Hailing from Coimbatore, Madhusudhan Balasubramanian is a pioneer from India in the fascinating field of virtual reality filmmaking. In fact, Madhu holds the honour of having shot a 360° video at the United Nations for World Yoga Day last year. His virtual reality film VR Sky is one among the few VR projects selected from across the world to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival 2017... and now this ingenious maverick is all set to revolutionise the movie industry too!
What attracted him towards virtual reality
The reason why we love watching films is because we connect with the concept of the movie, and the characters in it. Virtual reality is a completely immersive medium which takes that connect a notch higher — it lets the audience stand among those characters and be one of them. As a filmmaker, I always felt that there was a line disconnecting the audience and the characters they see on screen — and virtual reality was the answer to that!
Scope for VR in India
It is a growing medium. The entertainment industry here is still seen only from a business point of view. Not many are up for research, innovation and invention. So the facilities to learn VR and other forms of digital filmmaking are scarce.
MADHUSUDHAN, VR fIlmmaker
But the scope for this in India is huge, especially with the boom of tech-savvy youngsters who want to explore the medium. AR Rahman has already delved into the VR world; film franchises are looking to branch out into VR. So, definitely India will be a space to watch out for in the next five years.
About VR Sky, to be screened at Cannes
We are connected to people and things around us, but often we leave out the most important one of all — ourselves. VR Sky is about human consciousness and absolute consciousness. It's about the protagonist who is elevated to absolute space, where he witnesses how space is created — how it is transformed into human consciousness. It's about self realisation, and I feel VR is the best method to showcase this.
Will we see VR films made in India?
While it is hard to create a full-length VR film, VR will act as a bridge between films and something like gaming. I am also working on a VR experience for an upcoming south Indian film with a big-budget director, starring a very popular actor. we will announce it shortly. So, I think we are on the right track.
Budget constraints are always there, but it's upto us if we want to maintain only the business aspect of it, or explore the technology.
How would audiences react to a VR film?
With time, people can learn how to use VR gear. The real challenge is how one can access VR. Facebook will soon venture into the VR space, once that is done, even the way we use social media will be revolutionised.
Future projects
With drought hitting TN and many parts of India, I would love to work on a VR film that talks to people about water conservation. Apart than that, I am also working on a war-based VR film, called Living Dead Soldier. It's my interpretation of what hatred and violence can do to a soldier’s family.
