Director S.S. Rajamouli announced that his upcoming film "Varanasi" will be the first non-English language movie shot entirely in IMAX format [1, 2].
The production represents a significant shift in how Indian cinema utilizes high-end technology. By filming the entire project with IMAX cameras, Rajamouli seeks to expand the format's presence in the Indian market and establish a new technical benchmark for regional filmmaking [1, 5].
The film features a high-profile cast including Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Shriya Hassan [1, 2]. The narrative is expansive in scope, with the story spanning Varanasi, Antarctica, Africa, and ancient Rome [1].
Production is currently in its final stages. Approximately 80% of the film's shoot has been completed [1]. The scale of the project is reflected in its financial investment, with a budget of about Rs 1,400 crore [3].
Rajamouli said the project is intended to mark a milestone for the industry. The film is scheduled for release in April 2027 [2, 4].
The decision to use IMAX for the full duration of the shoot is a departure from the standard industry practice of filming on traditional cameras and converting the footage for larger screens. This approach ensures a higher resolution and a wider aspect ratio throughout the entire movie [1, 2].
“"Varanasi" will be the first non-English language movie shot entirely in IMAX format.”
The use of full-scale IMAX production for a non-English film signals a growing convergence between Hollywood's technical standards and Indian cinema's massive production budgets. By moving beyond mere 'conversion' to native IMAX filming, Rajamouli is positioning Indian blockbusters to compete globally on a technical level, potentially incentivizing more international theaters to upgrade their infrastructure for non-English content.
