Bollywood wakes up to 3D technology

Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron gave a fresh lease to 3D with his magnum-opus, Avatar, last year. Ever since its success, Bollywood has also taken a fancy to making films in 3D.

Film editor turned film-maker, Shirish Kunder has announced that his directorial debut film, Joker will be an  adventure fantasy shot in 3D.

Actors Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha will be the first actors to be seen in a three dimensional format in Bollywood. Director Shekhar Kapur is apparently set to revive his ambitious project Paani in the 3D format. Director Ram Gopal Varma too admitted that his next film Raksha will be in a similar format.

Reports suggests that film-maker duo, Abbas Mustan, are keen on working on a 3D film and have tied up with a New York based special-effects company.

What works?
At the FICCI meet in Mumbai last year, multiplex owners and distributors had expressed interest in the new format and announced that they would get about 500 3D ready screens in the next one year.

Says Amod Mehra, trade analyst, “Since most multiplexes these days have 3D equipped screens, setting it up is not an expensive affair, the entire catch is to get the first few films in the format bang-on.  3D is hot in Hollywood, but Bollywood first needs to get the concept right.”

Pramod Arora, CEO of a multiplex chain, says 100 percent digitalization of screens is possible in a short period of 6 months.

“For 3D films to work, the film should cater to a diaspora of audience to generate that kind of revenue. Secondly the film cannot have a usual storyline.”

Shyam Shroff, chairman of a multiplex chain, agrees that 3D is a popular technology but is not in favour of converting films from 2D to 3D. “Films should be completely shot in the 3D format to make an impact.”