SS Rajamouli has written that he really hopes that by the time Mahesh Babu's Varanasi releases in Summer 2027, India will have at least a 1.43 IMAX screen in India, including another one in Hyderabad.
Experts have previously weighed in on this issue. The 1.43:1 aspect ratio represents the absolute "gold standard" of the IMAX experience, typically achieved with the massive IMAX 70mm film format or the latest IMAX GT (Grand Theatre) Dual Laser system. "This setup requires screens that are much taller than the common 1.90:1 digital IMAX screens, filling the viewer's entire vertical and peripheral vision. A true 1.43:1 screen requires a purpose-built auditorium with immense ceiling height and volume, which drives up construction costs significantly compared to retrofitting an existing multiplex screen for a smaller 1.90:1 digital IMAX," a specialist once wrote.
It is important for some risk-taker to come forward. "There is a window of opportunity for a major exhibitor to commit to building a flagship IMAX GT Dual Laser theatre (which can also project in 1.43:1) and lobby the government for a special exemption on ticket pricing for such a premium experience," a Reddit user added.
