Filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli has opened what is being called India’s most advanced motion capture studio at Annapurna Studios. Named the A&M MoCap Lab, the facility is designed to help Indian filmmakers create high-quality visual effects for movies, animation, and games.
The project is a collaboration between Annapurna Studios, producer Akkineni Nagarjuna, Shobu Yarlagadda’s Mihira Visual Labs, and Hollywood partner Animatrik Film Design. Rajamouli revealed that important scenes from his upcoming film Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, were already shot using this technology, which he called “simply fantastic.”
Motion capture (MoCap) records actors’ movements and facial expressions and converts them into digital characters or special effects. Until now, Indian filmmakers often had to send footage abroad for this work, which increased costs and delays. The new lab allows high-end visual effects to be created directly in India.
The A&M MoCap Lab includes a large capture space, advanced cameras, and real-time data systems. Directors can test camera angles, actor movements, and digital effects in a virtual environment before filming, saving both time and money.
Nagarjuna described the lab as a “milestone for Indian cinema,” saying it will help storytellers make ambitious films that can compete with international standards. Yarlagadda added that the facility will support not just films, but also animation, games, and international projects seeking cutting-edge production technology in India.
The lab’s opening coincides with Annapurna Studios’ 50th anniversary. It will be available for Indian and international filmmakers, offering a world-class platform to create films with advanced visual effects without leaving the country.
With this lab, Rajamouli and Annapurna Studios aim to bring Hollywood-level technology to India, making it easier for filmmakers to produce visually spectacular stories and boosting the country’s capabilities in filmmaking and digital storytelling.
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