Robot Rajni needs software magic

Resul Pookutty brings path-breaking sound processing software to India for the first time for Robot starring Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai

Robot Rajni needs software magic

Resul Pookutty brings path-breaking sound processing software to India for the first time for Robot starring Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai

Academy award-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty is all set for yet another silver screen wonder as he brings in the path-breaking Kyma sound processing software to India for the first time.

The software will be used to create the voice of Rajnikanth's humanoid character in the much-awaited Rajnikanth-Aishwarya Rai starrer, Robot.

The Slumdog Millionaire sound designer will strike a balance between the real Rajnikanth and the humanoid character through Kyma, which will be brought from Hollywood to Pookutty's Canaries Post Sound Studios in Mumbai, where sound processing for Robot will be done.u00a0

"This will be a first for Indian cinema," Resul Pookutty told MiD DAY. "Sound designing will play a vital role in giving life to the humanoid character on which the movie is based."

What's it all about?

The Kyma software, usually used in Hollywood movies, is known for its limitless sound combination and transformation capabilities and boasts multi-channel processing and synthesis modules.

Conventional sound-processing softwares like Protools and Nuendo, which are used in India, do not include these features.

From the shoot: Some stills from the film Endhiran (Robot in Tamil)

Attention to detail

"We have decided to use Kyma as it will help us create very minute sounds that are essential to the character," said Vijay Kumar, Pookutty's associate, who has also worked with him on Slumdog Millionaire. "We are creating many new sounds through the software, which is known for its options of voice processing."

"Rajni sir also plays a humanoid in the movie," added Pookutty.

"Retaining his essence in the humanoid is a challenge, as his voice will sound human while the humanoid needs to sound mechanical. Hence we are retaining his voice and balancing it with mechanical elements through the software."
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Special training

Resul and his team will undergo special training on Kyma for three weeks in Los Angeles in January and then purchase the software, said to cost in lakhs. The crew prefers to keep mum about the cost.

Pookutty's team will work on Robot, to be released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, for four months.

"Basically we will be working for the Tamil version. The sound will be the same for the other versions, except for dialogue editing," added Kumar.

Directors' take

Girish Kasarvalli
"We have been using Protools for sound designing in recent times.

Bringing Kyma to India is a great move on Resul Pookutty's part," . Most south Indian movies are weak in terms of sound design and execution and the software may be the answer. Kyma offers many added features compared to other softwares.

"For example, a simple sound can be brought out in several different ways and we get multi-channel and multi-track facilities. Big budget movies like Rajni's can afford this high-end technology."

Dayal Padmanabhan
"Sound designing is a different craft altogether. Protools and Nuendo are the softwares most moviemakers across nation use. However, Kyma is software that offers many more added features. Resul Pookutty is a renowned name worldwide and there must be a strong reason for him bringing it. Big budget movies can certainly afford the software. I'm excited and will wait for Robot's release."

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