Filmmaker SS Rajamouli is making headlines in the media yet again, this time for having shot key sequences of his upcoming Varanasi film using motion-capture technology at a surprising new facility in Hyderabad.
According to a recent report by The Hollywood Reporter, the production for Varanasi’s shoot took place at the A&M Motion Capture studio located within Akkineni Nagarjuna’s Annapurna Studios.
The facility was inaugurated earlier this year in February by Rajamouli and is operated in partnership with producer Shobu Yarlagadda’s Mihira Visual Labs and the Hollywood-based motion-capture company Animatrik Film Design.
The film’s star cast, including Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, reportedly captured a striking 25-minute-long key sequence at the studio that many insiders have noted to be one of the most “thrilling” scenes from the film.
Reports suggest that the facility employs Vicon Valkyrie (VK26) cameras for high-fidelity tracking, along with Vicon Live for real-time data streaming and Vicon Post for processing. It also integrates Unreal Engine to provide immediate visual previews during filming.
CTO of Annapurna Studios, CV Rao, and producer Shobu Yarlagadda explained that there are two primary applications of motion capture in a recent interview.
First, she states that it supports pre-visualization of complex action sequences involving multiple characters. The 360-degree capture system records blocking, camera angles, and lens choices, allowing directors to adjust elements later without having to reshoot the sequences.
Second, it records full-body as well as facial performances that can be transferred to digital characters or creatures. A source cited James Cameron’s Avatar as an example of implementing similar motion capture techniques.
CV Rao noted that Indian film productions previously relied on conventional camera-based previsualization, which often required 10–15 days of additional shooting and retakes if changes were needed. He added that the new setup aims to close this gap.
Discussions for the establishment of such a facility began in 2023 when filmmakers and actors discussed and highlighted the lack of motion capture technology in Indian filmmaking.
To highlight what proper pre-visualization can do to reduce overall shoot time, the studio claimed that the motion-capture approach can bring total production time down to less than 60 percent of the usual duration by finalizing designs, equipment, and manpower in advance.
Despite adopting time-efficient measures, the Varanasi team faced multiple technical challenges, including securing high-resolution 26-megapixel cameras, which raised the project budget significantly.
Akkineni Nagarjuna’s Annapurna Studios’ new motion-capture facility aims to help Indian filmmakers scale action and virtual production while cutting shoot time.
