Hyderabad: A new chapter in Indian filmmaking has begun at Annapurna Studios with the launch of the country’s most advanced Motion Capture facility. Christened A&M MoCap Lab, the facility is a strategic collaboration between actor Nagarjuna’s Annapurna Studios and producer Shobu Yarlagadda’s Mihira Visual Labs, powered by Hollywood technology partner Animatrik Film Design.
The facility was formally launched by celebrated filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli, who also revealed that key sequences of his upcoming film Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, were shot using the new technology. Rajamouli shared the first glimpse of the A&M Motion Capture facility, underlining its potential to elevate the scale and ambition of Indian storytelling.
Rajamouli, who had earlier launched India’s first Dolby cinema processing facility at Annapurna Studios, described the MoCap lab as a defining milestone for the industry.
“India has always had some of the world’s best technicians contributing to major global productions, but what we lacked was an advanced facility right here at home. When I look back at some of my previous films like Bahubali, Eega etc., I reminisce how I could have made them even better if I had access to motion capture technology back then in India,” Rajamouli said. “With the introduction of A&M’s Motion Capture technology, that gap has finally been bridged. This will change how Indian filmmakers envision and execute their stories as we will no longer need to outsource. I have visited several Motion Capture facilities across the world, but what A&M offers is the perfect blend of precision and performance. We utilized this facility in the making of crucial sequences in Varanasi, and the results were simply fantastic.”
Nagarjuna Akkineni termed the facility a landmark in India’s cinematic evolution. “For decades, Indian filmmakers have aspired to tell large scale stories that match global standards, but access to high end technology was often a limitation. At Annapurna Studios, our vision has always been to stay at the forefront of film making technology by bringing creativity and innovation together. At a time when Indian cinema is reaching audiences across the world, we wanted to raise the bar even higher. With A&M, filmmakers can now bring everything from epic adventures to intricate science fiction dramas to life right here in Hyderabad.”
Shobu Yarlagadda emphasised the long-term infrastructure vision behind the collaboration.
“For Indian cinema to truly compete on a global stage, it is essential to create advanced technology ecosystems within the country,” he said. “This Motion Capture facility at Annapurna Studios brings together creative ambition and technological excellence. At Mihira Labs, our focus has always been on enabling filmmakers with tools that meet international standards, and partnering with Annapurna Studios and Animatrik allows us to do exactly that. Seeing a filmmaker like SS Rajamouli utilize our A&M MoCap facility for Varanasi reinforces our belief that the future of Indian storytelling will be driven by innovation built at home.”
Brett Ineson, President & CTO of Animatrik Film Design — known for its work on Hollywood blockbusters such as Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home — said India was poised to embrace high-end performance capture technology.
He commented, “We’re incredibly proud to see Animatrik’s motion capture technology powering this landmark facility at Annapurna Studios. Annapurna has long been a beacon of cinematic excellence, and partnering with them and Mihira Visual Labs to bring world-class performance capture capabilities to India is truly exciting. This collaboration represents a significant step in enabling filmmakers and creators to tell more immersive, emotionally rich stories with the highest global standards.”
CV Rao, CTO of Annapurna Studios, detailed the facility’s technical capabilities.
“A&M offers a 60ft x 40ft x 30ft capture volume that combines high precision optical tracking, sub millimeter accuracy, and real time streaming to bridge the gap between imagination on set and final execution. Additionally, it offers the advantage of being expandable in terms of volume as well as being modular that allows us to disassemble & assemble it at any location as per the production’s requirement. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a powerful previsualization tool for filmmakers, enabling them to meticulously plan and refine their creative vision well before stepping onto a live set. Directors and cinematographers can experiment with camera blocking, lens choices, camera movements, and frame rates in a dynamic virtual environment, allowing critical creative decisions to be finalized during the motion capture stage, prior to principal photography. It enables teams to accurately assess technical and logistical requirements, ensuring they arrive on location fully prepared. This not only elevates the quality of execution but also optimizes time and cost efficiencies by minimizing expensive trial-and-error during live shoots.”
The lab is equipped with Vicon Valkyrie (VK26) cameras for high-fidelity motion tracking, integrated with Vicon Live and Vicon Post for real-time streaming and post-processing. It also features Unreal Engine live preview capabilities and Stereo Head-Mounted Camera units for detailed facial performance capture, supporting film, gaming and immersive media productions.
The launch coincides with Annapurna Studios completing 50 years in Indian cinema. Looking ahead, the studio aims to collaborate with Indian and international filmmakers, game developers and animation studios, positioning Hyderabad as a global hub for world-class motion capture and virtual production.
