The cinematic world descended upon Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad on November 15 for the grand promotional launch of S.S. Rajamouli’s latest magnum opus, Varanasi. Formerly known under the working title SSMB29, the event, which drew an overwhelming crowd of enthusiastic fans, officially unveiled the film’s first teaser, setting a colossal benchmark for the project’s global anticipation.
The film, a high-concept blend of mythology, time-travel, and intense action, has been generating significant buzz since its announcement as Rajamouli’s follow-up to the globally acclaimed RRR. The teaser provided a tantalizing glimpse into a world where ancient lore meets futuristic spectacle, promising a cinematic experience that is both groundbreaking and deeply rooted in Indian storytelling. Speaking at the event, a source close to the production noted the film is an “ambitious, VFX-heavy epic designed for the global IMAX experience.”
The focus of the evening was, without a doubt, Mega Star Mahesh Babu. Starring as the central character, Rudhra, a powerful, trident-wielding figure, the actor’s charismatic presence electrified the venue. Fans erupted in cheers as the teaser showcased his intense action sequences and commanding screen presence. Mahesh Babu is joined by a stellar international cast, including the Academy Award-nominated Priyanka Chopra Jonas and the versatile Prithviraj Sukumaran, heightening the film’s cross-industry appeal.
A key element poised to elevate Varanasi is its technical wizardry. The film features original scoring by the legendary M.M. Keeravani and utilizes groundbreaking visual effects tailored specifically for the IMAX format, ensuring an immersive viewing experience. Despite a minor, quickly resolved title dispute surrounding the sacred city’s name, the project has maintained strong positive momentum.
The creative ambition of Varanasi extends significantly into its technical execution, as confirmed by VFX Supervisor @srinivas_mohan. A core concept driving the visual aesthetic is the presentation of the film’s world in extreme slow motion, captured at an astounding 400 frames per second (fps)—a dramatic leap from the standard cinematic speed of 24 fps. This technique means every physical element within the frame, from dust particles to action choreography, appears in exquisite slow motion, allowing the audience to absorb the grandeur and micro-details of each moment. Crucially, the camera’s movement is maintained at real-time speed, creating a mesmerizing contrast where the audience perceives the environment moving hyper-slowly while their perspective shifts seamlessly, ensuring they can fully appreciate the sheer scale and complexity of the film’s mythological settings and action sequences.
Scheduled for a massive global release in the Summer of 2027, Varanasi is already being hailed as a potential game-changer for Indian cinema on the international stage. The palpable excitement witnessed at the Hyderabad launch confirms that the Mahesh Babu-Rajamouli collaboration is set to become one of the most dominant cultural and cinematic events of the decade. As one fan was overheard saying, “This is not just a film, it’s a phenomenon waiting to happen.”
