Latest news with #RamMadhvani
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Morning Brief Podcast: Ram Madhvani on Blending VR, AI and Bharat
Morning Brief Podcast (ET Online) Ram Madhvani on Blending VR, AI and Bharat Anirban Chowdhury and Rajesh Naidu | 24:32 Min | August 07, 2025, 7:32 AM IST LISTEN 24:32 LISTENING... Virtual Reality in India has long been seen as a futuristic gaming gimmick flashy, expensive, and niche. But that's changing. Host Anirban Chowdhury and ETs Rajesh Naidu talk to national award winning film maker Ram Madhvani (Neerja, Aarya) who is reimagining VR as a cultural and spiritual experience. His latest project? A five-minute immersive film on the Bhagavad Gita not for streaming, but to be experienced through VR headsets in temples, forts, and museums across India. With plans to roll out 100 such films by 2028 and place headsets in cultural hubs, Madhvani wants to democratize VR not through Silicon Valley, but through Bharat. Priced at just ₹100, these bite-sized experiences could bring in pilgrims, students, and families, not just gamers and techies. As India's spiritual tourism surges and the government pushes cultural pride, could this be the unlikely tipping point for VR adoption in the country? We dive into the vision, the tech, the economics and the big bet on storytelling as India's gateway to the metaverse.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Milkmaid's new ad serves up the ‘yummazing' joy of homemade desserts
Nestlé Milkmaid has launched its latest TVC celebrating the joy of preparing desserts at home, with loved ones. The film highlights the rich, creamy and heartwarming experience that Milkmaid brings to every sweet creation . The TVC, has been directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ram Madhvani . The film also showcases Milkmaid's new reusable pack , designed for everyday convenience. It allows consumers to use, store and reuse the product easily, encouraging effortless dessert-making at home. Manav Sahni, head, dairy business , Nestlé India, said, 'With this film, we celebrate the joy of homemade desserts and inform the consumers how Milkmaid, with its signature taste, elevates their flavour." Ram Madhvani, director, added, 'Through this film, we wanted to capture the simple yet deep emotions that come alive when families cook together. It's about celebrating everyday moments that become lasting memories, made sweeter with Milkmaid.' Watch the video here:
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
As Ranbir Kapoor gears up for Ramayana, the newest take on Indian mythology is a 5-minute AI film on the Bhagavad Gita
Just when you thought India's obsession with mythology movies had peaked between Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming Ramayana, Prabhas' Adipurush (2023) and Ranbir Kapoor's Brahmāstra: Part One (2022), along comes a twist no one saw coming: a five-minute AI-powered VR short film on the Bhagavad Gita. Yes, you read that right. Ram Madhvani Filmmaker Ram Madhvani, best known for Neerja (2016) and Aarya, is now stepping into the world of immersive media with a bold new project that uses artificial intelligence and virtual reality to reinterpret one of India's most revered spiritual texts. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Madhvani revealed that this short film — developed quietly over two years — is currently being screened in private previews. While it may be just five minutes long, the project is far from small in ambition. It's a proof of concept for something far more expansive: Madhvani hopes to eventually cover all 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita and ultimately reimagine the entire Mahabharata in VR. 'In VR we have an opportunity to restore the sanctity of immersive storytelling. And what better source than epics and texts that have endured for centuries?' he said. For Madhvani, this isn't just about mythological content — it's about creating a transformative experience. He believes that spiritual and philosophical narratives hold a rare power in the Indian psyche. The goal? To use VR and AI to evoke a genuine feeling of divinity in the viewer — particularly for younger generations who may be spiritually curious but emotionally disconnected from ancient texts. He aims to imbue the viewer with a profound feeling of divinity, an experience he feels a younger generation might particularly benefit from. But this vision isn't limited to private headsets or niche tech events. As revealed in an interview with AdGully, Madhvani plans to take VR experiences to temples and tourist sites across India — imagine experiencing the miracles of Shirdi Sai Baba or the construction of the Taj Mahal through immersive visuals, right at the physical locations themselves. It's a dramatic pivot for a director known for emotionally grounded, real-world stories which have won him many awards and international nominations. But if there's one thing Madhvani knows how to do, it's scale intimate narratives into something universal — and now, possibly spiritual. And so, the question stands: Do we need this AI-powered Gita experience? Maybe not, but we're getting it anyway.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ram Madhvani unveils India's first mythological virtual reality universe
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel National Award-winning filmmaker Ram Madhvani , known for works such as Neerja and Aarya, has announced his latest foray into storytelling. It is an ambitious AI-Virtual Reality (VR) venture that marks the beginning of India's first spiritual, mythological, and cultural universe hosted in the mesmerising and immersive world of virtual reality.'In theatres, we experience magic. At home, we have scale and comfort. But in personal viewing, we are often watching stories on split screens, sharing attention with emails, calls, or messages,' said Ram Madhvani, Co-founder, Equinox Virtual . 'With VR, especially powered by AI, we have a chance to restore the sanctity of immersive storytelling—even in a solitary experience. And what better canvas than our own epics that have lived through centuries—spiritual texts that remain culturally resonant to this day?,' Madhvani addedWhile industry attention has often been focused on VR hardware, Madhvani's contrarian bet is on content. 'Devices will improve. But the real challenge, and opportunity, is in the story, and the soul,' he over two years, the first short film is a cutting-edge AI adaptation of the Bhagavad Gita and has already begun private previews for select 24 more films in development over the next year and a goal to scale to 100 films by 2028, the venture aims to reimagine spiritual, cultural, and personal viewing experiences for the modern Indian mythology, spiritual teachings, and devotional narratives as the foundation, the VR content leverages AI to create deeply immersive, culturally rooted experiences. This is not just a one-off experiment, but the beginning of a long-term vision: to build an AI Gita-inspired mythological universe in VR, steeped in Indian storytelling traditions, spiritual meaning and powered by state-of-the-art technology.'At Equinox, we've always believed that technology should serve emotion, not overshadow it. This venture is deeply personal. It is an offering of faith, form, and future. With mythology as our compass and AI-VR as our vessel, we're inviting audiences into a space where timeless stories can be experienced in profoundly new ways,' said Amita Madhvani, Co-founder, Equinox Virtual. 'It's not just about innovation, it's about devotion—reimagined for a generation ready to feel, not just watch.'In terms of distribution, Madhvani is in talks with device manufacturers. The venture has already sparked significant investor interest. Madhvani said 'These are matters of scale and ongoing negotiation. I wanted to ensure the first film matched my creative vision before inviting partners into this journey.'Equinox Virtual is the immersive storytelling division of Equinox Films, co-founded by visionary filmmaker Ram Madhvani and Amita Madhvani. Focused on building India's first mythological, cultural and spiritual universe in VR, Equinox Virtual blends centuries-old Indian epics with cutting-edge technology, beginning with an AI adaptation of the Bhagavad Gita.
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Ram Madhvani On Creative Crisis And Box Office Woes: "Give Indian Cinema A Year Of Peace"
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Indian cinema's box office collections have dropped 30-40% compared to pre-pandemic years. Audiences are increasingly preferring streaming platforms over traditional theatre visits. Filmmaker Ram Madhvani describes the industry as undergoing a creative crisis needing support. New Delhi: With theatre footfalls hitting record lows and even big-budget films struggling to break even, Indian cinema is facing a moment of reckoning. According to recent industry reports, overall box office collections are down nearly 30-40% compared to pre-pandemic years, with audiences increasingly choosing streaming platforms over the big screen. Amidst the noise of criticism and constant post-mortems on why films are failing, filmmaker Ram Madhvani is urging calm. In an exclusive interview, the Neerja and Aarya director called for a much-needed pause, saying the industry is going through a "creative crisis" but needs support, not cynicism. "Can we just give the industry 6 months to a year? It needs oxygen, not nails in the coffin," Madhvani said. "Yes, something is wrong, people aren't coming to theatres as they used to. But instead of constantly asking 'what's wrong,' let's help it heal." He likened the current phase of Indian cinema to a patient in recovery suggesting that relentless criticism is only making the situation worse. "No one sets out to make a bad film. This is a time for unity among those who love movies, not blame," he added. In a climate where every Friday release faces intense scrutiny and public backlash, Madhvani's appeal stands out as a call for empathy and a reminder that revival takes time, care, and collective responsibility.
