SS Rajamouli’s latest film Varanasi has set the internet buzzing ever since its grand showcase event, where Mahesh Babu made a striking entrance riding a mechanical bull, recreating the visual seen in the film’s teaser. The bull-riding imagery — combined with the film’s mythological elements — has already become a key talking point online.

But this moment has unexpectedly reopened conversations from another era. As the Varanasi visuals went viral, fans began resurfacing a stunt sequence from Kamal Haasan’s ambitious yet unfinished 1997 epic Marudhanayagam. The comparison has triggered a debate within film circles and fandom spaces about how such scenes were executed then versus now.

While Mahesh Babu’s bull moment is powered by modern assistance such as mechanical rigs and visual effects, Kamal Haasan’s sequence stands tall as a symbol of raw physical execution. Fans highlight that the Ulaganayagan trained with real bulls extensively to pull off the scene without CGI — a testament to his dedication to authenticity in a time when technology could not compensate for risk. This renewed attention has once again underlined why Kamal Haasan is celebrated so widely across Indian cinema for his relentless commitment to his craft.

With Varanasi showcasing what today’s filmmaking tools can achieve, the resurfaced Marudhanayagam clip serves as a nostalgic reminder of the era when filmmaking depended on pure physical effort and daring artistry. And even though Kamal Haasan’s dream project remains unfinished, moments like this prove that its legacy continues to live — and inspire — every time cinema evolves.