Note to readers: “Being Indian” is a limited series exploring the personal and professional dimensions of contemporary Indian identity.

To achieve the apocalyptic mushroom cloud for the trinity atomic blast in “Oppenheimer,” VFX artists from DNEG opted for a traditional approach. Christopher Nolan, known for his preference for practical effects over CGI, endorsed the use of an old Hollywood technique: forced perspective. This method manipulates spatial perception between objects to create optical illusions. “We call them ‘big-atures,'” Nolan explained, emphasizing their grand scale initially set up and then scaled down for practicality. The atomic bomb explosion’s intense blaze was created using gasoline, propane, aluminum powder, and magnesium to simulate the blinding flash described in historical records.

This innovation has sparked interest among young tech enthusiasts and aspiring VFX artists, becoming a popular trend on social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Tavaria has observed a significant shift in the role of Indian VFX technicians, moving beyond labor-intensive backend tasks. Following Prime Focus and DNEG’s merger, which consolidated responsibilities from 3D modeling to rendering, Tavaria highlighted the transformative impact of technology on creativity. He emphasized that artistic talent is not the sole prerequisite for creativity, as technology provides powerful tools accessible to all, likening it to a child using a ruler and pencil to draw a straight line.