Gerua – CGI & VFX Breakdown

Project Objective

The objective of this project was to recreate the iconic “Gerua” song (originally starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol) as the first high-end, fully CGI & VFX-driven music video, demonstrating how cinematic visuals can be produced on a highly optimized budget. While the original was produced at a scale of nearly ₹7 crore, our recreation was achieved with precision and artistry within ₹5 lakhs, without compromising on grandeur or quality.

Pre-Production

• Concept Development – Researched the original song’s cinematic mood, iconic Iceland landscapes, and camera movements to design a faithful yet technically achievable plan.

• Pre-Visualization – Created digital pre-visuals (storyboards and animatics) to map out each shot, ensuring clarity in execution.

• Technical Planning – Finalized lighting setups, chroma calibration, and camera tracking markers to ensure seamless compositing in post-production.

Production

• Green Screen Filming – Actors performed choreographed sequences inside a controlled studio setup with precise lighting to mimic outdoor natural environments.

• Performance Direction – Guided actors to align expressions, movements, and emotional beats with the grand cinematic scale of the original Gerua.

• On-Set Supervision – Maintained chroma key accuracy, shadow consistency, and motion reference for smooth integration with CGI backgrounds.

Post-Production

• 3D Environment Creation – Developed photorealistic CGI replicas of Iceland’s breathtaking locations, including:

  • Abandoned airplane wreck site

  • Majestic night sky with rainbow over snowy mountains

  • Skógafoss waterfall with flowing dynamics

  • Ice lake scattered with floating icebergs and snow peaks

  • Vast black sand desert of Iceland

  • Vestrahorn location, where characters appear to walk across reflective water

  • Rocky basalt cliffs with iconic hexagonal pillars

• Tracking & Compositing – Combined live-action performances with CGI using advanced camera tracking, chroma key extraction, and multi-layer compositing.

• Lighting & Atmospherics – Matched CGI lighting with filmed actors, added atmospheric effects such as mist, rainbows, reflections, and cinematic flares.

• Editing & Grading – Seamlessly edited shots and applied professional DI and color grading for a consistent cinematic tone.

• VFX Breakdown Creation – Delivered a step-by-step breakdown video, showcasing how every environment and shot was built from scratch, offering transparency and technical insight.

Outcome

The result was a fully CGI-driven recreation of the Gerua song, blending performance, storytelling, and cutting-edge VFX workflows. The project not only matched the cinematic charm of the original but also demonstrated that blockbuster-quality visuals can be delivered at a fraction of traditional budgets through precise planning and creative execution.