A&M MoCap Lab Inaugurated: SS Rajamouli Launches India’s Advanced Motion Capture Hub at Annapurna Studios
HYDERABAD: A major technological milestone in Indian cinema has been achieved with the launch of the A&M Motion Capture Lab, an advanced performance-capture facility established at Annapurna Studios. The initiative is a joint collaboration between actor Akkineni Nagarjuna’s Annapurna Studios and producer Shobu Yarlagadda’s Mihira Visual Labs, in partnership with Hollywood-based technology leader Animatrik Film Design.
The state-of-the-art facility was formally inaugurated by acclaimed filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli, marking what many consider a transformative moment for India’s filmmaking ecosystem.
Bridging the Technology Gap
At the launch event, Rajamouli highlighted how advanced motion capture infrastructure within India will significantly enhance storytelling capabilities. Reflecting on earlier projects like Baahubali and Eega, he noted that access to such high-end facilities domestically would have expanded creative possibilities at the time. He also revealed that key sequences of his upcoming film Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, were executed using this technology.
According to Rajamouli, the facility eliminates the need for overseas outsourcing and empowers Indian filmmakers to conceptualize and execute ambitious narratives with precision.
A Vision for Global-Standard Infrastructure
Nagarjuna described the MoCap Lab as a significant step forward in aligning Indian cinema with global production standards. He emphasized Annapurna Studios’ longstanding commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology with creative storytelling, especially as Indian films increasingly find global audiences.
Producer Shobu Yarlagadda echoed this sentiment, stating that building advanced filmmaking infrastructure within India is essential for competing on the international stage. He described the partnership with Animatrik as a strategic move to ensure world-class performance capture capabilities are accessible domestically.
International Collaboration & Technical Excellence
Representing Animatrik Film Design, Brett Ineson expressed enthusiasm about bringing global-standard motion capture systems to India. The company, known for its work on major Hollywood productions, now supports Indian creators through this collaboration.
Technical Specifications of A&M MoCap Lab:
- 60ft x 40ft x 30ft capture volume
- High-precision optical tracking with sub-millimeter accuracy
- Real-time streaming for seamless production workflows
- Expandable and modular setup for on-location assembly
- Vicon Valkyrie (VK26) cameras
- Vicon Live & Vicon Post for advanced data processing
- Unreal Engine integration for live visualization
- Stereo Head-Mounted Cameras (HMC) for high-resolution facial capture
CV Rao, CTO of Annapurna Studios, explained that the facility enables filmmakers to conduct detailed previsualization, experiment with camera dynamics, and refine creative decisions before principal photography. This approach not only enhances execution quality but also improves cost and time efficiency.
A New Era for Indian Cinema
The launch coincides with Annapurna Studios completing 50 years in the Indian film industry. With the introduction of the A&M Motion Capture Lab, the studio aims to collaborate with filmmakers, animation houses, and gaming studios across India and globally, offering world-class production support from Hyderabad.
