Tampa: For decades, Indian cinema’s formula for success has consisted of love stories, dancing and awe-inspiring landscapes. But a new leading role is emerging – the Bollywood superhero.
The rise of science fiction comes as Indian audiences increasingly grow used to the special effects standards of Hollywood, whose studios have already relied on Indian workers for outsourced support on big-budget productions.
But superheroes in one sense mark a return to the old in India, where the majority religion of Hinduism is rooted in epics.
“Long before James Cameron created ‘Avatar,’ we had the first blue-skinned guy with a bow and arrow,” said Indian American producer Sharad Devarajan, referring to Hinduism’s Lord Rama.
Among the nominees for best picture at the International Indian Film Awards, Bollywood’s premier event which is being held in Tampa, is “Krrish 3,” a science-fiction film about a scientist and his superhero son.
- Bollywood goes Sci-Fi -
“Krrish 3″ won best special effects Friday when the academy presented awards for technical work. The film’s star Hrithik Roshan, addressing cheering fans, credited the special effects team with creating what had appeared “impossible.”
Reliance Mediaworks, part of Indian conglomerate Reliance, opened an office in the Los Angeles area in 2008 that now employs 80 to 85 people who work on visual effects and other post-production services including restoration.
“Indian film is transforming itself into getting more aligned with cinema that you see in the West. From that perspective, I only see business growing exponentially as we go forward,” Reliance Mediaworks’ chief executive officer, Venkatesh Roddam, told AFP by telephone.
Roddam said that the success of eye-dazzling Hollywood movies had raised the stakes for Indian filmmakers as many consumers can now instantly access films from across the world and compare standards.
“Are we beginning to see productions in India of the visual effect quality that you see in Hollywood? Absolutely not, I think it’s still got some distance to go.
“But is it vastly improving at a rapid pace? I think the answer is yes. And we will get there,” Roddam said.
Reliance Mediaworks estimated that the market for post-production services including visual effects was $300 million in India, mostly from US outsourcing, a sliver of the $6.5 billion market in the United States.
But room for growth is high in India, which has the world’s most prolific film industry with annual output of more than 1,100 movies.
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