‘Varanasi’ Gets a Mythological Makeover

S.S. Rajamouli’s upcoming Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, appears to be taking a more deeply mythological turn, with the Ramayan becoming an integral part of its narrative rather than merely a dramatic detour. Elements from the Ramayan are reportedly woven through the film’s nearly three-hour runtime, with the narrative reworked to incorporate mythological concepts and ancient cosmic artefacts organically into the story.

Mahesh Babu plays Rudhra, whose high-stakes mission takes him across Varanasi, Africa, Antarctica and ancient Rome. The film also blends science fiction with an impending asteroid threat and a complex, multi-timeline time-travel plot.

The result is being positioned as a genre-bending epic in which Indian mythology drives a contemporary global sci-fi survival story.

But the mythological makeover throws up an intriguing question: with Mahesh Babu’s Rudhra increasingly drawing from the imagery and mythology of Lord Rama, where does that leave Ranbir Kapoor’s much-awaited portrayal of Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana?