shobu Yarlagadda, who backed the global blockbuster Baahubali, framed the initiative as part of a larger ambition to establish world-class production ecosystems in India:
“For Indian cinema to truly compete on a global stage, it is essential to create advanced technology ecosystems within the country. This Motion Capture facility at Annapurna Studios brings together creative ambition and technological excellence,” Shobu Yarlagadda said.
He said at Mihira Labs, the focus has always been on enabling filmmakers with tools that meet international standards, and partnering with Annapurna Studios and Animatrik “allows us to do exactly that.” Seeing a filmmaker like SS Rajamouli utilize our A&M MoCap facility for Varanasi reinforces our belief that the future of Indian storytelling will be driven by innovation built at home,” Shobu Yarlagadda added.
Brett Ineson, President and CTO of Animatrik Film Design, which has worked on Hollywood hits including ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’, emphasized the collaboration’s significance, “This collaboration represents a significant step in enabling filmmakers and creators to tell more immersive, emotionally rich stories with the highest global standards.”
CV Rao, CTO of Annapurna Studios, outlined the lab’s technical capabilities, emphasizing its previsualization benefits: “This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a powerful previsualization tool for filmmakers, enabling them to meticulously plan and refine their creative vision well before stepping onto a live set.”
“Directors and cinematographers can experiment with camera blocking, lens choices, camera movements, and frame rates in a dynamic virtual environment, allowing critical creative decisions to be finalized during the motion capture stage, prior to principal photography. This not only elevates the quality of execution but also optimizes time and cost efficiencies by minimizing expensive trial-and-error during live shoots.”
Looking ahead, Annapurna Studios plans to collaborate with both Indian and international filmmakers, game developers, and animation studios, offering a production partner in Asia that combines world-class quality with speed.
