Avataar AI, a Bangalore-based company, launches Varya, a homegrown video AI model aimed at working at India’s scale. Multiple outlets report that the model generates video for about $0.005 per second, which is also cited as roughly 0.48 rupees. The pricing is positioned as a major cost advantage versus comparable open-source alternatives, with one report stating it is 27 times cheaper than rival open-source video models. TechCrunch also describes the model as designed to be “cheaper” and “faster,” and adds that it is built to be culturally aware for users in India. The coverage highlights that Avataar uses a distilled approach to its video model, which is presented as contributing to lower generation costs and improved performance. Beyond pricing, the reports emphasize the goal of making video generation more accessible for local needs, while presenting Varya as among India’s first domestically developed video AI models.