While the on-screen award categories at the Oscars this year might be an all-white affair, much to our disappointment, but India is shining bright at the Scientific and Technical Awards being given by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Rahul Thakkar of Indian origin has joined the elite list of Academy Award winners after Bhanu Athaiya, Satyajit Ray, Resul Pookutty, A.R. Rahman, and Gulzar, for his contribution to cinema through ‘groundbreaking design’. His insightful research in particle effects, display calibration control systems, networked media playback, cuts-only editing systems, 3-D projection theatre design and playback systems, makes him a deserving candidate.
The proud Indian-American will be sharing the award with Richard Chuang for their combined efforts on the DreamWorks Animation Media Review System. The duo will receive the honour during the annual Scientific and Technical Awards Presentation on February 13th, a little ahead of the main Academy Awards. In a recent Times Of India interview, Khattar shared his excitement about the win.
Rahul ThakkarMy wife and I are ready with the clothes and logistics. I am looking forward to meeting old friends. I promise we’ll take pictures during the ceremony.
Thakkar explains what the DreamWorks Animation Media Review System really does and why it’s important for the animation film industry.
Rahul ThakkarImagine it is late 1990s. Internet is new. People are using 56k modems to connect. Amazon.com is two years old. Then we were making Antz and doing visual effects for several live action films like Mission Impossible II, AI - Artificial Intelligence, Forces of Nature, etc. I was at PDI R&D. They wanted any artist to view any number of shots, back-to-back, from part of the film, in high resolution, at 24 fps, with high quality audio, with speed-change control, from any phase of production from any department (story, editing, animation, modeling, layout, lighting, vfx, etc.). And this was just the beginning. It had to be so easy that they should not be thinking about using the technology; they should be working on what they do best. I was given that task and we did it. The product stuck for all these years and here you go, it got recognised.
Thakkar admits that he enjoyed working on Antz and Shrek the most, and also speaks quite highly of the visual effects being used in Bollywood films today.
Rahul ThakkarBollywood is already there. DreamWorks and Sony are but some of the studios with a strong presence in India. I have seen very well done subtle effects in Bollywood projects and they are at par with Hong Kong and Hollywood.
Rahul was born in the UK but grew up in Mumbai. He’s also made multiple appearances on Indian TV, in films and also worked as a voice artist. While he pursued his graduation from Mumbai university, he got a Masters degree in computer science from Utah State University. He remembers India rather fondly.
Rahul ThakkarI remember, when I was leaving India to study computer science and work in films, no one (except my parents) believed that I could do it. My dad and I met Shyam Benegal one afternoon. He spent a lot of time with us in spite of well-known actors waiting to meet him. He was very excited to know where I was headed and wished me luck. He asked me to stay grounded and focused. He was one of the nicest people from the film world who I have met. I have also spoken about my work with Ketan Mehta and late Shri Amrish Puri, and both were very respectful and welcoming.
Thakkar’s achievements have certainly made India proud and we’ll definitely be cheering for him, all the way from here.
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