SS Rajamouli Confirms ‘Varanasi’ to be Filmed Entirely for IMAX: Sparks Debate Over India’s Premium Screen Readiness
Rajamouli’s New Era: Why Filming ‘Varanasi’ in True IMAX is a Game-Changer—and a Challenge
Barely a week after the colossal ‘Globetrotter’ event, where director S.S. Rajamouli officially unveiled his next epic as Varanasi—a time-traveling, sci-fi action-adventure starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran—a new and even more significant development has seized the global entertainment news cycle. The visionary filmmaker has confirmed a massive technological leap: Varanasi is being shot entirely using the premium large format (PLF) of IMAX, specifically targeting the ultra-rare 1.43:1 aspect ratio. This move is a powerful statement of global ambition but has instantly ignited a crucial debate within the Indian exhibition industry: Are Indian theatres ready for Rajamouli’s true visual spectacle?
The Technological Revelation: A True IMAX Film
Known for pushing the boundaries of scale with the Baahubali franchise and the Oscar-winning RRR, Rajamouli is now elevating his craft to an unprecedented level for Indian cinema. At the recent Hyderabad launch event, the director announced that Varanasi would not merely be ‘converted’ to the IMAX format in post-production, as was the case with his previous blockbusters, but would be ‘filmed for IMAX in the truest sense.’
This distinction is not merely technical jargon; it represents a fundamental shift in filmmaking ambition. Filming in the 1.43:1 aspect ratio means the movie is captured to fill the entire colossal height and width of the world’s most advanced IMAX screens, offering up to 40% more picture than standard cinematic releases. This visual canvas is traditionally reserved for Hollywood giants like Christopher Nolan’s productions, and Rajamouli is now bringing this technology to the forefront of Telugu cinema.
For audiences, this means a level of immersive detail and grandeur that is a quantum leap beyond previous Indian productions. The first glimpse teaser, which featured Mahesh Babu as ‘Rudhra’ riding a bull and wielding a trident against a mythic backdrop, already hints at a visual scale demanding the largest possible screen. Shooting natively in IMAX will ensure that every meticulously crafted frame, every sweeping landscape from the promised globe-trotting adventure, is experienced exactly as the master filmmaker intends.
The Infrastructure Divide: A Race Against the 2027 Deadline
While the announcement sent waves of excitement among cinephiles worldwide, it simultaneously exposed a glaring gap in Indian cinema infrastructure. The immediate question raised by fans and analysts was direct: How will the local audience experience this film as intended if the required screens don’t exist?
Presently, India has a handful of IMAX screens, mostly concentrated in major metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai. Critically, the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana—the very heartland of Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s fan base—do not possess a single operational screen capable of projecting the full 1.43:1 aspect ratio. The renowned cinema hall in Hyderabad, while a Large Format experience, does not offer the true IMAX standard required for this premium presentation.
The irony of announcing the film’s technological peak in a city that cannot fully showcase it was not lost on the director. Reacting to a fan’s query on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Rajamouli shared his personal hope, stating: “I really hope that by the time #Varanasi releases or even before, we’ll at least have a 1.43 IMAX screen in India and an IMAX in my land Hyderabad.”
This statement is a powerful call to action for Indian exhibitors. Setting up a true IMAX 1.43:1 screen involves massive financial investment and adherence to strict international certification standards, but the potential payoff—to host the first native IMAX Indian blockbuster—is enormous. Rajamouli’s decision effectively places pressure on the industry to upgrade its infrastructure to match his global filmmaking ambition, suggesting that Varanasi‘s ultimate target audience is the international market, where premium formats are standard. Until India catches up, a significant portion of the domestic audience may not witness the film’s true ‘grandeur.’
The Sonic Landscape: Keeravani Promises ‘Grandeur’
Complementing Rajamouli’s visual spectacle is the confirmed involvement of his long-time collaborator, Oscar-winner M.M. Keeravani. The music composer, currently attending the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, provided a fresh, timely update on the film’s soundtrack, further amplifying the anticipation. Keeravani confirmed that the score would feature six songs and promised that fans could expect ‘grandeur’ from the music.
Keeravani dismissed any notion of pressure, attributing his confidence to the ‘clarity and conviction’ behind the massive project. Given their track record, which includes the global sensation ‘Naatu Naatu’ from RRR, the partnership is expected to deliver a sonic experience as monumental as the visuals. The integration of six songs suggests a deep dive into the film’s mythological and time-traveling narrative, providing key emotional beats to Mahesh Babu’s Rudhra and Priyanka Chopra’s Mandakini’s epic journey.
Decoding the Epic Scale: Cast, Plot, and Budget
The title Varanasi—named after the spiritual heart of India—was unveiled alongside a near four-minute teaser that showcased an asteroid falling to Earth, with fragments scattering across Varanasi, Antarctica, and Africa, hinting at a narrative spanning continents and centuries. The film is officially a globe-trotting action-adventure rooted in Indian cultural themes, with strong elements of science fiction and time-travel.
- Mahesh Babu as Rudhra: The Telugu superstar is cast in a fierce warrior avatar, depicted in the first look covered in blood, riding a bull, and holding a trisulam (trident). Rajamouli has also alluded that Mahesh Babu will play a sequence involving Lord Rama, suggesting a complex, multi-layered character arc that traverses different ages.
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini: Her return to Indian cinema marks a major coup, with her character poster showing her as a strong, action-oriented figure, further cementing the film’s global appeal.
- Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha: The Malayalam star is set to play the antagonist, marking a powerful ensemble cast dynamic.
Reports suggest the project is being mounted on a budget upwards of $150 million (₹1,300 crore), positioning it to be one of the most expensive Indian films ever made, a figure that fully supports the IMAX native filming decision.
The Leak and The Unwavering Vision
The historic launch event was not without drama. Rajamouli publicly condemned the drone leak of the teaser footage, which surfaced hours before the official reveal, describing it as a devastating blow that wiped out ‘one year of hard work and thousands of hours of effort by hundreds of people.’
Despite this hurdle, the overwhelming response from the industry—with directors like Prashanth Neel and Karan Johar lauding the scale and Mahesh Babu’s ‘stunning’ look—underscores the confidence in Rajamouli’s unwavering vision. Varanasi is a five-year commitment from the director and his team, with production expected to continue until 2026 for a Summer 2027 release.
In conclusion, SS Rajamouli’s insistence on filming Varanasi natively for the IMAX 1.43:1 format is the most significant news development following the title reveal. It is a bold, uncompromising move that raises the global technical standard for Indian cinema while simultaneously challenging the domestic industry to rapidly evolve its exhibition infrastructure. The countdown to 2027 is now not just a wait for a movie, but a race for India to build the screens required to house its most ambitious cinematic epic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the official title of SS Rajamouli’s next film?
A: The official title is Varanasi. It was previously known by the working title ‘Globetrotter’ or ‘SSMB29’.
Q2: Who are the main stars of the movie Varanasi?
A: The film stars Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu in the lead role of Rudhra, along with Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Mandakini) and Prithviraj Sukumaran (Kumbha) in pivotal roles.
Q3: When is the Varanasi release date?
A: Varanasi is currently scheduled for a worldwide release in Summer 2027.
Q4: What is significant about the film being shot in IMAX?
A: Rajamouli has confirmed that Varanasi will be shot natively in the premium 1.43:1 IMAX aspect ratio. This is a major technical leap, as his previous films like RRR were only converted to the format. Shooting natively ensures the film utilizes the full height and width of the largest IMAX screens globally for a more immersive experience.
Q5: Is Varanasi based on the Ramayana?
A: While the plot is officially a globe-trotting, sci-fi action-adventure with time-travel elements, Rajamouli has stated that a significant sequence in the film draws inspiration from “an important episode from the Ramayana.” The film is said to blend Hindu mythology with an Indiana Jones-style narrative.
Q6: Will Varanasi be a single film or a multi-part saga?
A: Initial reports suggest that due to its massive scope, Varanasi is being planned for release as two feature films, with the first installment arriving in 2027.
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