Indian audiences watching The Odyssey in IMAX theatres across the USA were in for a pleasant surprise. Before the film began, IMAX showcased Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film Ramayana as one of its upcoming releases.
The moment the Ramayana title appeared on the giant screen, many Indian viewers said it gave them goosebumps.
Seeing one of India’s biggest mythological stories being promoted on the global IMAX platform was a proud and exciting moment.
Interestingly, many expected IMAX to also feature S.S. Rajamouli’s Varanasi in the upcoming releases lineup, but it wasn’t shown. This led to discussions on social media, with some wondering if Rajamouli had missed a smart marketing opportunity.
However, the reason is quite simple. Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to release this year, so it naturally finds a place in IMAX’s list of upcoming films.
Varanasi, on the other hand, is expected to release only in 2027. As the release date gets closer, IMAX will likely begin promoting it in a similar manner, if Rajamouli and team works on it.
More importantly, Rajamouli has always been known not just as a master storyteller but also as one of Indian cinema’s smartest marketers.
From Baahubali to RRR, he has consistently surprised audiences with innovative promotional strategies. If history is anything to go by, fans can expect something much bigger and more creative when the promotions for Varanasi officially begin.
For now, though, the sight of Ramayana lighting up IMAX screens before The Odyssey has already created excitement among Indian movie lovers and raised expectations for what promises to be one of the biggest cinematic events in the coming year.