After delivering award-winning VFX for films like Dhoom 3 and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Visual Computing Labs (VCL), the VFX and animation arm of Tata Elxsi – India’s leading design company, delivers VFX for Neerja. The film is a biopic based on Neerja Bhanot who was the head purser for the ill fated Pan Am flight which was high jacked in September 1986. Tata Elxsi has been involved with Neerja since January 2015.
To capture and replicate the director’s vision of the protagonist’s bravery, on the silver screen, VCL delivered a range of visual effects which included – creation of ‘Karachi’ airport tarmac and buildings, CG effects for the climax shootout, gunshots, bullet hits and explosions. Furthermore, there was the computer generated version of the Pan Am 73 aircraft, seen throughout the film. Apart from these major sequences, VCL also helped create the 1986 period restoration for various locations, including Bombay streets, vehicles, the airports (Bombay and Karachi) and the aircraft.
Tata Elxsi, Head CG, Huseini Barodawala said, “It has been our constant endeavour to leverage our VFX expertise to transform the director’s vision onto the big screen and offer larger-than-life experiences to all our viewers. Recreating old Bombay and the 1986 era, was one method we used to enhance the experience of the film Neerja.”
“We are honoured to be associated with this biopic, for bringing about the awareness of such a remarkable woman. Not many people were aware of this unfortunate incident and Neerja’s bravery during this incident. It is a story that needs to be told, and we are privileged to have been part of the process through this film, and reaching out to the millions that watched and appreciated Neerja’s selfless actions,” added VCL, Creative Director, Pankaj Khandpur.
In addition, Neerja, director, Ram Madhvani expressed, “Neerja has been a great journey for us. We are humbled at the response, and fortunate to have been able to tell an important story to the audience. This would not have been entirely possible without the help of the VFX and animation team of Tata Elxsi, Visual Computing Labs (VCL), in helping us tell the story of such a remarkable woman. The VFX work they have done for this biopic has truly helped us achieve the vision we had.”
Based on the true life of Neerja Bhanot, the film Neerja talks about the senior flight purser on the ill-fated Pan AM Flight 73, which was flying from Mumbai to USA. The plane was unfortunately hijacked by four armed men on 5 September, 1986 at Karachi airport in Pakistan. Produced by Fox Star Studios and Bling Unplugged, the film captures the bravery and selflessness of Neerja during this unfortunate incident.
