SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi: Who’s Under the Biggest Pressure?

After proudly winning an Oscar on the global stage, MM Keeravani is now carrying a huge responsibility on his shoulders. The music he is going to compose for SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film Varanasi is being awaited not just by Tollywood lovers, but also by movie fans across the world. Many people are already expecting the music to match, if not surpass, the impact of Naatu Naatu, which has naturally increased the pressure on him.

Instead of unrealistically hyping the music and later disappointing audiences, Keeravani chose to set expectations clearly. About two months ago, in an interview with a well known English magazine, he openly addressed this topic. He revealed that Varanasi will have six songs in total. At the same time, he clearly stated that he is not promising music that will be bigger than or superior to RRR. He explained that RRR and Varanasi are completely different stories with no connection to each other, and therefore comparisons are unnecessary.

Keeravani emphasized that Varanasi would contain all the required musical elements, songs, episodes, and sequences needed to emotionally engage audiences. Recently, the Sanchari song was released, but it was decent and nothing extraordinary that would generate hype. The makers also did not give clarity on whether that song will be part of the main album.

At this stage of his career, Keeravani is putting in immense effort to deliver his best once again. If he manages to deliver magic with Varanasi, his name could echo loudly at the international level once more. Director SS Rajamouli and producer SS Karthikeya are already planning carefully to increase the film’s Oscar prospects. They are leaving no stone unturned in spreading awareness for the film in the west. The recently released interviews with Hollywood channels and publications are proof of what Rajamouli has in his mind. RRR winning global acclaim and the Oscars has put immense pressure on both Rajamouli and Keeravani.

Rajamouli aims to complete shooting by summer so that the team gets ample time for post-production and global publicity. Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu has fully dedicated himself to Varanasi, without even considering other films or scripts. All signs suggest that the team is working with a clear vision and long-term global ambition. Varanasi is all set to release on April 7, 2027.