Kevadia: The projection mapping show at the Statue of Unity here which is more popularly and commonly known as laser show that uses 51 high resolution projectors fixed at a distance of 600 meters to do the around 30 minute long colourful and enthralling light and sound show depicting the life and times of the Iron-man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel using his 182 meter tall enormous monument as the screen, would take a formal shape in coming days.

There was some confusion about the show in the beginning which was stopped for a few days after the unveiling of the statue by PM Narendra Modi on October 31.

However, it has been resumed on regular basis from November 8, a day after Diwali coinciding Gujarati new year day.

Chief Engineer of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd Parthiv C Vyas and Executive Engineer J K Garasiya said that the show was held every evening (apart from Mondays-the day on which the whole project remains closed for maintenance purposes) from 0645 pm to 0715pm.

‘Currently there is no ticket for this show. Whoever takes a bus to statue of unity can see it free of charge,’ Vyas said adding that discussions were on to make it more organized in coming days.

To a query, Garasiya said that anyone standing at even quite a distance from the statue can hear the sound and see the images vividly during the projection mapping show.
‘The show is now a regular affair and will be improved for better in the coming days,’ he said.

Vyas did not rule out the possibility of making it chargeable in the coming days for providing better facilities to the visitors.

Notably, the tourists are charged Rs 350 per adult and Rs 200 per child (aged between 3 to 15 years) for a full trip of the statue and other related sites including a visit to the viewing gallery at the height of 153 meters inside the statue. They are charged Rs 120 (Rs 60 for a child) if the viewing gallery is excluded. A bus carrying visitors to various sites including the statue on around 19 km long circular route to and fro Kevadia, charges Rs 30 per passenger.

The laser-show or projection mapping was highly publicized before the unveiling of the statue and has created lot of curiosity among the people. However, there was lack of awareness about the real state of affairs about it which had led to some confusion. The normal visiting hours of the SoU project are 9 am to 5pm and the laser show begins almost 2 hours after that.

An official in the know of the technicalities of the laser show or projection mapping, said that its set up has been accomplished by USA based global visual technology company Christie’s Indian partner Pyramid Technologies and renowned German laser show producer HB-Laser using a total of 51 Christie Crimson WU25 3DLP laser projectors. The team was responsible for the complete design, installation and integration of the projectors for a professional and engaging show. This is the largest ever deployment of high-brightness projectors for a permanent installation in India.
Notably, located at Sadhu island in Narmada district in Gujarat at a distance of around 3.5 km from famous Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River in Kevadia, the 182-meter bronze-clad statue is twice the size of New York’s Statue of Liberty, and 29 meters taller than China’s Spring Temple Buddha, which previously held the title of the world’s tallest statue.

The official said that such projectors/lenses were selected due to a number of reasons, such as solid-state laser light source in a rugged and compact chassis, and ability to provide years of reliable and virtually maintenance-free operation, to withstand inclement weather conditions and availability of the longest throw lens that can project bright and vivid images on this enormous statue.

By combining and synchronizing the various multimedia elements together, It was able to tell the inspiring life story of the visionary Indian leader in an engaging manner, whilst delivering a massive multisensory impact to spectators,’ he said adding that the installation and alignment of the projectors had to be completed in less than a week following the final touches made to the statue.

All 51 projectors used for the 30-minute light and sound show are housed in a specialized enclosure customized to suit the enormity of the application, and fitted in a projection room located about 600 meters away from the monument. Specialized mirror mechanisms enable the Crimson projectors to display colorful visuals on the statue from such a far throw distance, he added.

DeshGujarat