Naagin 7's AI is a backstab to the NoAIArt movement, and here's why

When AI takes the centre stage with Naagin Season 7 on national television, it raises a question: Does the movement to keep AI out of creative fields mean anything?

It’s 2021, J.A.R.V.I.S., aka Vision, Marvel's iconic AI, died again, and I wondered when I would get an AI companion like that. A year later, like a boulder rolling down a hill, ChatGPT came along, squishing every task in its path, in record time, invading our phones and becoming something that people can’t help but rely on. Despite initial enthusiasm, AI's efficiency faded as it began disrupting jobs. Voices rose in concern, and no one shouted louder than the media professionals. Not because their jobs were at stake - that’s their job - but because no machine can truly understand creative liberty and authentic expression like our flesh and bones do. Then, unexpectedly, Naagin appeared, leaving people exclaiming, “What a snake!”, pun intended.

With the airing of Naagin Season 7, the series has continued to expand, adding a brand-new Naagin to its long list of iconic divas. But even before the first episode dropped, my brain broke when I realised that an AI-generated dragon is the main antagonist this season. At first thought, it’s genius, it saves money and creates hype without revealing much. However, after watching the episode, I quickly realised how wrong I was! Like a python circling its prey, AI wrapped itself around the story with every new episode. Until then, what seemed like the biggest battle between Naagin and the Dragon turned out to be an AI-generated brain-rot. Hard to believe? Check it out yourself.

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The use of AI was very prominent in the previous episodes, especially in the sequence when they displayed the past Naagins in an epic montage. The transitions were uneven and glitchy, which could have been accepted to save time, money, and effort. But the option to just use clips from previous seasons could have played into the nostalgic factor. Creating a pivotal battle entirely using AI seems disrespectful, not just to the show's legacy but also to the film industry. Even before AI, Bollywood created movies like Ra-One that feature visual effects that were way ahead of their time. Moving close to home, classics like Sonpari and Shaktimaan, along with older shows like Mahabharat, Siya ke Ram and Baalveer, used CGI and visual effects that sold the fantasy to its audience long before AI made its break. Previous seasons of Naagin itself were able to deliver visuals that still continue to mesmerise an entire generation, even to become Naagins themselves.

Also Read: #Ketchuptalks: Joel James and Rishabh Suri on how they see the role of AI in creative work today!

That's exactly why using nothing but AI for the scene that's vital to the plot had me questioning, “Is this what they were warning us about?”  The moment AI became public, many creators, artists, and performers came forward demanding to boycott it and its use in the creative field. However, change has always been a part of this world, and a compromise was ultimately reached to use AI responsibly. However, with creative freedom comes creative nuisance, and trends were quick to follow. From trends like ‘imagining pictures like Studio Ghibli animation' to rewriting the ending of movies like Raanjhanna, everyone was using AI to rewrite an artistic expression without fully understanding the dedication and hard work behind it. If this wasn’t enough, the AI slop also filled the social media landscape, allowing people to use Generative AI to make anything, however they want to. Overnight, AI Art became a trend and #The NoAIArt Movement gained speed just as quickly. However, all this was limited only to social networking sites like Instagram and X, but the Indian entertainment industry doesn’t love limitations.

While Naagin is one hot example, it was not long ago when JioHotstar released a whole series about Mahabharat made entirely with AI. You don’t even need to watch it; the trailer alone reveals the lifeless nature of every character. From emotionless plotlines to glitchy backgrounds, this rendition of Mahabharat should have been a warning sign for the entertainment industry to refrain from AI. Meanwhile, SunTV continues to produce shows, each more mind-melting than the other. While on one hand, the entertainment industry around the world is either boycotting or banning the use of AI, India seems determined to embrace it.

AI can be a powerful tool if used responsibly. It can be helpful to visualise a scene or a character, but it shouldn’t be the one creating your protagonist. It should be used to revise your script, not to create the storyline of your show. It should help you plan your imaginary world, not create it for you. Unlike the show Naagin, AI should serve as a support tool rather than take over your creative process.

What do you think of the show using AI? Let us know below.

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