S S Rajamouli’s Varanasi Becomes India’s First Film Shot Specifically for IMAX
At the grand Globetrotter event in Hyderabad, attended by S S Rajamouli, M M Keeravani, Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and others, Rajamouli made a landmark announcement: his upcoming film Varanasi will be the first Indian film to be actually filmed for IMAX.
Taking the stage, Rajamouli clarified a common misconception about films released on IMAX screens. “Many films are simply ‘blown up’ to fit IMAX screens — that is not true IMAX,” he explained. He referred to his previous blockbusters Baahubali and RRR (2022), which were shot in a 1:1.9 aspect ratio format. Standing before the massive 100 feet by 130 feet IMAX screen—the biggest ever—he demonstrated the difference between traditional formats and true IMAX. Showing a visual that covered the entire screen, Rajamouli proudly declared, “Varanasi will be screened full screen. It is filmed for IMAX!”
Rajamouli expressed his excitement about pioneering new technology, saying, “I’m proud to introduce the premium large-scale format to Telugu cinema. Varanasi is filmed specifically for IMAX.” The announcement sent the crowd into an enthusiastic frenzy. When Rajamouli requested his team to play the trailer in full-screen format, a technical glitch delayed it. He humorously mentioned that 45 generators were powering the massive screen. After a brief pause, the trailer finally played in its full glory, receiving a thunderous response from the audience.
Earlier during the event, Prithviraj Sukumaran shared how he landed his role in the film. “The famous S S Rajamouli narration, which my friend Prabhas had hyped up so much, began. Just five minutes into it, I was completely blown away. For the next three hours, I wasn’t merely listening as an actor but felt like a kid discovering the next edition of his favorite comic book! The scale, vision, and ambition—everything represented India’s finest contemporary filmmaking, pushing boundaries into uncharted territory.” This announcement certainly marks a new milestone for Indian cinema, with Varanasi set to deliver an immersive visual experience unlike anything seen before on the big screen!
