PERFECT: THE REAL REASON TO COMPLETE BAAHUBALI 2, 10 DAYS BEFORE THE RELEASE, IS HERE...

Kamalakannan is an important name when it comes to Vfx in Baahubali 2. This talented technician talks to us about working in the film and his relaxed time, ten days before its release which is very unusual.

Can you compare the Vfx work between Baahubali 1 (B1) and Baahubali 2 (B2)?
The number of scenes in B2 is more than B1. In B1, there was only one kingdom, Magizhmathi; in B2 we have more than one kingdom. I can’t divulge much now. Work and shots are more in B2.

How has Baahubali 2 shaped up?
I have to see the film, run it completely in theatre to answer this. I can do it on 28th April. Some of the scenes, I have seen on my laptop and some, in edit monitors. When you see the projection in IMAX theatres or even in normal theatres, then you will have an idea. But normally in a Vfx based film, while you travel through the project, you have an idea about certain larger than life shots which would form the crux of the film. But we will always be taken by surprise when people come back and wax eloquence about certain shots which we would have worked normally. It has happened to me in several of my films earlier. I will be surprised. The main aspect is, it is just not about visuals but also about the manner in which the story has been narrated, the background score, the screenplay and all such elements- everything contributes. At this point in time, it is difficult to answer your question. After the release, I will be able to answer this in an exhaustive manner.

What about the fight scene between Rana Daggubati and Prabhas in B2?
There are hand-to-hand fights in the film, a showdown kind of a thing which are customary in such films. The director has introduced the characters in the first part. In the second part, they open up. The visuals have to contribute to the screenplay rather than the other way around. My job is to integrate the visuals into the storyline of the director.

Now that the travel is over, what are your feelings?
Be it Eega or Maghadheera or any film, ten days before the release, I was never this cool or stress-free. In Maghadheera, I remember, I was sitting on the same bench in Prasad, the day before the release and I was asking the director one more week. But now, I am so relaxed ten days ahead of Baahubali 2. 

Baahubali 2 has been taken very well. Just before you spoke to me, Rama Rajamouli was talking to me. She was wondering how it is possible that I am relaxing and roaming around. She was surprised.

The main thing is, everybody knows what roles they are playing in the film. Big credit should go to producer Shobu who started pressurizing us from October, November onwards. The communication was crisp, clear and fast among the team members. Such things facilitated this stress-free time before the release. By God’s grace, everything has come out well. We are all waiting for 28th April.

Jyothsna Bhavanishankar

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