India, Jan. 13 -- Some of the greatest movies in cinema are celebrated as much for their special effects (SFX) and visual effects (VFX) as for their direction, storytelling and performances. Modern big-budget studio productions are almost unthinkable without effects, whether practical, hybrid VFX or fully computer-generated imagery (CGI). Looking back, it is clear that truly convincing visual effects began to take shape in the 20th century, long before CGI came to dominate the early 21st century.

But first, it is important to understand the difference between SFX and VFX. In popular usage, the terms are often treated as interchangeable and used without distinction across media. In general, however, SFX refers to practical effects, includ...