Nobody has the kind of experience in holograms like I do: Mani Shankar

Filmmaker Mani Shankar, who brought holography to India in association with his partner Hamed Saberi, says that after the Indian parliamentary elections, the 2016 US presidential elections are their next destination.

"I helped introduce holograms to India and Indian elections," said Shankar and added: "Nobody in the world has the kind of experience in handling holograms for politics like I do."

Talking about business plans for the US elections, he said: "Around 2,000 mobile holographic units will crisscross the US countryside bearing avatars of potential candidates who will address voters. Trance will become synonymous with mobile holograms worldwide. In fact, whichever country goes to polls from now on, Trance will be there."

With holography technology, an individual can be seen in his authentic physical form in many different places simultaneously.

Shankar, known for his directorial ventures "16 December" and "Rudraksh", deployed specially created holographic mobile theatres for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The compact mobile units pack a huge punch as they criss-cross villages and showcase a life-size holographic shows where Modi appears from thin air and addresses the audience.

Shanker and his team of Anjali Joshi and Bhupesh Bhupathy made it all possible.

Excerpts:

Q: How has the hologram technique helped Modi in his election campaign?

A: Lots of things have changed since 2012, the year I helped introduce holograms to India and Indian elections. Since then the technology has evolved. The old foil-based technology is being edged out and radically new technologies like nano particle-based holograms have made their mark. My new company Trance owns the global patents in that new space, and we are making giant strides... Holograms do make people's jaws drop.

Q: Quite a few political leaders are using holograms to fight election?

A: Yes, former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Kiran Kumar Reddy, TRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao, even Chandra Babu Naidu consulted me on this along with other political leaders. Everyone wants holograms. Politics will never be the same worldwide now.

Q: What is your future plan?

A: We have proved our mettle on the largest and toughest playing field - the Indian elections, so we are heading to the next largest playing field.

Q: Which is?

A: The US Presidential Elections, 2016 what else? Nobody in the world has the kind of experience in handling holograms for politics like I do. I literally wrote the book on it. So now Trance is going global, with affiliates and offices in the US, Mexico, Canada, Japan and other countries. As per our current business plan, around 2,000 mobile holographic units will crisscross the US countryside bearing avatars of potential candidates who will address voters. Trance will become synonymous with mobile holograms worldwide. In fact, whichever country goes to polls from now on, Trance will be there.

Q: You worked with Modi in the Gujarat elections. How was the experience?

A: Fantastic. He is the most focused and charismatic political leader I have ever met.