IANS | 20 Nov, 2023
In a one-of-its-kind initiative to digitise the century-long history
of the globally celebrated Hindi film industry, Google Arts &
Culture on Monday launched the largest ever online exhibition on Hindi
Cinema.
The exhibit leverages technology, such as Google’s Augmented
Reality and Street View to offer an immersive experience across over 120
expert-curated stories and over 7,000 assets, including about 5,000
hi-res images and over 1,500 videos, posters and songs related to films
spanning early classics such as, “Manthan,” to modern blockbusters.
The exhibit will be accessible to film enthusiasts and the public free-of-charge on the Google Arts & Culture platform.
"I
encourage everyone to visit the Hindi Cinema exhibit, both at the Film
Bazaar and online on the Google Arts & Culture platform, and regale
in the magic and history of an artform that has been shaping our culture
for well over a century, and is a cornerstone of our society and our
global soft power," Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting,
Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur, said in a statement.
The
company said that the exhibit is built to help visitors and film
enthusiasts immerse themselves in the world of Hindi cinema, traversing
the history of Hindi filmmaking through stories about iconic films and
industry legends, and through a 3D virtual gallery space and virtual
Hall of Fame featuring posters, film archives and music.
"Together
with 21 partner institutions from India and across the world, Google
Arts & Culture has crafted an online homage to the brilliance of the
movie making culture in India. This tribute is the combination of the
passion of cinema experts, curators and cultural organisations," said
Amit Sood, Director, Google Arts & Culture.
Moreover, the
company mentioned that the immersive street view captures will guide
visitors on a 360-degree virtual tour of Mumbai’s iconic Art Deco
theaters like Liberty and Regal Cinemas, while Augmented Reality
technology will enable them to project hand-painted posters and banners
of iconic films onto walls with their smartphones.
"Films add a
new level of immersion and wonder to storytelling -- overcoming literacy
barriers, catering to India’s linguistic diversity, and effortlessly
engaging people across the spectrum," said Sanjay Gupta, Country Head
& Vice President, Google India.
