Director Siva’s Kanguva, starring Suriya in the lead, has finally hit theaters, and the film is receiving mixed reviews for its unique approach to storytelling and visuals. One of the most discussed aspects of the film is its use of computer-generated imagery (CGI), especially considering that this is Siva's first film to use CGI on such a large scale. In an interview with Sudhir Srinivasan, Siva opened up about the entire CGI process and revealed that the film’s visual effects were solely handled by an Indian team, with no foreign technicians involved.
Siva shared that the CGI for Kanguva was created entirely within India, even for the more complex and high-profile sequences. For instance, he mentioned that the crocodile shot featured in the film's trailer was created in a Chennai-based studio in Virugambakkam. This reflects the growing capability and expertise of Indian technicians in the field of CGI, an area once dominated by international studios.
In the interview, Siva explained that having knowledge of CGI is crucial for directors and cinematographers, especially when creating high-quality visuals. According to Siva, materials and tools required to create CGI are easily available, but a film crew’s passion and dedication are key to mastering the technology. He credited a large part of his understanding to the behind-the-scenes footage of Avatar, which showcased the innovative methods used in crafting the groundbreaking visuals. Siva spent considerable time watching these videos and learning from them, even going as far as creating a smaller prototype to practice and understand how to apply those techniques to Kanguva.
This commitment to learning and applying CGI expertise has played a significant role in elevating Kanguva's visual effects, helping the film compete with international standards. Siva’s passion for blending traditional filmmaking with modern technology has undoubtedly opened doors for more Indian technicians to work on large-scale CGI projects in the future, further pushing the boundaries of Indian cinema's technical capabilities.
As Indian films increasingly incorporate advanced visual effects, the conversation around domestic talent handling high-level CGI becomes even more significant, and Siva’s work with Kanguva is a noteworthy milestone in this shift.
