Indian Filmmakers Cannot Compete With International Moviemakers In The Use Of Technology

Mega-budget superhero movie
“RA.One” is Shah Rukh Khan’s
most ambitious project and he is
trying to make it a world-class
film, but at the same time he
feels Indian filmmakers cannot
compete with international
moviemakers in the use of
technology.
“I don’t think we are anywhere
close to competing with
international filmmakers. I don’t
mean to offend anyone. We
have great storytelling, good
technology and do great stuff…
we are the largest film
producing nation in the world!
“But having said that, when it
comes to technology in films like
‘Batman’, ‘Superman’ and
‘Spiderman’, I don’t think we
should even try to compare
ourselves to them as yet. They
are way ahead. Their resources
are really huge compared to
what we can do,” Shah Rukh
told reporters here.
“RA.One” is directed by
Anubhav Sinha and the 45-year-
old plays the superhero in the
film. His costume, described as
stiff and heavy, has been
designed by a team of
specialists in Los Angeles.
“It’s fortunate that I have the
resource to take ‘RA.One’ to a
certain level. I don’t have the
resources to take it to a bigger
level yet, but if the market for
Indian films increases, of course
we can do it.‘RA.One’ is the first
step towards that,” said the
actor-producer who is co-
producing it with Eros
Entertainment.
The budget of “RA.One” is said
to be over Rs.100 crore and
Shah Rukh said he might have
certain stunts in 3D to woo his
younger audiences.
“RA.One”, which is replete with
visual effects, also promises to
change the movie-going
experience for cinegoers here.
For the first time, the Dolby
surround 7.1 system is
reportedly being installed in
several multiplexes in the run-up
to the film’s release.
The technical team of “RA.One”,
including Oscar-winning sound
engineer Resul Pookutty, headed
by Shah Rukh will be in Los
Angeles this month to work on
the special sound effects.
Internationally acclaimed
filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has
already showered praise on the
film after seeing its 30-second
trailer, saying“RA.One” has
raised bar on VFX technology in
Indian cinema.
It’s payback time for him, says
Shah Rukh, who plans to cash in
on the Diwali season by
releasing the film, which also
stars Arjun Rampal and Kareena
Kapoor, Oct 26.
“I have worked for 20 years in
this industry and I owe my life
to it. I feel this is what I would
like to give back– I give this
technology to all new directors
and actors so that they feel‘Yes,
we can do it’ and much cheaper
than Hollywood. I hope the
scope and audiences of Indian
films increases and we get more
money to make good films as
wonderful as‘Iron Man’ and
‘Spiderman’,” he added.
Shah Rukh is not hopeful of his
film being picked as India’s
official entry for the Oscars, but
he will be content with a
welcome response from the
audiences and a Filmfare award
or two!
“I don’t think it’s our choice that
which film must go for the
Oscars from our country. I don’t
know the process…I don’t know
if popular cinema should go for
it, or our parallel cinema, like
‘Paheli’ was. But franky, I don’t
think this film (‘RA.One’) will be
chosen as an Oscar nomination
from our country,” he said.
“I think I’ll be happy with one or
two Filmfare awards for the VFX
in my film,” he added in his
trademark witty style.
Shah Rukh’s earlier production
venture “Paheli” was short-
listed as India’s official entry to
Oscars by the Film Federation of
India (FFI) in 2006.
“I was shocked when ‘Paheli’
was selected,” said SRK.