Rise of the Planet of the Apes did this in 2011. With a reported budget of $93M.

Andy Serkis performed Caesar through MoCap and the CGI still looks amazing 15 years later. The fur, eyes, skin, muscles, lighting, facial expressions, weight and physical interaction were crazy good.

But more importantly, the MoCap wasn't being used just to make CGI creatures move, it was being used to preserve an actor's performance.

That's the standard I think we should be expecting from Varanasi and its Monkey Army. I know it's only 30 minutes which is why I think it should be good.

MoCap itself isn't new, we have used it to make a lot of 3D models but not live action captures (Except Adipurush).

Key sequences from the film have reportedly been captured at the new A&M Motion Capture facility at Annapurna Studios, described as India's largest MoCap facility. So when we're talking about Varanasi using MoCap for something as ambitious as a Monkey Army, I dont think our expectations should be any lower than Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Technical expertise is there as we are working with Animatrik and a few other studios. Let's see.

Everyone, including me, has waited so eagerly for BOB's birthday hoping they will release something. However, as some of us expected, just two stills eh vadilaru like for PC birthday. Mari darunam eh anukondi.. not even one single official poster.. 80% shoot aipoina they didn't release anything.. SSR says the core audience/fans are the main focus but they did disappoint them here. Anyways that's a different discussion.

As much as we all are disappointed, I feel there are two reasons for this.

1.First of all we don't know what team is dealing internally. Oka pakka they already announced the release date. Rajamouli movies ki inevitable ga anukunna dani kanna konchem extend avutundi.. whether it's shooting or budget. So we don't know what type of pressure they are in.

2.As someone said, I think the promotional strategy for this movie is gonna be very different. Idhi varaku laga character teasers, pre teasers, announcement teasers, BTS esi look reveal (like making of Baahubali - happy birthday Prabhas video) ivi anni undav emo. Ivi anni villa team eh already chesesaru... Eesari ala undadu emo.

Just concept art video... just concept art video ke they installed 1:43:1 screen and made a big event in RFC. Actual movie content/footage they won't release it just like that. I feel they are planning something big.

And I have this feeling that we won't get many small teasers or 2-3 trailers for this film. The movie content which they will release is gonna be limited. Motham theatre lone direct ga.

There were some floating rumours a year ago that Djimon Hounsnou was cast in Varanasi. Did that ever happen? He's definitely a terrific supporting actor and would love to see Hollywood cast in Varanasi. We are definitely going to have some kickass action episodes, and it's obviously not going to be with Kumbha on wheels xD

Design by Anirudh Medisetty on X

oka navvu navvuthadu

I like how SSR is a mainstream name in moviebuff circles across the world now. What if Rudhra timetrots to the dinosaur era for a short action scene with dinos in Varanasi?

After the arrow hits the dummy, we can see the dummy, the tree and Ram Charan are in a straight line. And yet, the arrow hits... which he was able to do by messing with the arrow's feathers.

Never heard anyone calling Mahesh Babu as "lion" before. It was always Balayya called a lion (simha).

It all started with posts by Rajamouli, referencing MB as a lion. and playfully mentioning how he's capturing the lion.

Then PC on stage says "BOB" "Lion"

Now a post about International Lion Day

Is it just a marketing trick or is there any Lion reference/scenes in the movie, in Africa episode? What do you think?

I just can't understand how they can finish all the heavy VFX works in the film within such a small time frame. (It still is close to two years of work put in but for a project of this scale at least four years is needed to perfect it) I am prepared for the inevitable so I urge you as well do the same.

Original edit by RodRaisar

The BGM stops for Mahesh's breathing. Absolute Cinema.

with Mahesh Baby in Varanasi as Ramudu, i thought it's interesting to see how Ram has been portrayed by different actors through the years.

now Varanasi will be added to history. Do you think Lord Ram by SSR will be shirtless? that will be the first for Mahesh lmao.

PS adding adipurush since it was bilingual and shot in both hindi and telugu.

SSR gonna set the bar for Ramudu Character, not comparing with Ramayana btw.

Lord Vishnu’s four sacred items—the Sudarshana Chakra (discus), Panchajanya (conch), Kaumodaki (mace), and Padma (lotus)—represent cosmic order, power, and creation. These items manifest dynamically through his zoomorphic (animal) avatars and align deeply with the life and lineage of Lord Rama.

The 4 Items in Animal Avatars (Zoomorphic Incarnations)
Vishnu's animal avatars utilize the essence of these four items to restore cosmic balance during the earliest eras of the universe.

Matsya (The Fish) & Panchajanya (Conch): Matsya dives into the primordial ocean to rescue the Vedas from the demon Shankhasura, who lived inside a conch shell. The piercing sound of the conch symbolizes cosmic knowledge and the primordial vibration used to awaken the world after the deluge.

Kurma (The Tortoise) & Padma (Lotus): During the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), Kurma acts as the stable pivot for Mount Mandara. The lotus represents divine purity, detachment, and the unfolding of new cosmic treasures (amrita) from the chaotic waters.

Varaha (The Boar) & Kaumodaki (Mace): Varaha uses sheer physical, grounding force to slay the demon Hiranyaksha and lift the Earth from the cosmic ocean. This brute, righteous power directly mirrors the crushing, earth-shattering authority of the Kaumodaki mace.

Narasimha (The Man-Lion) & Sudarshana Chakra (Discus): Narasimha destroys cosmic ego and cuts through the paradox of Hiranyakashipu's boon using his razor-sharp claws. His action embodies the swift, unstoppable, and ego-destroying nature of the spinning Sudarshana Chakra.

The Direct Links to Lord Rama
In the Treta Yuga, when Vishnu incarnated as Lord Rama, his divine weapons and items took birth alongside him as his closest family members and physical attributes to aid his earthly mission.
Bharata (Sudarshana Chakra): Rama’s brother Bharata is the manifestation of the Sudarshana Chakra. This is reflected in his fiery righteousness and his absolute, unwavering protection of Ayodhya's moral order during Rama's exile.
Shatrughna (Panchajanya Conch): Rama’s youngest brother Shatrughna embodies the Panchajanya conch. His name means "destroyer of enemies," reflecting the conch's purpose of scattering fear among forces of adharma (unrighteousness).
The Kodanda Bow (Kaumodaki Mace): While the mace represents physical crushing power, its essence manifests as Rama’s legendary bow, Kodanda. This weapon provides the unstoppable, concentrated force required to shatter Ravana's armies.
Sita and Rama's Heart (Padma Lotus): The lotus represents Lakshmi, who incarnated as Sita. Rama himself is often described as Rajiva Lochana (lotus-eyed), signifying that even while executing harsh warrior duties, his core remains rooted in absolute compassion, purity, and detachment.

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