SS Rajamouli's highly anticipated film, now officially titled "Varanasi," faced a tumultuous title and first glimpse reveal at the GlobeTrotter event in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad on Saturday. The event, attended by lead stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, was marred by technical glitches and the unauthorized online leak of the teaser.
Addressing the crowd, Rajamouli apologized for the delay and expressed his frustration regarding the leaked footage. He explained that the team had planned to test the first glimpse of the film on a massive LED screen, powered by 45 generators. However, unauthorized drone activity the night before the event led to the leak of the footage, preventing the team from properly testing the video on the screen.
"Yesterday night we did not test the glimpse on this screen because a drone was flying here trying to leak our one-year-long hard work," Rajamouli stated. "We took a chance, and now the power is not sufficient to play the glimpse. It might take ten more minutes". He further elaborated on the extensive effort invested in the project, saying, "It took us 45 generators to power the screen. We were supposed to test our video last night, we worked till after midnight till 2 AM. We don't know where people came from. They started flying drones and shooting the footage, leaking it. That is a year of hard work of many people, thousands of man-hours and crores of rupees. People worked day and night for this".
Despite the setbacks, the GlobeTrotter event did provide some exciting insights into "Varanasi". The film, slated for a 2027 release, seems to span across centuries and possibly connect to the Ramayana. The leaked glimpse and subsequent official release revealed Mahesh Babu's character, Rudhra, wielding a trishul (trident) while riding a bull, covered in blood, with temples in the backdrop. Priyanka Chopra's character is named Mandakini, while Prithviraj Sukumaran's is Kumbha.
Writer SS Vijayendra Prasad teased a 30-minute action sequence in the film, describing Mahesh Babu's performance as a "Vishwaroopam," with no CG or RR, only Mahesh's performance. Rajamouli also shared that "Varanasi" was filmed for IMAX. Shooting has taken place in various locations, including Kenya, Odisha, and Hyderabad.
The film's announcement video depicts an asteroid falling to Earth, with fragments landing in Varanasi, Antarctica, and Africa, among other places. The team faced numerous leaks during shooting, with crucial information being revealed before the official announcements. The incident highlights the challenges faced by filmmakers in protecting their work in the digital age. Despite the rocky start, anticipation remains high for "Varanasi," Rajamouli's ambitious project with Mahesh Babu.
