Mid-Day 45th Anniversary Special: How would Ganpati look as an anime character?

In the AI content arena a name is making waves Priyanku Sarmah a Santacruzbased AI filmmaker uses the latest artificial intelligence to create captivating films photos and Reels and has drawn millions of eyes to his social media accountSarmah a history buff loves to fuse the past with the future in his work His deep fascination with AI technology has given wings to his imagination of history ldquoI have always imagined what ancient India looked likehellip Can you imagine what places like Dwarka must have looked like during Krishnarsquos timerdquo he asks With AI at his disposal he brings these ancient worlds to lifeOne of his most celebrated reels blending anime aesthetics with Mumbairsquos chaos gained over 12 million views and 2 million likes As a fan of Studio Ghibli known for its enchanting portrayal of cities and cultures Sarmah found the perfect inspiration in Mumbairsquos charm ldquoMumbai has this anime vibe with its visual diversity and I have always wondered what anime would look like in India Thatrsquos where the idea came fromrdquo he says ldquoThe world of AI is super exciting especially if you already have a deep interest in something like history AI gives you the power to reimagine itrdquo Sarmah saysBlending culturesSarmah has also touched upon historical and cultural themes such as the Revolt of 1857 and Ganesh Chaturthi often blending them too with anime aesthetics His first reel on Nalanda University garnered 12 million views sparking a conversation about how ancient Indian universities might have looked in their prime ldquoCreating these reels often involves starting with a blank space in mindrdquo he explains ldquoI describe my impromptu visions to the AI which then generates images from its vast database Sometimes the structures are inaccurate but that is at least a starting point I continue to make changes as I progress with the piecerdquoSarmah started working on these AI projects in February 2023 and has made dozens of photos and videos since then He is completely selftaught But he has always been a tech buff frequently involved in beta testing various software tools However he hesitates to label his work as ldquotraditional artrdquo For him AI is a collaborator a tool that bridges human creativity and machine efficiency ldquoArt has always been derivativerdquo he muses adding ldquoEvery artist finds inspiration somewhere I find mine in history Using AI doesnrsquot change that itrsquos like choosing a pen you enjoy writing withrdquo he saysldquoWhen I started experimenting with AI I didnrsquot know what to expectrdquo he says ldquoThe technology was still in its nascent stages and I was hesitant to call my work lsquoartrsquo in the traditional sense But as I delved deeper I realised that AI is a powerful tool that can help bring my creative visions to liferdquoPrompts are the keyOn the role of prompts he says ldquoIt acts as the backbone of this technology The better you understand the technology the more effectively you can communicate your visionrdquo he says Crafting the perfect prompt is like sharpening a knife he says ldquoThe more you practice the better you become As technology grows so does its ability to understand and generate humanlike images Itrsquos a fascinating processrdquo adds SarmahLiving in Mumbai has profoundly influenced Sarmahrsquos art The cityrsquos adaptability and constant forward momentum resonates with his approach to AI ldquoMumbai is always moving forward striving for betterrdquo he notes ldquoThis mindset aligns perfectly with how I view AImdashwhich is also constantly evolvingrdquo Platforms like Runway Gen 3 which offer video generation capabilities have revolutionised his work What started as imagebased reels have now evolved into dynamic videos democratising storytelling for millionsLooking ahead Sarmah is excited about the future of AI in the art world Now he sees himself as an AI filmmaker a distinction highlighted by his success in Runwayrsquos 48hour challenges where his film was the only one from India to make it to the top 40 The challenge involves making AIgenerated films using the software in 48 hours His upcoming projects include a film centred around Ganga exploring the riverrsquos significance through a narrative without a voiceoverThe AI filmmaker sees artificial intelligence as a democratising force that allows millions of storytellers who previously lacked the capacity to share their stories ldquoThis technology is shifting the job marketrdquo he notes ldquoItrsquos allowing a new format of productionrdquo he also saysSarmah says his work is not just about creating art but also about redefining whatrsquos possible with the latest technologyWhat is it Using artificial intelligence to create films and photosHow it works The artiststoryteller can refine outputs through prompts that the AI has created by processing its databasesWho it affectsbenefits It democratises content creation enabling millions of storytellersmdashespecially those without traditional artistic trainingmdashto produce professionalquality visuals