Rajamouli Drops a Bomb: Varanasi to Be Shot Fully in IMAX - But Can India Watch It?

After being released in Hyderabad on Saturday night, the first glimpse of SS Rajamouli's eagerly anticipated action adventure Varanasi, which stars Superstar Mahesh Babu, sparked an intense reaction around the world. More shocking than the images, though, was Rajamouli's declaration that Varanasi would be shot entirely in native IMAX format, as opposed to Baahubali and RRR, which were first shot in cinema scope before being converted to IMAX. With a 1.43:1 aspect ratio ,the same format used for movies like Oppenheimer Varanasi is now India's first movie to be shot exclusively for Premium Large Format IMAX screens.

The catch, however, is that India doesn’t have a single theatre that supports true 1.43 IMAX projection. While cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad have IMAX screens, they are not 1.43 format. Hyderabad’s Prasad’s IMAX, once considered iconic, now only offers PCX experience and cannot deliver the full visual impact Rajamouli is promising. This means Indian audiences cannot experience Varanasi in its intended format unless new screens are built.

Rajamouli and IMAX officials are certain that at least one genuine 1.43 IMAX screen will be set up in India prior to the release of Varanasi, which is aiming for a 2027 or early 2028 release date. By then, Hyderabad is being considered for a full-scale IMAX upgrade, according to the vice president of the IMAX Corporation. Telugu audiences would be able to witness a never-before-seen international standard cinematic event in their own country if Varanasi were to become the first movie to open such a theater. This would mark a significant milestone for Indian cinema.