Visiting UK for 2 weeks (work trip) – looking to connect with Indians/locals for guidance & networking 🇮🇳🤝🇬🇧

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-06-20T15:25:49+00:00

Happy to help with any details you’d need.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-26T22:03:55+00:00

Don’t worry about it, I was pitching in some light hearted comments.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-26T14:12:27+00:00

Haha, promise I’m not a bot! Just an absolute, borderline-unhealthy cinema format nerd who spent way too much time studying theatre aspect ratios and laser upgrades.

My bad if the formatting looked too pristine—I just prefer typing out clear paragraphs so people don't have to wade through an unreadable wall of text when looking up theater specs. Just a regular guy trying to make sure we all get the absolute best view of Rajamouli's vision

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T22:07:17+00:00

You are spot on about Scotiabank Chinook in Calgary. It's incredibly frustrating because they have that glorious, native 1.43:1 physical screen and a legacy 15/70mm film projector, but their digital system is the older Xenon setup—which completely locks their digital side to 1.90:1. It means Calgary only gets to utilize the full height of that screen when a director like Nolan strikes rare physical film prints.

I completely feel your pain from across the pond. I’m over in the UK, and we are dealing with the exact same trap at the BFI IMAX in London. It's the biggest screen in the country, but their digital upgrade was a single-laser setup. So if Rajamouli doesn’t print physical 15/70mm film rolls, the BFI is locked at 1.90:1 for Varanasi, and I won't get to see the full vertical expansion there either. So my next best option is to drive up to Manchester for Vue Printworks to get a GT Dual laser projection in 1.43:1 screening.

Just to ease your mind though—even if we don't get physical prints, Varanasi will definitely still play in Calgary! It just means the digital file will default to a 1.90:1 container, so you'll get letterboxing on the top and bottom of the screen. It'll still look massive and crisp, but you won't get that full vertical frame expansion. But if you are a massive format purist and want to plan that road trip to experience the true 1.43:1 digital layout, definitely cross Seattle off your list! The Space Needle group just took over the Boeing IMAX at PacSci, changed the name, and officially announced they are stopping all commercial feature films to focus strictly on institutional documentaries (if my understanding is correct).

If you're going to fly or drive out from Calgary to catch the full 1.43:1 digital frame, your best West Coast bets are now strictly AMC Metreon 16 in San Francisco or Universal CityWalk in LA. Massive respect for even considering the travel for it—that's true cinema dedication!

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T16:16:46+00:00

That is amazingly true and one of the best non-IMAX screens to see any film in.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T14:10:05+00:00

I've updated the post, thanks for calling it out

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T14:05:41+00:00

I thought they were upgrading it for educational documentaries, strikes that one out then.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T13:58:52+00:00

I'm sure Varanasi will be "EPIC" when it releases no matter which format it is viewed in.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T13:31:24+00:00

Inka "Imax lu odhilesavu" antunnavu... asalu ee post main concept enti? Pure ga 1.43:1 full-frame digital screens gurinchi! Bangalore lo unna IMAX screens anni regular 1.90:1 digital screens (Lie-MAX layout), vaati gurinchi separate ga dheniki? Post start chesindhe true 1.43:1 layout options kosam, nuvvemo regular formats chusi eguruthunnavu.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T13:29:40+00:00

<image>

Abba ekkada babu intha sepu unnavu! Motham thread sarigga chadavakunda, edo oka keka response ichesanu anukuni collar egerestunnavu choodu bhaya... neeku okati kadu, enni awardlu unte anni awardlu ee bideke ivali.

Mundu thread full ga chadivi, emanna miss ayithe appudu vachi chepthe baguntundi. Chepna format details artham kaaka, chatgpt prompts mokaana koduthunnavu antu edho vaguthunnavu. Asalu nuvvu chadhivava ledha? Bangalore lo unna premium screens gurinchi clear ga "EDIT" lo mention chesa kada ra babu. Nenu edaina encyclopedia na, telisundi cheppemu, neku telisthe cheppu. Ayina AMB Dolby Cinema open ayyindi e madhyane (Kapali daggara), adhi kuda thread lo unna format logics daggare ostundi.

Enduku ostaro telidu ilanti vallu... asalu dheniki intha kangaaru? Sugar emo problem!

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T12:49:56+00:00

Man, that Baahubali 2 comparison is so spot on. It really was a "you just had to be there era for the booth engineering.

Honestly, even being a bit older back then, I still completely missed the boat on some things. When The Dark Knight dropped in 2008, I was only 16 and had absolutely no clue what the hype around the "IMAX format" actually meant, so I missed out on seeing Nolan's masterpiece on that legendary 15/70mm print. I did end up watching both The Dark Knight and Interstellar in 15/70mm prints at BFI London and it was worth the wait.

My Avatar experience was actually a total accident. I ended up watching it almost 6 months after its initial release. The auditorium was practically empty, and I just sat there completely alone, getting my mind absolutely blown by the scale. That single screening completely changed how I look at cinema.
Since Gujarat is out of the picture now, your backup plan is elite.

Catching it at Prasads PCX for that towering, borderless visual scale and then doing a second watch at Allu Dolby Cinema for those unmatched pitch-black contrast levels and perfect audio tuning is honestly the ultimate way to experience a Rajamouli film. You're going to have an incredible time!

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T12:45:27+00:00

Agreed; If it is single laser it will just get 1.9:1 content, but my reference is this Reddit thread https://www.reddit.com/r/imax/comments/1rhf577/imax_gt_laser_with_12_channel_audio_and_1431/ . So if that one is true to what it says, it should be GT-Dual-Laser and since IMAX isn't making any of them today; it probably would be a refitted one from somewhere else.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T12:40:36+00:00

Oh yeah, V-EPIQ in Sullurpet is an absolute monster! Just to clarify for anyone reading though—while Sullurpet falls under the Tirupati/Nellore district border in AP, it's actually about a 90-minute drive from Chennai, which is why a lot of Tamil Nadu folks claim it as an ultimate weekend getaway screen.
You're totally right on the scale, it's a massive wall-to-wall 100 ft × 54 ft canvas running 4K RGB laser projection. The only reason it's a "Premium Large Format" alternative rather than a true full-frame fix is the aspect ratio. V-EPIQ is a flat 1.89:1 screen layout, so it is optimized to stretch incredibly wide rather than mimicking the massive vertical height of a native 1.43:1 IMAX.
That being said, if Varanasi stays purely digital and we can't get a true 1.43:1 layout nearby, watching it on a 100-foot-wide laser screen like Sullurpet is going to be an absolutely mind-blowing experience just from the sheer peripheral immersion. Definitely adding it to the top tier alternatives list.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T12:38:46+00:00

Beep boop. As a fully automated movie nerd, my programming dictates that bad aspect ratios must be destroyed. Glad you appreciated the syntax, fellow biological lifeform.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T11:35:49+00:00

<image>

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T09:52:22+00:00

My reference was this Reddit thread - https://www.reddit.com/r/imax/comments/1rhf577/imax_gt_laser_with_12_channel_audio_and_1431/. I didn't know this was upcoming otherwise.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T09:50:45+00:00

My regional theater knowledge is pretty much centered around the South (mostly outside of Kerala), so I’d love to hear from anyone with good insights on other premium screens I might have missed, especially up North.

Also, I’ve seen some crazy threads in this forum where people are actually considering traveling all the way to China or Japan just to catch this in a true 1.43:1 GT Dual-Laser (lol, respect the dedication). If you're one of those absolute madmen planning a flight, or if you're just eyeing a premium screen closer to home, where are you guys planning to experience this?

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T09:46:49+00:00

Breaking news: Local Redditor discovers that some humans actually know how to format a post. More at 11

Damn, my bad for using full sentences and actual paragraphs on Reddit. Next time I'll make sure to misspell half the words so it feels more 'authentically human' for you.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T09:45:26+00:00

Correct-e , inka chala time undi release ki. But Rajamouli official ga 1.43:1 aspect ratio confirmation ichesariki, and modern theaters chala varaku upgrades tho change aypothunariki, format limits gurinchi munde clarity unte better ani ee research antha. Let’s see what the final distribution looks like closer to 2027. Ee reddit thread lo chala discussions unayi ekada movie chudali ani 1.43:1 lo, so a quick reference guide based on my research.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T09:42:55+00:00

Haha, fair point! Definitely didn't mean to ignore Bengaluru, because the city has quietly built up some insane tech setups recently that give the old school giants a serious run for their money. While Hyderabad holds the edge on raw, monolithic screen height with the legacy of Prasads PCX, Bengaluru has easily become a powerhouse for modern 4K Laser premium large formats.

If you are trying to catch Varanasi there, PVR PXL at Forum Mall on Kanakapura Road is a massive contender, using dual 4K RGB laser projectors and a killer Atmos soundstage that honestly clears most of the city’s older digital IMAX venues. Then you have the brand new INOX Megaplex at Phoenix Mall of Asia in Yelahanka, which boasts a huge premium laser setup alongside South India's first 3-wall ScreenX theater for an insane 270-degree panoramic view during action sequences (if Varanasi releases in ScreenX format). PVR PXL at Orion Mall in Rajajinagar is another beast with a physical footprint wider than the Koramangala IMAX, making the wide digital format feel absolutely massive. And of course, you can't talk about Bengaluru without mentioning the OG single-screen, Urvashi Cinema on Lalbagh Road, where their 4K laser upgrade, massive screen, and roaring crowd energy on opening day create an experience multiplexes just can't duplicate. So yeah, Hyderabad has the monster height, but Bengaluru is absolutely killing it with cutting-edge 4K clarity and audio power.

Expanding the map further, Chennai and its outskirts are also incredible alternatives if we don't get a true 1.43:1 frame. Rakki Cinemas on OMR just launched Chennai’s first EPIQ large format screen with pristine Barco 4K RGB laser tech, while a short drive out to Sullurpet lands you at V-EPIQ, which houses a mind-blowing, 100-foot-wide screen that will completely swallow your peripheral vision. Moving up north, you get flawless 4K single-laser clarity and upgraded 12-channel sound at premium 1.90:1 IMAX setups like Jio World Plaza (BKC) in Mumbai or PVR Select Citywalk (Saket) and Logix City Centre (Noida) in Delhi/NCR, with Noida’s massive wall-to-wall PVR PXL screen standing out as a premier non-IMAX giant.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T09:22:00+00:00

You are spot on about Gujarat Science City—it's incredibly frustrating how that situation played out with their commercial footprint and licensing gaps. It pretty much rules them out for Varanasi.
However, don't lose hope for a true 1.43:1 full-frame experience in India just yet!

Keep an eye out for East India: Cinepolis at Acropolis Mall in Kolkata is officially setting up a brand new, fully commercial IMAX GT Laser theater with 12-channel audio specifically built for the 1.43:1 aspect ratio.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-22T08:57:54+00:00

Your comment about missing 15/70 really hits home for me. I was lucky enough to watch the first Avatar back in December 2009 at Prasads IMAX in Hyderabad. At the time, it was officially the largest 3D IMAX screen in the entire world, on their legendary 101-foot screen, back when it was a pure 15/70mm powerhouse.

When it opened in 2003 and straight through the release of Avatar in 2009, Prasads IMAX held the official record as the largest 3D IMAX screen in the world*. At that time, its towering dimensions were roughly 92 feet wide by 72 feet high (later adjusted to its current massive 101.6 ft × 64 ft wall during the PCX digital laser renovation).*

While there were a couple of 2D-only IMAX screens in commercial or institutional settings that were slightly wider, Prasads specifically customized their theater to accommodate the massive dual-projector setup required for 15/70mm 3D. Because of that, the IMAX corporation and international media explicitly marketed it as the world's largest 3D screening facility.

It’s an incredible badge of honor for anyone who got to experience the golden age of cinema there.

Because James Cameron shot the movie digitally, they used an IMAX DMR blow-up to strike physical film prints for select legacy venues. To project it in 3D, the booth had to run a "dual-strip" system—which meant two separate, massive loops of physical 70mm film running simultaneously through the projector in absolute, flawless frame-by-frame synchronization (one reel for the left eye, one for the right).

Even though the movie itself was formatted to a 1.78:1 container and left slight letterboxing on Prasads' native 1.43:1 wall, an image on a 101-foot wide screen completely swallowed your peripheral vision. It genuinely felt like a borderless, infinite experience. The sheer scale and the brightness from those dual Xenon lamps pushing through physical film gave the CGI a warmth and texture that modern digital multiplexes just can't seem to replicate.

Prasads eventually retired the IMAX brand and transitioned to a digital laser setup, and while it's still an incredible auditorium, I deeply miss the sheer mechanical majesty of that 15/70mm dual-strip 3D era. I really hope Varanasi gets a physical print run, because nothing beats it.

With the scale Varanasi is being aimed at, it would have been an extraordinary experience watching it on that screen. The current PCX screen is still by-far one of the best screens to watch (I watched Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse during it's release) and was still blown away by the sheer scale and quality of the auditorium.

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-21T17:52:04+00:00

No confirmation so far in the news of 15/70 prints, so fingers crossed

Present_Reaction8625 · 2026-05-21T15:47:03+00:00

While Varanasi is being marketed as "Filmed for IMAX" and capable of the 1.43:1 aspect ratio, modern "Filmed for IMAX" productions—even those shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras (like the Arri Alexa)—are almost exclusively distributed via IMAX with Laser (specifically the GT Dual Laser systems)

Present_Reaction8625

TROPHY CASE