Baahubali 2, The Conclusion, set for release next week, is shattering a whole host of technological barriers. For starters, it will be the first Indian film to release in the 4K High Definition format. The movie, which will be released in the IMAX format, also lays claim to other firsts vis-a-vis the use of technology: It claims to be the first to use Virual Reality (VR) for promotions, and the first to stream a pre-release event in 360° with 4K resolution. Baahubali 2 comes on the heels of many illustrious Indian films who have boasted of similar watershed moments. Here are some of them:
Alam Ara (1931)
First talkie film
The first talkie film of India was a trendsetter in many ways. The film, made under the banner of Imperial Movietone, gave India its first singer-actor in Wazir Mohammed Khan, who played the role of a fakir. In fact, Alam Ara has the distinction of having ushered in the concept of filmi music which continues to dominate the music industry in the country even today. The movie also made exhaustive use of the technological advantages brought in by sound, especially in its choice to use more singing than talking, thus setting a template that endured for quite a while. Alam Ara was a huge hit, and when it was released in Mumbai’s Majestic Cinema, police had to be called for crowd control.
Kisan Kanya (1937)
First colour film
India’s first attempt at making a colour film came in 1933. Prabhat Film Company’s Sairandhri was originally planned as the first Indian film in multicolour. However, the film which was processed and printed in Germany, ended up being screened in black and white due to technical issues. Kisan Kanya, produced by Ardeshir Irani of Imperial Pictures, thus became the first colour film to be produced and processed in India. Directed by Moti B Gidvani, the film which showcased the plight of poor farmers, is mainly remembered today for that landmark.
My Dear Kuttichathan (1984)
FIRST 3D FILM
Released in 1984, this Malayalam movie directed by Jijo Punnoose was the first Indian film to be filmed in 3D. Punnoose’s father Navodaya Appachan produced the film, which was later re-released in other languages with additional scenes added to these versions. Ashok Kumar, the cinematographer of the film, thus holds the fame of being India’s first cinematographer to have shot a 3D film.
Nil Nirjane (2003)
First film to be shot DIGITALLY Featuring Moonmoon Sen, Raima Sen, June Malliah, Mou Sultana and Rajatava Dutta, Subrata Sen’s directorial Nil Nirjane is credited as India’s first film to be shot entirely in the digital format. The Bengali film saw the real life mother and daughter also play reel-life mother-daughter roles. Nil Nirjane revolves around a set of people who spend their weekends at a resort and end up facing strange situations. Although it was entirely shot in the digital format, the film had to be converted to a celluloid form as only a handful of theatres were equipped with digital projection technology at the time of release.
Dhoom 3 (2013)
first film to be released in IMAX
Developed in Canada, the IMAX film format can record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems. IMAX movies are projected on special screens which not only fill the audience’s field of vision but go beyond the peripheral vision, thus giving one the sense of being right in the action. The first Indian movie to utilise this now popular format was the 2013 Aamir Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer Dhoom 3. The film, which was released in IMAX theatres across India and selective global locations, went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema.
Around the World (1967)
FIRST 70MM film
Following the success of films like My Fair Lady and Cleopatra, a barrage of Indian films were announced to be launched in the 70 mm format in the years 1965-66. None of those materialised, however, and Pachi’s Around The World released in 1967 became India’s first 70 mm movie. With this, India became the world’s fourth country (following USA, USSR and West Germany) to have independently headed the production of a film released in the format. The 1975 blockbuster, Sholay, regarded as a landmark in Indian cinema was also released in the 70 mm format, and is often mistakenly considered to be the first Indian film released in the format.
The Banyan Deer (1957)
First Animation film
The first major initiative undertaken by the Films Division of India to produce a full-fledged animated movie in colour format came in 1956. The FDI sought the help of Disney animator, Clair Weeks, a veteran who had previously worked on iconic movies like Bambi and Peter Pan. A Mysore-born American, Weeks, travelled to Bombay as part of American Technical Co-Operation Mission and along with visionary colleagues at the Films Division, like Ezra Mir and D B Kothari, laid the groundwork for animation industry in the country by establishing the first animation studio of India at the Films Division, which later came to be known as the ‘Cartoon Film Unit’. This resulted in India’s first animated movie in colour – The Banyan Deer.
Kochadaiiyaan (2014)
FIRST film to be fully made using Motion Capture
Bankrolled by EROS studios and directed by Soundarya Rajinikanth, with screenplay by KS Ravikumar, Kochadaiiyaan was the first full-length Indian film to adapt the motion capture technology that was used in films like Avatar and Adventures of Tintin. Although Maattrraan which released in 2012 also used this technology, Kochadaiiyaan holds the record for being the first movie to use motion capture throughout its entirety.
Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)
First film in Cinemascope
Released in 1959, Kaagaz Ke Phool was India’s first movie to be shot on CinemaScope. Directed by Guru Dutt, the film which did not fare well at the time of its release, is now hailed as a masterpiece. CinemaScope was the Registred TradeMark of 20th Century Fox, which had to be paid for use of the term in the film’s publicity materials. This resulted in various countries developing their own widescreen systems.