Mani Ratnam, known for his quest for perfection and quality, led him to evaluate digital cinema technologies and the quality that can be achieved with high quality digital projection and digital mastering for his 'Guru'. He chose Chennai-based Real Image to master his film after evaluating results on the QubeMaster mastering system, a part of the Qube Cinema end-to-end suite of products.
Operating directly from original Digital Intermediate (DI) files from Prime Focus where the film was digitally graded, Real Image showed him impeccable quality that could be achieved with picture and sound. Both Mani Ratnam and his ace cinematographer Rajeev Menon were thrilled and excited to see the full impact of their work on the screen without any loss whatsoever and with sharpness never been seen before on film. 'Guru' was digitally mastered from DI exclusively by Real Image on QubeMaster and a hi-definition transfer of this digital master was provided to other digital cinema providers as the source.
Worldwide premier of 'Guru' on Qube Cinema
For the first time, a world premier of an Indian film was in digital format. The worldwide premier for Mani Ratnam's 'Guru', powered by Qube Cinema at the Elgin Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto, was received with great enthusiasm and applause. 'Guru' is India's first film encoded on DCI specified JPEG2000 format for digital cinema - mastered and screened using Real Image's Qube Cinema technology.
Qube not only meets the demanding DCI international standard for playback but is also the only technology platform in the country that can encode a film in JPEG2000 today, its spokesman said. Qube is also the only format independent server that can play JPEG2000, MPEG2, H.264 and VC1 out of the same box as a combination in the same show, he added. This is one of the reasons why Qube Cinema is admired and accepted world over today, from North America to Europe to Asia.
With 'Guru', Qube initiated digital screening of Indian films in North America. Cinemas in Chicago and Detroit are screening for the first time an Indian film digitally - adding another feather to Qube Cinema's and Real Image's cap. Qube Cinema is already powering over 50 screens in North America and is soon poised to reach over 300 screens, opening up the huge potential for Indian cinema in this key market.
Qube, the international standards compliant end-to-end digital cinema solution, has been developed by Real Image Media Technologies Pvt Ltd, Chennai - a company that has been pioneering technology in the domains of media and entertainment for over 20 years.
Qube has emerged out of the company's vast experience in the production, post-production and exhibition industries with a unique combination of expertise in the technology and the domain. Over 200 prime release theatres across India, in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala are equipped with Qube and have since been continually screening digitally their respective regional content. All screens are satellite network enabled.
Real Image Media Technologies is credited with having managed complex technology transformations. The company has spearheaded two significant revolutions in India - digital non-linear editing with Avid and digital surround sound for cinema with DTS.
Qube Cinema, Inc., located in North Hollywood, is the US subsidiary of Real Image Media Technologies Pvt Ltd. Qube Cinema, Inc. spearheads the international rollout of this world-class digital cinema technology to theatres and studios including the USA, and has already established Qube mastering centres in leading digital mastering houses and studios. In the US alone, nearly 50 cinemas belonging to the Landmark chain and 10 Indian content playing screens are equipped with Qube Cinema Technology from Real Image.
