NOVEMBER 24, 2023 (GPN) — GOA — At the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), now taking place in Goa, Prime Video—the nation’s most popular entertainment destination—conducted an interesting discussion today at Film Bazaar about the ways in which visual effects technology is an emerging and quickly developing form of artistic expression.

Using the well-liked Original series Mumbai Diaries Season 2 as a model, the workshop explained how visual effects contribute to the advancement of narratives by constructing worlds and storylines that transcend conventional bounds. Nikhil Madhok, the head of Prime Video’s Hindi Originals, was in charge of the session along with producers Madhu Bhojwani and Monisha Advani, as well as directors of photography Malay Prakash and VFX head Vishwas Savanur.

Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, visited a zone that Prime Video has built up at the Tech Pavilion at Film Bazaar to provide viewers an experience of the visual effects used in the beloved series.

“If storytellers are the ones who inspire us and open our minds by taking us into new worlds, then it is VFX that acts as the wind beneath their wings,” said Nikhil Madhok, head of Hindi Originals, Prime Video, India, emphasising how VFX is enabling creativity to go beyond the limits of the imagination and altering the rules of the global entertainment industry. He went on to say that visual effects (VFX) allows filmmakers to imagine worlds and narratives without being constrained by practical considerations, going beyond simply producing visually spectacular spectacles.

He further added, “Earlier, storytellers faced constraints at the very inception of a project, often holding back ambitious visions at the script stage due to uncertainties about execution. If someone wanted to narrate a story that involved significant world building, they often first had to question their own belief and answer questions on execution even before they had finished writing their story. However, today, thanks to the advancements in VFX technology, storytellers can dare to dream big. They now place the narrative at the forefront of their creative process, and are able to focus on creating immersive worlds on paper, fully knowing that VFX will help them bring their vision to life.”

Through the incorporation of realism, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and safety, visual effects (VFX) are enabling creativity to beyond the limits of the imagination and revolutionising the worldwide entertainment industry. Nikhil did, however, issue a warning to the sector not to view VFX as merely a means of cutting costs.

“While the cost advantages are great and we must make the most of it, but focusing on the cost would be like missing the wood for the trees. We must think of VFX as this powerful tool that helps unleash the imagination of our storytellers!” he explained.

Head of Hindi Originals at Prime Video India, Nikhil Madhok, gave a thought-provoking opening speech to the session. The fascinating discussion about VFX in Mumbai Dairies Season 2 by Producers Madhu Bhojwani and Monisha Advani came next. Following the agenda item was a captivating presentation on VFX technology and its potential to revolutionise filmmaking, delivered by VFX producer Vishwas Savanu and cinematographer Malay Prakash. During the concluding session, the presenters engaged in a thought-provoking panel discussion about how visual effects technology advances story narratives.

“VFX has transformed filmmaking across genres, elevating production quality and opening new avenues for employment. The flood sequence in Mumbai Diaries Season 2, brought to life by VFX, showcases the technology’s prowess in tackling scenes once deemed too complex or risky to film – offering creators a newfound freedom to explore narratives and visual elements that elevate the overall cinematic experience for audiences,” said Nikhil Madhok, head of Hindi Originals, Prime Video, India.

The technology is being utilised by Prime Video in several of their co-productions and Original shows. Prime Video has used visual effects (VFX) to redefine storytelling and create cinematic experiences through immersive world-building. From recreating Afghanistan in Film City to creating an immersive underwater marvel in the co-production Ram Setu, spine-chilling effects in the supernatural Original Adhura, and the period Original Jubilee’s incredible detailing of a bygone era, to creating a world beyond the realm of reality in the first Tamil Original horror series The Village that just premiered at IFFI, to recreating one of the worst disasters the city of Mumbai had to endure in Mumbai Diaries Season 2, Prime Video has used VFX to redefine storytelling.

Producers Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani of Emmay Entertainment discussed how VFX technology allows artists to bring their ideas to life on screen and craft tales that transport viewers to imaginative and wonderful realms.

Director of Photography of Mumbai Diaries Season 2, Malay Prakash, and VFX Producer, Vishwas Savanur, discussed how filmmakers should know what can be done with VFX technology and how it can add realism to a scene by maintaining shots that are current, dynamic, and natural.

The fact that Prime Video is attending IFFI is evidence of the critical role the video streaming industry is playing in supporting the expansion of India’s creative economy and serving as a strong platform for showcasing Indian narratives, talent, and creators to the world.