In a landscape where artificial intelligence is rapidly redefining the boundaries of creativity and ownership in the film industry, the iconic Amitabh Bachchan shared his insights during an eventful Saturday at the Symbiosis Film Festival. Held at the prestigious Symbiosis International University in Pune, this festival saw the convergence of veterans Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan who graced the inaugural ceremony with their presence.
Amid the glitz and anticipation of the festival, Amitabh Bachchan, also reverently known as Big B, delved into a discourse on the technological currents shaping modern cinema. A revered figure on the silver screen, Bachchan spoke with a blend of awe and concern about the transient nature of technological advancements, lamenting that even the most revolutionary inventions rarely outlive a trimester in today’s fast-paced world.
“The rapid changes in technology affect not just the tiny chips but also the very essence of film production and editing,” Bachchan expressed to an audience of budding filmmakers and cinephiles. His particular unease resided with artificial intelligence, specifically, the practice of face mapping. Imaging Hollywood veteran Tom Hanks’s youthful appearance recreated through AI, Bachchan highlighted the ethical and legal debates entwined with this technology, elucidating a scenario where actors’ digitized personas could perform indefinitely, independent of their human counterparts.
Bachchan narrated an incident reflecting this emerging reality, “A popular studio in Mumbai demonstrated face mapping with a clip showcasing Tom Hanks alongside a rendered version of his 20-year-old self.” This, according to the veteran actor, is raising substantial concern, leading to an apparent movement in Hollywood where artists are pushing back against producers and directors claiming ownership over their digital likenesses.
But Big B’s address was not only concentrated on the futuristic aspects of the industry. He took a moment to reject the criticism often faced by the film industry, accused of shaping the country’s morals and societal attitudes. Defending the cinema, he insisted on the reciprocal influence between society and cinematic narratives, validating his point by referencing Jaya Bachchan, a fellow actor and alumna of the Institute.
As Bachchan evoked his late father, the esteemed poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s appreciation for the poetic justice delivered through Hindi movies, a sense of nostalgia enveloped the room. It underscored cinema’s enduring charm and the potent escapism it offers, encapsulating a lifetime’s worth of justice in a mere three-hour run time.
Refining his address towards regional cinema, Big B lauded the authenticity and aesthetic appeal of Malayalam and Tamil films. However, he dismissed the divisive rhetoric that pits South cinema against its Hindi counterpart, emphasizing their shared artistic endeavors despite differing cultural attires.
“Communication and exposure to various styles of cinema have soared due to computerization,” Bachchan stated, underscoring the increased editing pace in contemporary films like ‘Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’ compared to those from the ’50s. This technological leap has amplified the representation of regional films, which, according to industry conversations, often reimagine classic Hindi movies like ‘Deewar’, ‘Shakti’, and ‘Sholay’.
Bachchan concluded his engagement with a call for unity and appreciation within the cinematic community, while rejecting the competition between regions, a testament to his belief in the collective power of storytelling across geography.
This article, sourced from a third-party syndicated feed, captures a luminary figure of Indian cinema at the intersection of heritage and innovation, offering a narrative that encapsulates not only the advancements in filming techniques but also the immovable value of cinema’s connection to human experience. While the conference concluded, the discussions Amitabh Bachchan ignited are set to continue, echoing the evolving conversation on the role of artificial intelligence in the future of Indian and global film industries.
