Director S.S. Rajamouli is finalizing his latest action-adventure epic, Varanasi. The production is pushing technical boundaries by utilizing IMAX for the entire duration of the film, featuring a high-profile international cast.
The first non-English feature shot entirely on IMAX
S.S. Rajamouli has announced that Varanasi will be the first movie not in the English language to be filmed completely using IMAX technology. According to an interview with the European magazine Tsounami, the production team has already finished the large-scale IMAX action sequences, leaving only smaller scenes to be captured. this technical choice suggests a move toward a more immersive visual experience that typically remains the domain of major Hollywood studios.
To maintain a tight production schedule, the Varanasi crew is employing a parallel workflow. As reported by the source, every completed sequence is edited and immediately handed off to the visual effects team, ensuring that post-production happens concurrently with principal photography rather than as a separate, final stage.
From Antarctica to Africa: The journey of Rudhra
The narrative of Varanasi is described as a sweeping epic that spans thousands of years and traverses a vast geographical range, including locations in Africa and Antarctica. The story centers on a character named Rudhra,set against the backdrop of the ancient city of Varanasi, which faces a catastrophic threat from an impending asteroid impact.
The film boasts a powerhouse cast, bringing together Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mahesh Babu, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. By combining these stars, S.S. Rajamouli is positioning Varanasi not just as a regional hit, but as a global event designed to appeal to diverse international audiences.
A three-hour single-film cut over a two-part release
Despite industry speculation that the scale of the story would require a split narrative,S.S.. Rajamouli has confirmed that Varanasi will be released as a single movie. The final runtime is expected to be approximately three hours. This decision ensures the story remains a cohesive experience rather than a fragmented series of installments.
Currently, the production is in its final stages, with roughly 80% of the filming completed. The crew is now focusing on the remaining sequences being shot in Hyderabad, India, to bring the project to a close.
The global ambition following the success of RRR
The scale of Varanasi reflects a broader trend in Indian cinema, where "Pan-Indian" films are evolving into global spectacles. S.S. Rajamouli previously achieved international acclaim with RRR, which proved that high-concept, emotionally charged Indian narratives could find a massive audience in the West. Varanasi appears to be the next step in this evolution, moving from global distribution to global production standards.
By utilizing IMAX and a cast with international recognition like Priyanka Chopra Jonas,the production is attempting to bridge the gap between the stylistic energy of Tollywood and the technical prestige of global cinema. This shift signals a growing confidence in the ability of non-English epics to dominate the premium large-format (PLF) theater market.
The missing plot details in the Varanasi teaser
While the production is nearing completion, several key narrative elements remain a mystery. S.S. Rajamouli admitted to Tsounami that the teaser for Varanasi was intentionally vague, focusing on the "experience" and visual scale rather than the plot to avoid spoiling the story. this leaves the specific nature of Rudhra's role and the mechanics of the asteroid threat unverified.
Furthermore, the source does not clarify how the film will balance its massive timeline—spanning thousands of years—within a three-hour window. Whether the film will utilize a non-linear structure or a generational saga remains to be seen.
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