Indian filmmaker SS Rajamouli and Hollywood director James Cameron came together for a rare virtual interaction that celebrated storytelling, spectacle, and the evolving future of filmmaking. The two directors, who have each reshaped cinematic language in their own ways, engaged in a wide-ranging conversation around Avatar: Fire and Ash, its emotional core, and the challenges facing modern cinema.
SS Rajamouli on what he liked about Avatar: Fire and Ash
Having watched Avatar: Fire and Ash ahead of its release, Rajamouli shared his first reaction with visible admiration. He praised the film’s immersive world, the introduction of new cultures like the Wind Traders and the Ash People, and described the experience as pure cinematic joy. Yet, beyond the scale and visual grandeur, it was the protagonist’s inner conflict that left the deepest impact on him.
“But what really got me hooked was Jake’s moral dilemma,” Rajamouli said, reflecting on Jake Sully’s journey and the layered choices that define the heart of the Avatar saga. He further added, “I thought the first Avatar had it; it was so strong. I thought, can he ever beat it? But I think in this, it is much stronger.”
SS Rajamouli shared that the first film, Avatar, ran for a year in IMAX in Hyderabad, highlighting how the franchise remains a benchmark for immersive, big-screen experiences. Cameron also lauded Rajamouli`s films and expressed interest in visiting the sets of Varanasi.
SS Rajamouli and James Cameron on use of AI
The conversation also turned to a pressing concern within the industry—the growing influence of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Rajamouli observed that AI is “disrupting the process of filmmaking,” prompting Cameron to respond with a clear and cautionary stance. Calling generative AI “very dangerous,” Cameron said, “If it eliminates the sacred process of working with and through the actors to tell stories, that is very dangerous. We have never used generative AI on the Avatar films. The process starts with writing, moves to acting, and then builds the world around the captured performances through lighting and cinematography.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash was released in theatres in India on December 19 in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.
