S.S. Rajamouli Unveils Motion Capture Lab at Nagarjuna's Annapurna

Variety
by Naman Ramachandran
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
S.S. Rajamouli, the director of *RRR*, has unveiled India’s most advanced motion capture facility, the A&M MoCap Lab, at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. This state-of-the-art lab is a collaboration between Annapurna Studios and Mihira Visual Labs, with Hollywood’s Animatrik Film Design providing cutting-edge technology. The facility was used to capture key sequences for Rajamouli’s upcoming film *Varanasi*, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. This milestone marks a significant leap forward in India’s filmmaking infrastructure, addressing long-standing gaps in access to advanced production technology. The A&M MoCap Lab features a 60-by-40-by-30-foot capture volume equipped with Vicon Valkyrie VK26 cameras, offering sub-millimeter optical tracking precision. It integrates Unreal Engine for real-time virtual production and includes Stereo Head-Mounted Camera units for high-resolution facial performance capture. The facility is also modular and expandable, allowing it to be easily reconfigured for different productions. This technology enables directors to experiment with camera blocking, lens choices, and creative decisions during pre-production, minimizing costly trial-and-error during live shoots. Rajamouli highlighted how the lab’s advanced capabilities could have enhanced his previous films like *Baahubali* and *Eega* if available earlier. He emphasized that this facility will allow Indian filmmakers to produce high-quality content on par with global standards without relying on foreign technology. Annapurna Studios’ CTO
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Originally published on Variety on 2/25/2026