RRR Director’s Epic Visuals Shadowing Nolan’s IMAX

The world of blockbuster filmmaking is currently buzzing with news about a major technical achievement, courtesy of one of cinema’s most celebrated directors. S. S. Rajamouli, the visionary behind the Academy Award-winning film RRR, has announced that his next epic project will be captured entirely on IMAX.

This isn’t just a technical choice; it’s a monumental statement. Rajamouli revealed that IMAX will be the exclusive filming environment for his upcoming film, Varanasi, making it the first non-English language movie ever shot entirely in this expansive format. This feat places it alongside only one other cinematic achievement: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

The scale of Varanasi is staggering. The film is an action-adventure epic that plunges audiences into a narrative spanning millennia and multiple continents, from Africa to Antarctica, centering on the ancient city of Rudhra and its confrontation with impending doom.

The production team is already deep into the process. Rajamouli shared that they have successfully completed around 80% of the filming, having wrapped up all the massive action sequences. The remaining smaller scenes and transitional elements are currently being shot in Hyderabad, India.

The efficiency behind this ambitious project is equally impressive. To keep the momentum high, Rajamouli explained that as soon as a sequence is completed, it is immediately passed to the visual effects department. This parallel workflow allows different teams to operate simultaneously, ensuring the production stays firmly on schedule.

When it comes to teasing the story, the filmmaker opted for mystery over revelation. Instead of diving into plot details, Rajamouli released a teaser designed to capture the sheer scope and visceral experience audiences can anticipate from the film, leaving the narrative secrets safely tucked away.

Furthermore, there were early whispers about Varanasi being split into multiple installments. However, Rajamouli has confirmed that this epic will be presented as a single, cohesive movie with an estimated runtime of around three hours.

Varanasi is set to arrive in theaters worldwide on April 7, 2027, promising a cinematic experience that marries breathtaking scale, unparalleled visual fidelity, and epic storytelling.