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Making miracles on the silver screen! For decades, Ramesh Meer has provided all kinds of thrills to film buffs. By using digital technology, he has provided some of the best scenes in superhit Bollywood films and enabled heroes to perform superhuman action scenes. Now, Meer is venturing to make a 3-D Plus film called Abbra Ka Dabbra, which tells the story of a boy in search of magical skills, says Vimla Patil.
These filmi miracles and spectacular presentations are created by the use of the latest digital technology. The kites in HDDCS, for instance, are first designed on a computer screen and then implanted on the film. The physical feats of action which Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar or Sunny Deol perform with such ease, are designed by the deft fingers of a digital expert on a computer and then integrated into the film. And most often, behind the super success of many of Bollywood’s recent winners is the brain and skill of a man called Ramesh Meer! Meer is the man who sits behind the imaging machines and digital computers in his studio in his suburban studio, and creates unbelievable visual wonders on the silver screen.
Meer graduated in
cinematography from the Film &TV Institute, Pune, in the 70s. He
says: "In those days, the money paid to a cameraman in Bollywood
was a pittance. Today, with technology becoming an important ingredient
of the success of a film, a cinematographer can earn lakhs of rupees per
film. He can also contribute to the script with his innovative ideas for
special effects. I began with the films of Manmohan Desai, who was open
to new ideas. He would set out a scene and ask me, to add some magic to
it with special effects. In many films, including Amar Akbar Anthony.
I have created special effects — including titles — for 37 years.
Earlier, with the optical technology, we couldn’t compete with the
West. But now with analogue and digital technology, we are as good as
anyone in the world." |
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The technology he has perfected — 3D Plus — needs no change in the theatre equipment. What, only a redesigned camera for shooting the film is required. While we create the special lenses needed for shooting these 3D films in India, the cameras are being redesigned by JVC in Japan. Meer spent two years to research this technology. The glasses a viewer needs to see a film shot with this technology are priced at five rupees a piece and these too may come free if a corporate agrees to sponsor them with its brands advertised upon it. The imported optical clear film in red and blue, which is imbedded in these glasses, is easy on the eyes and makes the cinema experience unforgettable. 3D Plus film can be shown even in rural areas with the most basic projection facilities. Meer has, of course, used special effects for many television serials — especially mythologicals — where human beings, animals and even inanimate objects have to perform superhuman feats of flying and divine weapons have to spew fire on rain. One well-known producer of mythological films with whom Meer has worked for many years, is Dhiraj Kumar. "When my technology was nearing perfection, I approached Kumar to make a film using the 3D Plus technology. It took me two years to master this technology. I also had a storyline for Kumar, which he liked immensely. The result is that both of us are now partners in producing a forthcoming 3D Plus film. This film, called Abbra Ka Dabbra tells the story of a young boy who loses his father while performing a magic feat. He vows to master magical tricks by learning them from a school and becomes a better magician than his father. "The story idea is mine and there are two screenplay writers and a dialogue writer to complete the team. The film is inspired by Harry Potter but has nothing to do with the original. We auditioned more than a hundred boys and girls for the main role. But we finally chose Ateet Nayak, who has worked with us before in creating a television pilot called Superkid. Most viewers must have seen him in the UTI Bank ad where Marc Robinson gives him a coin with the UTI stamp on it. He is good-looking and is comfortable with the camera. We will shoot the film on locations in Rajasthan and Mumbai. From start to finish, the film’s schedule will take 50 to 60 days from June 9, 2003. Post-production will take six months, which means that the film will be released in early 2004. The film is aimed at all audiences — children as well as adults. Creative Eye, DhirajKumar’s company, will produce the two-hour-15-minute long film and my company will co-produce it and provide the technology. We are also looking at making television serials in this technology." Thus, film lovers are in for rare treats in the future! |
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DID
you enjoy the hugely memorable kite-flying scene in Sanjay Leela
Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam? Did you wonder at Ajay
Devgan performing incredible physical feats in his award-winning role of
a schizophrenic in Deewangee? Have you seen Bollywood heroes jump
in front of trains or out of infernal fires? And finally, have you
wondered how the stars and directors produce these visual feats to amaze
filmgoers?
