Cinema VinesVijay Subramaniam, the Group CEO of Collective Artists Network, told the Hindustan Times that artificial intelligence is not a replacement for storytellers but a tool that can help filmmakers think bigger, work faster and tackle stories that would otherwise be too costly to produce. He added that AI, like previous technological breakthroughs such as animation, VFX and the Unreal Engine, has always reduced production costs and expanded creative possibilities, allowing grander tales to be told on a realistic budget.
Subramaniam, who has recently produced the film Musafir Cafe starring Vikrant Massey, Vedika Pinto and Mahima Makwana, is now focused on using technology to bring Indian mythology and history to a wider audience. He believes that projects such as Mahabharat and Chiranjeevi Hanuman can reach global viewers if they are made affordable and scalable. He famously compared Hanuman’s gada to Thor’s hammer, arguing that the former is greater because it can be brought to life with modern technology.
He explained that AI is being used in hybrid pipelines that combine 3D modelling, VFX and AI‑driven motion capture, image transfer and emotion transfer. While AI is not doing everything, it enables large‑scale production at a fraction of the cost. “If I had to make Mahabharat true to the epic and give it the scale of Game of Thrones, it would cost more than ₹1,000 crore and take seven or eight years,” he said. “That’s why I want to tell Indian stories at scale.”
Subramaniam stressed that the core principles of filmmaking remain unchanged. Writers, directors, production designers, costume designers, DOPs and other heads of departments will still be essential, even in films backed by advanced technology. He sees AI as a means to enhance creativity rather than replace jobs, and he is keen to use it to reach younger audiences and broaden the appeal of Indian epics.
