Varanasi to the World: From Ramayana to the present era

The video glimpse of SS Rajamouli’s “Varanasi” blends history, mythology, and fantasy with striking ambition. The teaser opens in 512 CE Varanasi, before cutting to a dramatic shot of the asteroid Shambhavi crashing into the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica.

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The narrative then shifts to the African wilderness, where a man parachutes down, followed by visuals of a mysterious cave and a woman plunging into its depths. The timeline jumps again, this time to Treta Yugam (7200 BCE) revealing a grand battle sequence from the Ramayana, featuring Lord Sriram and Lord Anjaneya.

One of the standout visuals shows Rama aiming his arrow while standing atop a pyramid formed by the Vanara Sena.

The story then returns to the present, landing at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, where Mahesh Babu’s character appears riding Nandi and wielding a Trishul. The teaser clearly indicates that the film spans centuries, interlinking events from the Ramayana with those of the current era.

Mahesh Babu’s Rudhra appears to be a reincarnation of Lord Rama. Developed by Vijayendra Prasad and SS Kanchi, with screenplay and direction by SS Rajamouli, Varanasi promises massive scale and ambition, merging Indian history and mythology with futuristic elements. Importantly, the film is being made for IMAX, a first for Telugu cinema.

Jointly produced by KL Narayana (Sri Durga Arts) and SS Karthikeya (Showing Business), the film is slated for a 2027 release.