KOLKATA, Oct 11: The life of Swami Vivekananda have come alive through a first-of-its-kind documentary made in laser by a US-based artist Manick Sorcar on the philosopher-saint’s 150th birth anniversary.
Full of animation and 3D effects, the documentary uses cutting-edge laser technology to transport the audience to a world where art fuses with science seamlessly.
Funded by the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture at Golpark, ‘Swamiji’ was premiered here at Science City last evening in the presence of Union Minister for Culture Kumari Selja.
“He was India’s biggest cultural ambassador ever. For the world he was like a roaring fire of spirituality,” the minister said.
Planned as a tribute to the saint on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary celebrations, Sorcar, son of the late legendary magician P C Sorcar, said the one-hour-long documentary was the longest laser documentary ever made on anyone.
He now plans to screen his creation in other major cities of India, the US and other countries.
The documentary starts with rare, black and white original images from the pages of an old picture book where the audience visits famous scenes from the Columbus Hall of the Art Institute in Chicago.
There, Swami Vivekananda gave his famous speech at the Parliament of Religions which opened with the famous address “My Sisters and Brothers of America”.
The lines had impressed the august gathering so much that they gave him a standing ovation lasting over two minutes.
As Swamiji’s message of religious tolerance is delivered, the black and white images come to life in colourful laser beams and three-dimensional visual effects.
Research for this project started several years ago when Sorcar, who twice won the prestigious ‘Artistic Award’ from International Laser Display Association in USA, visited the Art Institute in Chicago.
“It was my personal desire to do a laser documentary on the life story of Swamiji who has been the inspiration all my life. Then after being invited by the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture my dream came true,” said the artist. (PTI)
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