On July 4, 2025, Namit Malhotra asked X to announce that the ambitious retelling of the epic Ramayana would be “filmed for IMAX”.

“Witness the immortal story of Rama vs Ravana. Ramayana. Our truth. Our history. Filmed for IMAX. For a better world from India,” he wrote.

The announcement hinted at the scale of the project and marked an important moment for it Indian cinema. 4,000 crore, two-part film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Malhotra, is the first Indian film to be officially filmed for IMAX certification.

For a film attempting to bring one of India’s most enduring epics to the big screen, the decision is spot on. From expansive landscapes and elaborate fight sequences to the larger-than-life world of gods, demons and divine intervention, the story lends itself to a format designed to make the audience feel part of the action.

But here’s the thing. While the Ramayana is ‘filmed for IMAX’, does India have the infrastructure to show audiences the full IMAX experience? And what exactly are viewers getting when they book an expensive IMAX ticket? Let’s break it down from the beginning.

What does ‘filmed for IMAX’ really mean?

First things first. IMAX is not just a big cinema screen. Short for Image Max, the format uses specialized cameras, image processing, projection technology, screen design and sound systems to create a more immersive viewing experience.

Unlike a traditional widescreen presentation, IMAX can offer a higher aspect ratio, allowing more of the image to fill the screen vertically. Depending on the theater and presentation, this may mean seeing more of the film’s visuals than you would in a regular cinema.

For Ramayana, the ‘Filmed for IMAX’ certification means the production was produced with the format in mind, using IMAX-certified digital cameras and a filmmaking process that considers how the images will ultimately look on IMAX screens.

This is different from converting an already finished film into an IMAX presentation. The idea is to consider the format from the filmmaking stage itself, including framing, composition and final presentation.

However, there is an important distinction worth making: Filmed for IMAX does not mean that the film was shot on IMAX 70mm film. It uses standard digital camera technology, rather than the specialized 15-perforation 70mm film cameras associated with the format’s most popular releases.

And that brings us to the format that cinema buffs often consider the gold standard.

IMAX 70mm: a rare format

Not all IMAX theaters offer the same experience.

Although most commercial IMAX screens today use digital or laser projection (both are projection technologies; however, laser is more advanced), IMAX 70mm film remains a special form.

The difference is how much visual information it captures and projects. Traditional IMAX 70mm film runs horizontally through the projector, using 15 perforations per frame. It can provide an aspect ratio of 1.43:1, producing a significantly taller image than the standard widescreen format.

It’s a presentation that filmmakers like Christopher Nolan have championed in films like Odyssey, Interstellar, Dunkirk and Oppenheimer.

Thanks to whoever made this guide… now you can all see how format doesn’t really matter in Christopher Nolan movies… this image shows the most important information in each frame even in the 35mm frame, while the 70mm has some extra images… it doesn’t really give you anything more important to the story than in 35mm. The crux is, be it Scope or IMAX, Nolan’s films look good in every cinema; How good is his framing. I’ve seen #Oppenheimer on two scope screens and two IMAX screens, and I can say I didn’t miss anything on the scope screens. Please don’t get stuck in this format or that format, this cinema or that cinema. Pick whichever is closest, whichever is at least 4K laser, and whichever is cheaper. #TheOdyssey Enjoy the movie not the formats.

— Partha Chaturvedi (@_mrcaturvedi) July 16, 2026

But managing these theaters is not an easy task. Projectors are bulky, spare parts are difficult to source, film prints are expensive to manufacture and transport, and the equipment requires special expertise to operate. The number of commercially operated 70mm IMAX venues has dwindled, with digital and laser projection offering a more viable option.

The rarity of the format becomes apparent when you look at the numbers. According to the worldwide list updated in August 2026, there are approximately 41 theaters capable of screening IMAX 70mm films. Of these, 25 are in the US, nine in Canada, three in the UK and four in other parts of the world.

Meanwhile, India has a very complicated relationship with the format.

India has an IMAX 70mm projector. But can you actually watch a movie on it?

Over the years, there were several theaters in India equipped with IMAX 70mm technology. These include IMAX AdLabs in Mumbai, Prasad IMAX in Hyderabad, Arena R Multiplex in Ghaziabad and Kolkata and Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad.

India used to have several 70mm IMAX screens (Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad being the biggest) and now only one exists in Ahmedabad but it is being used only for science documentaries.
by u/sidroy81 in the imax

However, as cinema exhibition gradually moved towards digital projection, most of these venues either closed their 70mm operations or converted to other formats.

Today, the Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad is widely recognized as the country’s one surviving installation of true IMAX 70mm film projection technology.

But having the equipment does not mean having a theater where audiences can book tickets for commercial IMAX 70mm releases.

Gujarat Museum sources told NDTV that the facility is currently closed for upgrades and is not being used for regular film screenings. We’ve also reached out to the museum for more details and will update the story when we hear back.

Coming back to Ramayana, even if the Ahmedabad facility has the necessary projection technology, that does not automatically mean that the film can be screened there in 70mm. A commercial release will require a physical film print, operational equipment and necessary arrangements for screening. Over the years, the theater has stopped showing Bollywood movies and is now mainly used for scientific experiments and educational projections.

Simply put, an IMAX screen in a multiplex in Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore (which we are paying thousands to watch) may provide a great experience through digital or laser projection, but it is not the same as watching a movie on a true IMAX 70mm system.

So, what exactly will the Indian audience get?

The good news is that India does not completely lack IMAX infrastructure, even though it lacks commercially accessible 70mm film projection.

PVR INOX, one of the largest cinema exhibition chains in the country, currently operates 27 IMAX screens across its network following the inauguration of its latest auditorium at Pacific Mall in Jaipur yesterday (November 5). The new auditorium features 4K laser projection, Dolby surround sound and next-generation 3D technology.

Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Executive Director, PVR Inox Limited, says that the appetite for premium cinema experiences in India has increased significantly.

“The appetite for premium and immersive cinematic experiences in India has grown exponentially. Audiences today want to experience movies on a larger scale, and technology is playing an increasingly important role in shaping that experience. At PVR INOX, we continue to expand our IMAX presence and invest in technology that brings these experiences closer to audiences across the country,” he said.

He adds that the company has also upgraded over 150 screens with 3D projection capabilities in preparation for Ramayana.

“Films like Ramayana, with its visual scale and storytelling ambition, also show how technology can enhance the theatrical experience. This strengthens our technology infrastructure and gives us more flexibility in the way we present films in our theatres,” says Bijli.

However, there is still a difference between watching Ramayana in an IMAX laser auditorium and watching it in a true IMAX 70mm theater.

The former will offer a specially designed IMAX presentation of the film, with a large screen, immersive sound and the benefits of its digital capture. The latter will offer a special 70mm film projection experience, provided the film has a corresponding print.

And while the latter is currently out of reach for Indian audiences, that doesn’t mean the IMAX experience will be compromised in every way.

Is India ready for the IMAX era?

There is quite an interesting thing about the situation. An Indian production was created with a global cinematic format in mind, but the country is still working to build the exhibition infrastructure that can accommodate every version of that experience.

The increasing number of IMAX screens, investment in laser projection and expansion of 3D capabilities suggest that exhibitors recognize the demand. Another example of that push is the opening of Jaipur’s first IMAX auditorium just before Ramayana.

Ramayana was made with a global cinematic format in mind. Photo: Ramayana

But the big question remains whether it will encourage more Indian filmmakers to think about premium formats from the start of production, rather than an afterthought.

After all, IMAX isn’t just about making a movie bigger. It is about how a filmmaker wants the audience to see and experience a story.

For the Ramayana, a story that has traveled across generations, languages ​​and geographies, there is clearly a desire to make that experience as expansive as possible.

Whether Indian cinema eventually develops the necessary infrastructure to match that ambition is a story that is still unfolding.