Christopher Nolan arrived in Mumbai on Friday ahead of the India premiere of The Odyssey, making the city a key destination in the film’s international promotional campaign. The Oscar-winning director was accompanied by his wife and longtime producing collaborator Emma Thomas, along with actors Tom Holland and Matt Damon.
The team attended a special screening of The Odyssey at the IMAX theatre in Lower Parel on Friday evening, marking the first public screening of the film anywhere in the world. Following the screening, Nolan spoke to the audience about bringing one of his films to India for its launch for the first time.
“This is not the first time I’ve been to Mumbai, but it is the first time I’ve had the chance to launch a film here. So, you are amongst the first audiences in the world to see this film.”
Keeping the atmosphere light, Nolan then asked viewers, “By the way, did you like the film? So, just a quick question, who was better, Matt or Tom?”
After the audience cheered for both actors, Nolan responded, “They’re both fantastic. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for welcoming us. It’s always a thrill to be in India. I’ve had the pleasure of filming here twice, once in Jaipur, once in Mumbai. Every time I come here, it’s very, very special. For many years, I’ve wanted to come here and launch one of our films and experience it with Indian audiences, who are some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable cinematic audiences in the world. So, it’s such a thrill to be here in this fantastic complex.”
Damon also expressed his gratitude to the audience, noting that the Mumbai screening was the first occasion on which The Odyssey had been presented before a public gathering.
“This is really just wonderful. You’re the first, we’ve had a premiere already, but that’s like our family and friends. So, this is the first real audience we’ve been in front of that’s seen the film. It means the world to us that you liked it. We worked very, very hard on it. It was the result of thousands and thousands of people really pushing themselves, and each other, to make this happen, so that you could see it this way, filmed entirely in IMAX. We’re just so happy that you like it, and we’re so happy to be here.”
Holland too thanked Indian fans for their continued support and the enthusiastic response they bring to theatres.
“I would just like to say thank you for always welcoming us with such open arms, with so much happiness, excitement, grace and love. I think no one brings energy to a movie theatre like you do here in India. So, thank you for supporting us. Thank you for enjoying Chris’ amazing work, and I cannot wait to be back.”
The arrival of Nolan, Holland and Damon in Mumbai quickly became a major topic of discussion online, with images and videos from their visit spreading widely on social media. Holland was first seen at Mumbai airport before arriving at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel, while Nolan reached the venue separately with Emma Thomas. As he entered the hotel, Holland briefly turned towards photographers, smiled and waved while acknowledging fans gathered outside.
Mumbai is hosting two special screenings of The Odyssey. A select group of media representatives attended Friday’s screening, while Saturday’s event has been organised for members of the Indian film industry and celebrities. Before the industry screening at The Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba, Nolan is also expected to interact with Indian media.
Alongside London, Paris and New York, Mumbai has been included as an official stop on the film’s global premiere route, with Universal Pictures International making the city part of The Odyssey’s worldwide promotional tour.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) awarded The Odyssey an ‘A’ certificate on July 9 without suggesting any cuts or modifications, according to a report by Bollywood Hungama. No scenes or dialogues have been changed, meaning Indian audiences will watch the same version released internationally unless the studio has made voluntary alterations for the domestic market.
The CBFC certificate lists the film’s runtime as 172.33 minutes, making it 2 hours, 52 minutes and 33 seconds long.
The excitement surrounding The Odyssey has also been reflected in advance ticket sales across the country. In Delhi-NCR, IMAX shows are scheduled to begin as early as 6.30 am, with the most expensive ticket priced at Rs 2,500. Mumbai has registered the highest ticket price so far, with one IMAX ticket costing Rs 3,100, while Bengaluru’s premium IMAX ticket is priced at Rs 1,850. Chennai remains comparatively lower, with its costliest IMAX ticket available for Rs 508.
The Mumbai visit marks Nolan’s third official trip to India. His previous visit was in 2019 during the filming of Tenet, when he spent approximately ten days shooting important sequences with actors John David Washington and Robert Pattinson, who is also part of the cast of The Odyssey.
Before that, Nolan travelled to Jodhpur in 2011 to film parts of The Dark Knight Rises at the historic Mehrangarh Fort.
The Odyssey has attracted global attention for its ambitious scale and filmmaking approach. Shot across multiple countries, the film is the first feature to be photographed entirely with IMAX cameras, using newly developed IMAX technology.
Speaking to the Associated Press a few months ago, Nolan acknowledged the pressure involved in adapting Homer’s legendary epic.
“There’s a massive amount of pressure, Anyone taking on The Odyssey is taking on the hopes and dreams of people for epic movies everywhere and that comes with a huge responsibility.”
Recalling lessons from his work on The Dark Knight trilogy, he added:
“What I learned from that experience is that what people want from a movie about a beloved story, a beloved set of characters, is they want a strong and sincere interpretation. They want to know that a filmmaker has gone to the mat for it. I really tried to make the best film possible.”
Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey follows Odysseus’ challenging ten-year journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War. The film features an ensemble cast led by Matt Damon, with Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie and others appearing in key roles.
The film is scheduled to release in cinemas on July 17.
Also Read | Janhvi Kapoor's sweet nod to boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya in her mehendi
