S. S. Rajamouli shoots key Varanasi sequences using advanced A&M MoCap Tech at Annapurna Studios

Sharing the first-ever glimpse of the state-of-the-art Motion Capture setup, Rajamouli explained how the facility is helping filmmakers scale up their storytelling ambitions.

• Rajamouli unveils A&M Motion Capture lab at Annapurna Studios
• Varanasi film uses new tech, stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra
• A&M MoCap lab aims to match Indian films with global standards

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Indian cinema is stepping into an exciting new phase. On Wednesday, filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli introduced the newly established A&M Motion Capture facility and revealed that crucial sequences of his upcoming film Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, were filmed using this advanced technology.

Sharing the first-ever glimpse of the state-of-the-art Motion Capture setup, Rajamouli explained how the facility is helping filmmakers scale up their storytelling ambitions. The technology, he noted, is designed to elevate Indian films to match global standards without depending on overseas infrastructure.

The A&M MoCap Lab has been set up at Annapurna Studios, one of India’s most respected entertainment institutions. The facility is the result of a collaboration between veteran actor Nagarjuna Akkineni’s Annapurna Studios and visionary producer Shobu Yarlagadda’s Mihira Visual Labs. It is powered by Hollywood-based technology partner Animatrik Film Design, known for its expertise in performance capture.

Rajamouli, who had earlier launched India’s first Dolby cinema processing facility at Annapurna Studios, described the new Motion Capture lab as a defining milestone for the country’s filmmakers.

“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,” he 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,” the filmmaker added.

Nagarjuna Akkineni called the facility a landmark moment in India’s cinematic journey and spoke about the larger vision behind the initiative.

“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 filmmaking 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.”

Brett Ineson, President & CTO of Animatrik Film Design, whose company has worked on major Hollywood blockbusters such as Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home, shared his excitement about the collaboration and what it means for Indian storytellers.

“This collaboration represents a significant step in enabling filmmakers and creators to tell more immersive, emotionally rich stories with the highest global standards.”

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The unveiling of the Motion Capture lab also comes at a special moment for Annapurna Studios, as it recently completed 50 years in Indian cinema — a legacy that now enters a technologically ambitious chapter.

Meanwhile, Varanasi, headlined by Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 7, 2027. With world-class technology now available on home soil, the film is already being seen as one of the most anticipated projects in Indian cinema’s next big leap.