In this project at Firedrum Studios, we had the opportunity to inject a heavy dose of magic realism into Grameenphone’s hit music video, Ek-er Moddhei Onek. Our team was responsible for the project's entire VFX pipeline, with a primary focus on the 'Magic Bus' sequence. The challenge was to take a standard bus ride and transform it into a surreal journey through the skies. We utilized advanced CGI to simulate the bus's flight and created immersive volumetric cloud environments that served as the backdrop for the aerial sequences. Through precise compositing, we seamlessly integrated the live-action footage of Pritom Hasan and the cast into these 3D worlds—whether they were surfing atop the moving bus or free-falling through the atmosphere. The result is a vibrant, neon-soaked visual experience that blurs the line between the streets of Dhaka and the limitless sky.
[Client]
Grameenphone
[Year]
2024
[Services]
VFX, CGI, 3D Animation, Greenscreen Composite,
[Catagory]
VFX
Making the "No. 1 Express" Fly
Music videos in Dhaka are getting more ambitious, and this project was a beast. Pinwheel Films came to us with a specific vision for the "Ek-er Moddhei Onek" (Many in One) campaign: a journey that starts on the street but quickly leaves the laws of physics behind.
As a VFX studio in Bangladesh, we are used to fixing things in post, but this wasn't a cleanup job. It was a world-building job. The concept required a "Magic Bus" that could soar through the clouds to visualize the idea of limitless connectivity.
Collaborating with production house Pinwheel Films, Firedrum Studios was tasked with a massive challenge: bringing a "Magic Bus" to life and creating a world where the laws of physics bow to the power of connectivity.
The Concept: A Journey Without Boundaries
The campaign’s core message, "Ek-er Moddhei Onek" (Many in One), required a visual metaphor for limitless possibilities. The creative direction called for a surreal journey aboard the "No. 1 Express"—a bus that doesn't just drive on roads but soars through the clouds, traversing a universe of connectivity.
This wasn't a project that could be captured solely in-camera. It demanded a heavy reliance on CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) and Compositing to transport the audience from the gritty streets of reality to a neon-soaked fantasy world.
The VFX Breakdown
Firedrum Studios delivered a masterclass in visual storytelling. Here is a breakdown of the key elements they brought to life:
1. The Flying Bus (Asset Creation & Animation)
The centerpiece of the video is the bus itself. Firedrum Studios likely utilized high-end 3D modeling to create a digital double of the bus or enhanced a practical vehicle to allow it to "fly."
Animation: The bus needed to move convincingly through the air. The animation team gave the heavy vehicle a sense of weight even as it floated, adding subtle drifts and turns that mimicked the motion of an aircraft rather than a road vehicle.
Lighting: One of the hardest parts of CGI is lighting a 3D object to match live-action footage. The bus reflects the ambient light of the clouds and the neon cityscapes, making it feel grounded in its environment despite being airborne.
2. World Building: The Cloudscapes
When the bus takes off, it enters a dreamlike stratosphere. Firedrum created voluminous, 3D cloud environments that served as the "road" for this journey.
Volumetric Effects: Instead of flat backdrops, the clouds have depth and density. The bus pushes through them, creating interaction that sells the illusion of speed and altitude.
Atmosphere: The studio used a stylized color palette—deep purples, cyans, and neon blues—to give the sky a magical, almost cyberpunk aesthetic, distinct from a realistic daytime sky.
3. Compositing & Chroma Key
A significant portion of the video features the artists (Pritom Hasan and others) performing on top of or inside the flying vehicle.
Seamless Integration: Firedrum’s compositing team expertly keyed out the green screens used on set. They placed the live actors into the CGI environments with precise edge blending.
Environmental Interaction: Notice the wind effects on the actors' clothing and hair; the VFX team matched the background movement to these practical effects to ensure continuity. The scene where the artist "free-falls" is a prime example of camera tracking and compositing working in unison to create a sense of vertigo.
4. Motion Graphics & UI Integration
To tie the video back to Grameenphone’s digital services, the VFX team integrated Augmented Reality (AR) style elements.
Floating "Like" buttons, hearts, and emojis surround the characters, simulating a live-stream experience.
Mobile game interfaces pop out of screens, blurring the line between the digital user interface and the physical world. These motion graphics were tracked perfectly to the movement of the phones and actors.
The Verdict
"Ek-er Moddhei Onek" stands as a testament to the growing capability of the Bangladeshi VFX industry. Firedrum Studios moved beyond simple "fix-it-in-post" work to become co-storytellers. By creating a cohesive visual language—where buses fly and the sky is a canvas of neon possibilities—they turned a standard brand anthem into a memorable visual journey.
For brands looking to break the clutter, this project proves that with the right VFX partner, the sky is no longer the limit—it’s just the beginning of the road.
