Special effects is an art-form that’s still being explored onscreen in India. Whether it is the use of practical effects, animation, CGI (computer graphics) or VFX (visual effects), Indian filmmakers still find it hard to make technology work for them. There is no dearth of the big-screen spectacle like the intermittent Baahubalis, 2.0s or even Thugs Of Hindostan, which often claim to incorporate ‘Hollywood-level’ special effects.
But we tend to forget some rare gems that made the technology do the heavy-lifting for the plot. These are films where the technology didn’t substitute plot, but aided it. And it seems to be the case with Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero, where the actor is taking arguably his biggest risk as a lead actor since his anti-hero days in the early 90s.
Here are 7 other Indian films that ingeniously used special effects to elevate the storytelling in their respective films:
1. Appu Raja
The original dwarf film starring Kamal Haasan was achieved by a mastery of visual tricks, practical effects and smart direction. Spending the entire shooting schedule on his knees in specially designed shoes, Haasan pulled off one of the biggest feats of Indian cinema (till that point). No wonder that the original Tamil film and its Hindi dubbed-version, both, turned out to be massive successes.
2. Mr India
Shekhar Kapur’s sci-fi fantasy film starring an invisible hero (played by Anil Kapoor), wasn’t exactly a technical marvel of its time. But the way the film used the classic influences of a hanging telephone, a revolver suspended mid-air or even a flying Hanuman statue, was a feat in itself. Showing awareness enough to acknowledge these influences, Kapur even included a homage to Charlie Chaplin. And it was executed to perfection by none other than the late Sridevi.
3. Aalavandhan
It’s hardly a secret that Kamal Haasan loves playing lookalike twins. But the way he took that ancient formula and turned it on its head with this film by Suresh Krisna, was a revelation. Playing the two sides of the same coin, Haasan came up with the idea to use manga comics to depict the harsh, abusive upbringing of one of the twins. Nobody could have known that this particular choice of style would be adopted by Quentin Tarantino in his Kill Bill movies.
4. Jajantaram Mamantaram
The desi version of Gulliver’s Travels showed Javed Jaffery marooned in an island peopled by Lilliputians. In an industry where the standards for children’s films are terribly low, this film interspersed with Jaffery’s one-liners proved to be a decent take on good v/s evil. They used a sound-stage with visual trickery to merge visuals of two different sizes. It all looked quite believable for 2003.
5. Anniyan
Shankar’s other sci-fi magnum opuses like Enthiran or its sequel, 2.0, had an obscene amount of money pumped into them for some state-of-the-art VFX. But few things come as close to perfection as the interrogation climax of this film. Marrying Shankar’s classic trope of a vigilante with the protagonist’s illness of having a split personality, marked by differing hairstyles and voices. The climax also becomes testament to Vikram’s legendary acting chops, as he alternate his lines between the two personalities inside him.
6. Eega
Much before Baahubali made him a global name like it did, Rajamouli made the ludicrously ambitious Eega. Released as Makkhi in Hindi, the film never quite got the popularity that the Baahubali films did. But a central conceit that comprises a fly working out, putting on armour to avenge its death and protect its lover… it’s all ridiculously bonkers. And yet, does anyone remember another film that went out on a limb like this one did?
7. Fan
Over the course of Main Hoon Na, Paheli and Don, Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies used its collective experience into making of the creepy super fan, Gaurav Chandna. Played by Khan himself, the character’s facial features were distorted and his nose was even partially erased from the sides. The effects were so convincing that it further added to Chandna’s creepiness.
