SS Rajamouli reveals 'Ramayana' link in 'Varanasi'; says 'All my films are inspired by lord Rama'

Director SS Rajamouli has fans waiting patiently for his magnum opus, 'Varanasi' that is still a year away from its release. Last November, the director gave fans a tease of all that is in store when he released a teaser and also sat down for candid chats with international media to talk about his film, its inspiration and more.Considering that the teaser hinted at a strong mythical influence, the director admitted that his film draws directly from the Ramayana and shared his optimism about people resonating with it, even if they were not familiar with the ancient text. Rajamouli said to Polygon, "All my films are inspired by the epics of (lord) Rama." He added, “In this film, I have a chance to actually take an actual episode from Ramayana itself and present it in this way.”When asked if his audience will have to do some background research before watching the film deep-rooted in mythology, Rajamouli said, “It is my job as a storyteller to make you not feel lost, to make the film in such a way that it's not taxing your mind.” He explained, “You might not understand the whole story of Rama, but there is no need to. If you understand the emotions of the characters, you'll understand what is happening.”'Varanasi' about a father-son storyAt its core, Varanasi will centre on intimate human relationships set against a vast cinematic landscape, and different geographical boundaries. When asked about the most important emotional threads in the film, the director said that it revolved around “a father and son” relationship, much like that of Rama and King Dasharatha, as well as the evolving dynamic between protagonist Rudra, played by Mahesh Babu, and a mysterious thief named Mandakini, portrayed by Priyanka Chopra. "It’s so endearing and relatable. Even when the canvas is gigantic, it’s these emotions that people will resonate with," he said. 'Varanasi' release date'Varanasi', which also stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, is one of Rajamouli’s most ambitious projects to date. The film, reportedly shot in IMAX, will hit the big screens on 7 April, 2027.