Modern Stage Service Projects Delivers awe Inspiring Light & Sound Show at Jyotisar Tirth
Inventory used to create the show included 10 moving head gobo lights, more than 50 programmable RGB lights and three Christie 20000 luminarie laser projectors
Jyotisar, situated about 12 kms away from Kurukshetra on Kurukshetra-Pehowa road in Haryana, is a part of a 48 km parikrama with temples. This venerated place is known as the land where Lord Krishna expounded the holy Gita to Arjuna at the out-set of the Mahabharata battle, which is now called Gitopadesh Sthal.
This tirtha attracts several devotees from all around the world, especially during solar and lunar eclipses, when pilgrims take the holy dip.
With a view to protect the ancient heritage and age-old tradition of the place and to make it a developed center, the Kurukshetra Development Board decided to develop the area and include a new light and sound show for devotees and tourists. The multi-sensory show depicts part of the Bhagavad Gita, using a combination of film, light, sound and water to bring to life the basic tenets of the Gita.
The main objective of this light and music show, inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Haryana Shri. Manohar Lal on 20th August 2019, was to recreate episodes from the epic Mahabharata, to communicate the message of Lord Krishna, and educate people about his philosophy of life.
The show including concept, production and infrastructure was donated by M/s TRL Riceland Pvt. Limited in the memory of its founder, Narshidas Thakrar. Mr. Thakrar’s wife, son, grandchildren and siblings from the UK and Africa attended the Inauguration to honor the memory of their father and grandparents.
According to reports in press, TRL Riceland Private Limited spent Rs 8 crore for this show under its CSR programme and will maintain the project for two years, after which, it will be handed over to the Kurukshetra Development Board.
To make this vision a reality TRL Riceland Pvt. Limited approached Modern Stage Service Project (MSS World Projects).
The show screened at 7.30 pm daily can accommodate 250 visitors at one time.
Concept, Design & Inventory
The entire show was designed and conceptualized using existing elements at the site including, two large water screen fountains, other water fountains with very high water jet, trees and a huge overhead water tank, approx. 90 feet high. A 20 ft. high and 60 ft. wide wall has been converted into a waterscreen and the huge banyan tree at the venue play the narrator’s role.
Inventory used to create the show included 10 moving head gobo lights, more than 50 programmable RGB lights and three Christie 20000 luminarie laser projectors. Considering that the water screen is refractive, two of the projectors have been placed behind the water screen, and the third projector is placed in front of the wall. Fountains at the site were utilised for creating bow and arrow images and the latest JBL surround sound system provides sound reinforcement for the show.
Before initiating the installation, Indian film writer, Atul Tiwari, who was the Creative Director for this project, along with his team and the Modern Stage Service Project’s team, visited the place to fine-tune the requirement, concept, and design in detail.
Arjuna and Shri Krishna entering the battlegrounds on an almost invisible large 60 ft water screen
Considering that the water screen is refractive, two of the projectors have been placed behind the water screen and the third projector is placed in front of the wall.
A 20 ft. high and 60 ft. wide wall has been converted into a waterscreen
“There can’t be a better subject and theme,” says, A.K Gupta, the Advisor of the project. “The show at Jyotisar is a unique show utilizing all the elements around i.e. lake, ancient vat vriksh, temples, surrounding wall, trees, and a high tank on the back of the temple. Hence, every detail of the concept and design is well documented, narrated, and video-graphed to make it a multimedia show with water fountains, focused on Bhagwat Geeta and Mahabharata related to Jyotisars’s iconic landmarks.”
Director of MSS Projects, Pratik Wadhwa, further adds, “To highlight everything we have installed waters screen’s high-pressure jet, thematic fountain jets, moving heads and gobo lights, LED PAR Lights, high-tech surround sound equipment and above all, laser HD projectors have been installed to cover all these elements to make it a spectacular show. The show was conceived with all these elements because they give a feel of multiple dimensions to the spectators. The theme of the show mainly revolves around the interaction between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. To make it more attractive, two water screens have been used for the two characters. Every feature gets an entry at appropriate timings, which keeps the spectators fully occupied and glued throughout during the 36-minute duration of the show. The inventory selected is waterproof, durable and safe for installation in an open environment as it can withstand adverse weather conditions.”
Technical Challenges
As the Bhagwad Geeta was the central theme, the main challenge for MSS Projects was to make the entire act with its shlokas appealing for the present generation. “The challenge was met by using each and every element around the site, for which we got all support from the Kurukshetra Development Board and Govt of Haryana,” said Davinder Wadhwa, Director of MSS World Projects.
Technically the main challenge for MSS was to lay out a huge quantity of cables in the ground and in water. “Integration of equipment was a difficult task, but it was overcome with Modern Stage Service Projects well-versed team of engineers and skilled workers who worked day and night under the guidance of Pratik Wadhwa,” said AK Gupta.
R.S. Seshadri, Director, TRL Riceland Pvt Ltd., says, “We are pleased with the show (Hindi version 1) which is a collaboration between TRL, Modern Stage Service Projects, Mr. Atul Tiwari and Knownsense Studios. Now we are looking forward to the English version 1 and the Hindi Version 2. But we are sure that it will be executed with the same competence as the Hindi version 1. We were particularly pleased with MSS’s transparency and positive approach in completing the Hindi version 1 project.”
“The philosophy of the Gita is timeless, and we hope it motivates people to learn more about the Bhagwad Gita and transform themselves,” he adds.
Visual Content
“The Son-Et-Lumiere multimedia show on the Bhagwat Gita at the very spot the holy sermon was delivered, has to be the most revered and special project for us at Knownsense Studios, “ said Himanshu Ghosh, Partner, Knownonsense Studios
Having been entrusted the job of creating the visual content for the show, the task for Kownsense Studios was to understand not only the subject and the audience but also the apt use of all the different technologies to be used to create this one of a kind show. “The first assignment for us was to create a key, highlight effect based visual map of best use of effects from each medium and discuss with Shri Atul Tiwariji who was conceiving the story and script of the grand spectacle. After discussions, decisions like - when to introduce the water screen or which tree to light last to bring about elements of surprise and scale were taken,” says Ghosh.
Elaborating on the visual content, Ghosh says, “Considering the overall layout of the site with its pond, walls and the many surrounding banyan trees and the famous Vat Vrishk tree, the 45 min show immerses viewers into a physical space. The Cheer-Haran sequence and the War sequence are crowd favourites. When for the first time the chariot with Arjuna and Shri Krishna enters the battlegrounds on an almost invisible large 60 ft water screen, audiences are left in awe. The green screen shoot with mythologically dressed television actors and dancers was fun but seeing a simple green screen shoot transform into a VFX shot on screen in the virtual world was even better.”
He further adds, “However, the main challenge was to show the 25 key shlokas, which formed the crux of the show especially to do justice to the eternal life lessons while also simplifying it for the audience all age groups and cultural and geographical backgrounds. Thanks to the script writing and the wonderful narration using the Vat Vrishk as the Sutradhar (voice of Shri Vijay Vardhan ji ) we were able to create a visual narrative. Overall it was not possible without the planning and execution by MSS world team.”
Davinder Wadhwa, Director, MSS Projects said, “Modern Stage Service Projects undertakes only selective Projects. All projects completed by us are unique. The Show at Jyotisar has added one more feather to MSS World’s cap.”