Kamal Haasan brings 3D audio and its pioneer to India

By Subhash K. Jha -

September 18, 2012 - 11:45 AM IST

Kamal Haasan brings 3D audio and its pioneer to India

It's time to take the Indian film-viewing experience to the next level. And who better qualified for the job than Kamal Haasan?

The release of his new purported opus Vishwaroop has been postponed to facilitate the revolutionary Auro 3D sound format into the film. An arduous task, since it also involves the conversion of each individual theatre's sound system by a complicated technology that adds a new dimension to sound in cinema as we know and hear it.

Kamal Haasan brings 3D audio and its pioneer to India

So far only one other film, George Lucas's latest Red Tails, has made use of the Auro 3D technique. The American technocrat Wilfried Van Baelen who pioneered the Auro 3D technology flew down to Chennai earlier this month to supervise Kamal Haasan's plans. Vishwaroop with its enhanced sound quality would now be released in January 2012.

Says Kamal Haasan, "Yes, we're converting Vishwaroop to Auro 3D. Wilfried Van Baelen was here to help us get the format right. It's not as complicated as it sounds. When sound converted from mono to stereophonic, we were like, 'Wow this really changes the sound of cinema!' Then came Dolby sound. And now we have Auro 3D which so far has been tried in only one film and that was George Lucas' Red Tail. I am glad we're second to Lucas."

So far Kamal Haasan has convinced approximately 20 theatres in Chennai to convert to Auro 3D sound. "We're trying to get at least 20-25 theatres in Mumbai to embrace the new sound technology. Auro 3D is the future of cinematic sound. It further bridges the gap between the screen and the audience. I needed a 3D effect in sound because my film has a lot of overhead fighter planes and other sound-driven visuals."