Shilpakala Vedika at HITEC City at Hyderabad was venue to the onrush of dignitaries, corporate heads from the animation fraternity, film industry veterans and students, who arrived in a continuous stream to participate in the 12th Anniversary celebrations of India’s largest Animation and VFX education centre. The extravaganza, an annual feature was organized to commemorate 12 years of imparting quality education in Animation and VFX.
A devotional song rendered by a student of Dilsukhngar Arena provided the auspicious beginning to the celebrations as Satyam, senior staff of Dilsukhnagar Arena and compere for the day delivered the inaugural address to a jam-packed auditorium bustling with vivacious students.
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh K. Rosaiah, the Chief Guest of the day arrived to a standing ovation and lit the lamp to set the event rolling.
The distinguished guests who elevated the stature of the event included A.K. Madhavan – CEO of Crest Animation, Dr. D.N. Reddy-Vice Chancellor, JNTU-Hyderabad, Tammareddy Bharadwaja, Chairman of the Nandi Awards Committee, Dileep, Assistant Manager from Rhythm & Hues, Rajat Ojha, PMP-Zen Technologies, Marthand.K.Venkatesh-veteran Tollywood Film Editor and Anand Gurnani-CEO of Animation Xpress. Rajasekhar Buggaveeti, CEO of Dilsukhnagar Arena accorded a warm welcome and felicitated all the guests with a bouquet and a memento.
Dileep, Assistant Manager at Rhythm & Hues delivered a fascinating presentation titled “Imagining the Universe…Pixel by Pixel” on the whole process of animation. He regaled the audience with the “behind the scenes” of a few blockbuster Hollywood films from the Rhythm & Hues stable such as Alvin and The Chipmunks, The Golden Compass, Tales of Narnia, etc.
Addressing the audience, Rajat Ojha, PMP-Zen Technologies exclaimed that the Global Gaming industry currently pegged at $46 billion is expected to rise to $80 billion by the year 2014. During a power-point presentation on his company, he screened a few works that were executed by alumni of Dilsukhnagar Arena and complimented the institute for its excellent training standards.
Tammareddy Bharadwaja, Chairman of the Nandi Awards Committee impressed upon students the need to be focused on their careers to achieve success and remarked that the gaming industry is the new growth driver for the Animation industry offering students of Animation and VFX, greater career opportunities than ever.
Rajasekhar Buggaveeti, CEO of Dilsukhnagar Arena in his customary address recalled the spectacular growth of Dilsukhnagar Arena from a diminutive training institute to the country’s largest and preferred destination for Animation and VFX education. Citing the power-packed placement performance delivered by Dilsukhnagar Arena last month, he exclaimed,“Dilsukhnagar Arena has created history by placing 46 of its students with Reliance Media Works – India’s fastest growing Media and Entertainment conglomerate in a single campus interview session. The achievement was followed by another enmasse placement of 42 students with Prime Focus-one of the largest end-to-end post-production services companies in the world. These achievements reflect our superior training standards, high quality of mentoring and commitment to grooming studio-ready CG artists with the focus on VFX.”
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Dr. D.N. Reddy, Vice Chancellor of JNTU, Hyderabad harped on the explosive growth potential of the Indian Animation Industry saying “Only 1% of the opportunity has been tapped with the education sector presenting perhaps the largest growth opportunity. It’s all about creativity and innovation”, he said, referring to the kind of talent the field of Animation and VFX attracts.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Rosaiah, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh remarked: “I am extremely proud that Andhra Pradesh is home to Dilsukhnagar Arena- India’s largest Animation & VFX education facility and I congratulate the CEO Rajasekhar Buggaveeti for the exemplary achievement. As a revolutionary Animation education centre focused on improving learning, it has the outcome of more employable students; Dilsukhnagar Arena has helped many an animation career with its trailblazing placement record. I am enthused with the jobs you have been facilitating for class-loads of students each year. I am sure you will build on your placement growth each year as you move to higher peaks of achievement and glory.”
Post the screening of ‘Yugapurushudu’ a high-definition 3D animation short film, he expressed happiness over the film winning the ‘Best Animation Short Film Award’ at the Hyderabad Short Film Festival-2010. “Your achievements are many and collectively mirror your commitment to excellence in Animation and VFX education” he quipped, as he recalled that he launched the short film ‘Yugapurushudu’ on May 07, 2010 at his office. He presented certificates to students of Dilsukhnagar Arena who successfully completed their internship at DNA Inc. (A research-driven, industry-oriented, career-grooming initiative of Dilsukhnagar arena).
Anand Gurnani, CEO of Animation Xpress took centre stage with an interesting quiz on Animation and VFX. He evoked laughs, claps and “gosh…i knew this” expressions from the gathering over the course of the 1-hour power session which turned out to be both enlightening and entertaining at the same time. And the students lapped it up with delight. He had some words of encouragement too as he dwelt on the brilliant prospects for Animation career aspirants and the quality of work evident in the films crafted by students of Dilsukhnagar Arena. A regular fixture at Dilsukhnagar Arena’s Anniversary celebrations, his energetic presence added to the festivity and provided the much needed fun-quotient.
Madhavan, CEO of Crest Animation inspired students with some serious gyan on careers in Animation and launched Dilsukhnagar Arena’s latest High-Definition 3D Animation Short Film “Hugo vs. Lino” to a thunderous applause. He complimented the team on the brilliant quality of the film. The film can be viewed at: www.hugoandlino.com
Engaging the students in a pep-talk, he stated in his signature baritone voice “You must be proud that your alumni who are now working for Crest Animation have contributed significantly to the making of our upcoming film Alpha & Omega which happens to be the first 3D CGI Stereoscopic Animated feature film out of Asia.” He later inaugurated the Art Gallery featuring works of art by students of Dilsukhnagar Arena and expressed his delight at the creative quality.
Marthand K. Venkatesh, a much revered Telugu Film Editor with over 240 films to his credit, in his address to the students remarked: “You must leverage the unassailable advantage of training at the finest Animation and VFX education facility that our country has. Largely, Animation has today become indispensable to movies and a host of other fields. And there’s a fantastic future ahead for those passionate about a career in this field. He launched another High-Definition 3D Animation Short Film titled “Feel the Punch” crafted by interns of DNA Inc. The film can be viewed at: www.feelthepunch.com
What followed was a torrent of inspiration from a paraplegic who arrived on stage to a standing ovation and a deafening applause unprecedented in the annals of Dilsukhnagar Arena’s Anniversary celebrations history. As she wielded the mike, the heavy clapping which seemed unstoppable, magically died down to a stunning silence. The inspirational talk by Suzy, who was incapacitated, waist downwards, in a tragic road accident had the audience gripped. Despite the severe and demotivating handicap, she overcame odds with her indomitable spirit to achieve the extraordinary.
“It’s all in your head” she responded with uncommon poise, to questions on the source of her willpower and inspiration. A Television Anchor, Businesswoman, Social Activist and Professional Speaker all rolled into one, Suzy is a miracle, given her physical condition and the epitome of resilience, tenacity and willpower. Her presence added meaning to the event as she dwelled on the support she was extending to similar unfortunate people. Inspired by her philanthropy, Rajasekhar Buggaveeti, CEO of Dilsukhnagar Arena announced a contribution of Rs. 1 lakh to her NGO. The gesture set off a flurry of contributions from students as well. “Don’t be bogged down by anything as long as you are alive and kicking” was her parting short as she signed off to a burst of pulsating applause.
The enlightening moments in the day-long celebrations were punctuated with enthralling performances by students and staff of Dilsukhnagar Arena. As performers belted out hit numbers, the audience joined the chorus and swayed to the lilting rhythms. A few electric dance performances had the young and bubbly students in the auditorium jamming while the elders restricted themselves to dignified foot-tapping.
As the day drew to a close, Rajasekhar presented awards to the brightest students who demonstrated creative enterprise and excellence. He personally thanked all the guests for gracing the event and making it a memorable day.
Excitement was written all over the faces of the staff and event volunteers as they stuck together for a Kodak moment at the fag end of the day freezing the memories for happy nostalgia. “We’ll be back”, they screamed aloud in unison signaling the end of perhaps the most eventful day in history of Dilsukhnagar Arena’s Anniversary celebrations.