With a budget of Rs 2000 crore, this is the costliest movie the world’s ever seen. It has been made at a budget that is 20 times the cost of Blue, the most expensive Indian movie. It took 14 years for filmmaker James Cameron to get the special effects right. Titanic director James Cameron’s 3D magnum opus, Avatar, the film that claims ‘cinema will not be the same anymore’, hits theatres worldwide, including India, on Friday.
There’s an obvious — and palpable — buzz surrounding the release. The highlight of the Sci-Fi flick is the use of “jaw-dropping” state-of-the-art computer graphics and special effects.
Indian filmmakers whose movies hit the screens around the same time are wondering whether Avatar will overshadow their films. However, 3 Idiots director Rajkumar Hirani, whose film releases the week after isn’t worried. “There’s no competition, if the films are good both will attract audiences.” In a bid to cash in on the popularity of the movie, Karan Johar is releasing the promos of My Name is Khan with the screening of Avatar.
Multiplex owners are gearing up for sell out shows. In the run up to the release, for example, at least 30-40 3D screens have come up in metros across the country.
PVR Cinemas, for example, will show the film in the 3D format at their Select Citywalk mall and Ambience Mall multiplexes. “You require a high definition silver screen and special projector for such films,” says Amitava Vardhan, CEO, PVR Cinemas. Deepak Taluja of Fun Cinema says, “ We are ready with our 2K digital and Dolby sound projectors, which are the best.”
{{/usCountry}}PVR Cinemas, for example, will show the film in the 3D format at their Select Citywalk mall and Ambience Mall multiplexes. “You require a high definition silver screen and special projector for such films,” says Amitava Vardhan, CEO, PVR Cinemas. Deepak Taluja of Fun Cinema says, “ We are ready with our 2K digital and Dolby sound projectors, which are the best.”
{{/usCountry}}However, it remains to be seen whether Avatar will live up to its hype or if it falls by the way, just as Blue did.
Avatar vs Titanic
Budget
Titanic: $200 million
Avatar: $230 million
Time to complete
Titanic:Two-and-a-half years
Avatar: Four years
SFX shots
Titanic: 500
Avatar: More than 3,000 (only 24 shots don't use effects)
Cast and crew
Titanic: A speaking cast of 100-plus and over 1,000 extras.
Avatar: 37 cast members, plus thousands of digitally created characters. Nearly 2,000 people worked on the film, with over 800 in the CGI studio alone.
-With inputs from Roshmila Bhattacharya and Minakshi Saini