Movies
Indian startup claims to solve Bollywood’s dubbing dilemma with AI lip-syncing
MUMBAI: An Indian artificial intelligence startup reckons it has cracked one of cinema’s most vexing problems: making dubbed films look authentic. NeuralGarage’s VisualDub technology has been deployed on War 2, releasing on 14 August, to create what the company claims is the world’s first film visually transformed from one language to another whilst maintaining the illusion of native production.
The Bollywood sequel, originally shot in Hindi, has secured a straight film certificate for Telugu distribution—not as a dubbed version but as an ostensibly original Telugu production. Neural Garage co-founder & chief executive Mandar Natekar describes this as a “fundamental shift” in content production and distribution.
The technology addresses a chronic irritant in global film distribution: poorly synchronised dubbing that breaks audience immersion. Traditional dubbing overlays foreign-language audio whilst retaining the original actor’s mouth movements, creating a jarring disconnect that many viewers find off-putting.
VisualDub purports to solve this by digitally altering actors’ facial movements to match the target language’s phonetic patterns, creating the visual impression that performers originally spoke in the dubbed tongue. The result, Natekar claims, allows producers to sell multilingual versions as distinct original films rather than mere translations.
The commercial implications could be substantial. Indian cinema’s linguistic fragmentation has long constrained box office potential, with Hindi films struggling in southern states where Telugu, Tamil and other regional languages dominate. Conversely, southern blockbusters rarely achieve pan-Indian success without extensive dubbing campaigns.
If VisualDub delivers on its promises, producers could command premium pricing for what appears to be multiple “native” productions whilst incurring costs for just one shoot. Natekar suggests this could double or treble pre-release distribution revenues.
The startup, which has garnered backing from Google’s GenAI Accelerator and AWS’s Global GenAI programme, also won TechCrunch’s Battlefield competition in 2024 and this year’s SXSW innovation award. Such endorsements suggest the technology has impressed seasoned investors and technologists.
Yet scepticism is warranted. Previous attempts to digitally manipulate actor performances—from CGI de-aging to deepfake technology—have often fallen into the “uncanny valley”, where near-human animations feel disturbingly artificial. Moreover, the cultural nuances embedded in regional cinema extend far beyond language, encompassing gestures, expressions and performance styles that may prove difficult to algorithmically adjust.
The broader implications stretch beyond Bollywood. Hollywood studios spend millions dubbing blockbusters for international markets, whilst streaming platforms like Netflix invest heavily in local-language content production. A reliable visual dubbing solution could dramatically reduce these costs whilst expanding addressable audiences.
Natekar envisions actors transcending linguistic boundaries entirely: “Hrithik Roshan can now be a Telugu, Tamil, or even a Spanish actor. Tom Cruise in Bhojpuri? Now possible.”
Such grandiose claims invite scrutiny. The proof will lie not in technical demonstrations but in audience acceptance. If War 2 performs strongly in Telugu markets without viewers detecting artificial manipulation, VisualDub may indeed herald a new era in global content distribution.
For now, the technology represents another front in artificial intelligence’s assault on creative industries. Whether it liberates content from linguistic constraints or merely creates more sophisticated fakery remains to be seen. What’s certain is that traditional dubbing studios should be paying attention.
Hollywood
Who won what at the Oscars 2026? Full winners list from the 98th Academy Awards
A night of history, high drama, and gingery wit at the 98th Academy Awards
LOS ANGELES: If the 98th Academy Awards taught us anything, it is that Hollywood still loves a tortured genius and a well-timed ginger joke. While the night was technically a coronation for Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling war drama One Battle After Another, the real battle was fought in the stalls of the Dolby Theatre as host Conan O’Brien unleashed a monologue that was part roast, part group therapy session.
The evening belonged to the cinematic heavyweights. One Battle After Another lived up to its title, clinching Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Anderson, the perennial bridesmaid of the Oscars, finally took home the big prizes, cementing his status as the industry’s favourite auteur.
In the acting categories, Michael B. Jordan made history. Winning Best Actor for his visceral performance in the supernatural thriller Sinners, he became only the fourth Black man to win the trophy. His speech was a masterclass in humility, though he spared a moment to thank his trainer for “making me look like I could actually fight a demon.”
The history books were rewritten several times over. Autumn Durald Arkapaw shattered a long-standing glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography for Sinners. Meanwhile, the newly minted Best Achievement in Casting category saw its inaugural trophy go to the ensemble of One Battle After Another.
Returning to the stage with his signature quiff and self-deprecating bite, Conan O’Brien did not hold back. He began by acknowledging the elephant in the room: his own presence.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he quipped. “Why is the ghost of a Victorian chimney sweep hosting the Oscars? It’s because AI is too expensive and I work for sandwiches.”
The controversy kicked off when he turned his sights on the Best Visual Effects nominees. Pointing at the Avatar: Fire and Ash table, he remarked:
“James Cameron has spent so much money on blue people that the actual ocean is now jealous of his budget. Jim, at some point, you have to admit this is just a very expensive aquarium hobby.”
He also took a cheeky swipe at the trend of method acting, specifically targeting Sean Penn.
“Sean stayed in character for so long that his own family had to serve him a subpoena just to get him to come to Sunday roast,” O’Brien joked, to a mix of nervous titters and Penn’s trademark stony glare.
The night was not without its “did he really say that?” moments. During a bit about the length of the telecast, O’Brien noted that the show was running so long that:
“By the time we get to Best Picture, the winner will have already been rebooted as a gritty limited series on Max.”
He also touched on the industry’s obsession with youth, pointing at a young starlet and saying:
“You’re so young that your first memory is actually a TikTok of this monologue.”
While most took it in stride, some critics on social media called the joke “typical boomer energy,” though O’Brien seemed entirely unfazed.
The full winners’ circle:
Best Picture: One Battle After Another
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Best Animated Feature: K-Pop: Demon Hunters
Best Original Song: “Golden” from K-Pop: Demon Hunters
As the curtains closed and the A-list headed for the after-parties, the mood was one of relief. Hollywood had managed to celebrate its past while poking fun at its increasingly digital future. Whether the night belonged to the war heroes of PTA or the witty barbs of a tall redhead remains a matter of debate.
