08 October,2026 03:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu. Pics via AFP and Instagram
SS Rajamouli's Varanasi is already shaping up to be one of Indian cinema's most ambitious projects, and the film is now adding another unusual element to its time-travelling adventure. Starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Prithviraj Sukumaran, the film will reportedly feature a completely fictional language created specifically for the story.
According to Variety India, a linguistic expert has been brought on board to develop the language. The requirement goes beyond simply inventing a few words or phrases. The language is expected to have its own written form, along with a structured system that will help the characters decode it as part of their journey through different periods of history.
The sequence reportedly takes the protagonists into a cave whose walls are covered in ancient writings. To uncover the mystery surrounding the inscriptions, they will have to learn the unfamiliar language. This makes the fictional language more than a background detail, with its meaning potentially playing into the narrative.
Creating fictional languages for fantasy and science-fiction worlds has previously been associated with major international franchises. J.R.R. Tolkien, a linguist himself, developed multiple languages and writing systems for Middle-earth, including Elvish scripts and the Black Speech of Mordor. The Game of Thrones universe also expanded its fictional languages, with linguist David J. Peterson developing Dothraki and High Valyrian for the screen. High Valyrian was later made available for audiences to learn through Duolingo.
This is not the first time Rajamouli has incorporated an invented language into one of his films. Baahubali: The Beginning featured Kiliki, the language spoken by the Kalakeya warriors. Rajamouli worked with lyricist and writer Madhan Karky to develop it for the 2015 epic.
However, Kiliki was primarily created for dialogue and was not explored through an extensive written system. Varanasi appears to be taking the idea considerably further by requiring a language that can also exist visually through an ancient script.
With Varanasi, Rajamouli appears to be bringing that level of world-building into an Indian time-travel spectacle. The film is expected to move between different locations and historical periods, making its fictional language another tool to build the world beyond the central characters. Varanasi is scheduled to release on April 7, 2027.
