Baahubali: The Epic Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Ramya Krishnan, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sathyaraj, Nasser
Director: S.S. Rajamouli
What’s Good: Everything!
What’s Bad: Some fantastic songs have been edited out!
Loo Break: Are you joking?
Watch or Not?: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
Language: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 224 Minutes
User Rating:
We all know the story. The kingdom of Mahishmati crowned the younger brother, Maharaja Vikramadeva, as king, as the elder brother, Bijjaladeva (Nasser), was not deemed fit to rule in terms of his buddhi (mindset). Later, Bijjaladeva’s son, Bhallaladeva (Rana Daggubati), elder to Veerendra’s son, Amarendra Baahubali (Prabhas), loses out to the latter as he too does not have the qualities needed for a king – to be as caring for his people as he is ruthless towards his enemies. Sivagami (Ramya Krishnan), Bijjaladeva’s wife, treats both the prince-regents as her offspring and manages the kingdom when Vikramadeva’s wife dies in childbirth.
The princess of the neighboring state of Kunthala, Devasena (Anushka Shetty), and Amarendra fall in love, and this incenses Bijjaladeva and his son, who desires her after seeing her image in a painting. The two manipulate Sivagami, and so Devasena and Baahubali are first exiled, and then the evil father and son hatch a successful plan to get Amarendra killed by loyal warrior Kattappa (Sathyaraj). A pregnant Devasena delivers a boy even as Kattappa tells Sivagami the truth, and she is filled with remorse.
To avoid her son killing Devasena’s baby, she escapes from the kingdom and is killed by her pursuers, but the boy survives and is adopted by a village couple, growing up to be Shivudu, the spitting image of his father. Devasena has been imprisoned but is still defiant 25 years later, living with the unshakable confidence that her son will return, avenge his father’s death, and reclaim the throne by killing Bhallaladeva.
Baahubali – The Epic Movie Review: Script Analysis
A note for the Oscar Library and similar: if you do not possess this script, it is your loss, especially since the criteria for choosing Indian films seems confused!
The story and screenplay, penned by the iconic V. Vijayendra Prasad along with director and co-writer S.S. Rajamouli, his son, remains one of the finest ever in Indian cinema history. Flawless to the core, it had left the first Baahubali—The Beginning’s audiences thirsting for the rest of the saga when it ended with Kattappa killing Amarendra despite being his staunch army general.
Baahubali 2—The Conclusion, released less than two years later, explained and concluded everything very satisfactorily indeed. The story was formulaic, with every ingredient—emotions, drama, romance, a bit of humour, and some of the greatest music—in perfect proportion, with self-admitted references also by the writer to iconic Hindi films as well.
What is even more interesting and gratifying is that the ‘join’ done here is seamless, and makes the flow so smooth that the franchise takes rebirth as a masterful single film. Yes, some magnificent songs (especially from the first part) are eliminated in the process, sequences naturally deleted for length, and the wonder is that the little add-on material (as the buzz goes) is so smoothly inserted that one does not even realize it.
The film’s highlights include the way Shivudu first meets the revolutionary Avanthika (Tamannaah Bhatia), his discovery of who he really is, the way he first scythes through Mahishmati, and lastly, the extended climax. Yes, the 224 minutes pass by, and I, for one, was a bit disappointed when I realized that the film had only about 15-20 minutes to go. The spectacular sets and magnificently-executed battle scenes serve the needs of the script, not vice-versa, as in many other misguided blockbusters.
Baahubali – The Epic Movie Review: Star Performance
Again, nothing further needs to be said about this aspect. The star performers remain Prabhas (who became known as “the first pan-Indian star” after this film!), Sathyaraj as Kattappa, Anushka Shetty as Devasena, doughty, daring, and determined, Ramya Krishnan as Sivagami, and Nasser as the near-comic yet vicious Bijjaladeva. Rohini, as Shivudu’s foster-mother, is excellent. Rana Daggubati’s villainy is effective, if stereotyped, ditto for Prabhakar as Kalakeya in a far briefer role. Tamannaah Bhatia fits the bill as Avanthika, the key member of the resistance by the Kunthalas against Mahishmati.
RRR Trailer Review: Just like Baahubali, SS Rajamouli’s upcoming magnum opus is enjoying buzz like anything. Ever since the project was announced with names like Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, and Alia Bhatt, the film was said to be a blockbuster. Now, the trailer is out and has already shattered records! But is it worth all the hype? Let’s discuss this in detail.
First of all, get it clear in your mind that SS Rajamouli is a maverick filmmaker. He is known for gifting some visually appealing films that are full of grandeur. But unlike most filmmakers, his work always assures you a high dose of entertainment. So, it’s not only about the big canvas.
Speaking about the trailer (Hindi), RRR takes you back during the British era in India. It starts with a person speaking about a girl one British officer forcibly took away along with him. The girl belongs to the Gond tribe. And there enters our first hero, Jr NTR. He looks heroic, especially when he roars back at a tiger.
Trending
Jr NTR is a powerful man, fighting against all evils. To stop him, one police officer, a part of the British police force, is appointed. He’s none other than Ram Charan. He too gets his share of the heroic entrance. Interestingly, as the trailer suggests, Ram and NTR share a close friendship, more or less a bond of brotherhood. However, Ram arrests NTR for being a rebel against the British government.
The trailer takes a twist when we witness Ram Charan and Jr NTR coming together to take on their enemies.
Apart from the two leading men, the RRR trailer glimpses us with Ajay Devgn’s powerful presence. Unfortunately, we got to see just a little of Alia Bhatt.
Speaking of the SS Rajamouli’s cinematic canvas, in a duration of 3 minutes and 16 seconds, the filmmaker excites us with tremendous sets and VFX work. Especially, the fight shots towards the end look superb. Also, hands down to background music, that holds your attention.
On the whole, the RRR trailer lives up to its hype! Now, keep your calm and wait for January 7, 2022.
Watch the trailer below:
Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
Rating: 4/5 Stars (Four stars)
Star Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj, Nasser, Ramya Krishnan, Sudeep, Adivi Sesh, Tanikella Bharani, Rakesh Varre
Director: S.S. Rajamouli
What’s Good: Frankly, all of it. Extraordinary visual effects & a suitable background score enhance the film’s plot. What absolutely stands out is the war sequence in the film; it took them 200 days to shoot the elaborate action. The detailing, precisions & sheer aggression of this war sequence makes ‘Bahubali’ a one of it’s kind film. Bodies pile up faster than a city’s garbage, and weapons from Indian tales are used most imaginatively. Yet you can’t get enough of it! That it merges weaponry from Indian epics & Amar Chitra Katha with technical wizardry of 21st century VFX, makes this portion stand out from Hollywood comparisons.
What’s Bad: Honestly, some of the acting is just over the top. Mythology shouldn’t translate to melodrama, but in this film, it does.
A flaw that catches your eye in this otherwise near perfect canvas is the cardboard model like kingdom of Mahashwate. It’s the only flaw in the authenticity that this film’s elaborate VFX manage to achieve.
Loo break: You gotta go only if you gotta go!
Watch or Not?: Most definitely, watch! The visual spectacle alone is worth experiencing, apart from enjoying a genuine Indian mythical tale of good versus evil. ‘Bahubali’ has achieved what many films have aspired to-mind-boggling scale.
Also, watch this film for its dream like treatment of extraordinary feats that look effortless after Rajamouli’s treatment. Be it Prabhas climbing a gigantic waterfall step by step, or chasing a fairy princess like Tamannaah who turns out to be hardened, sexy warrior with a weaponized mid riff, aesthetics and allure ease out the aggression at suitable points.
User Rating:
Bahubali is something else! That’s the first thought that strikes you when you leave the theatre. A mythical tale of a displaced heir to a kingdom who accidentally returns as the prodigal son, the film captures Indian mythology in a grand, action packed and dramatic visual ride. Be it a suffering, brave mother; or another who gives her life to protect the baby Bahubali, or a cruel king egged on by lowly courtiers; or a nature loving, swashbuckling, natural born king, Bahubali encapsulates elements of mythology in modern cinema in breath taking fantasy.
The first part of Rajamouli’s epic covers the journey that leads Shiva to become Bahubali. A likeable, handsome & super strong young man, Shiva moves rocks, boulders & a solid Shiva Linga with some effort and lopes around, carrying them like rucksacks. All that he does is incredible, and hints that his destiny is meant for a life beyond the regular. A childhood dream to climb a waterfall is fulfilled after a fairy like beauty (Tamannaah) entices him; she turns out to be the warrior, Avantika who is fighting the evil king of Mahashwate, Bhallal Deva (Rana Daggubati). Bhallal Deva has imprisoned their queen, Devsena (Anushka Shetty), whom Shiva sets out to free. That’s when he is spotted as Bahubali. The film builds up to a dramatic end, and closes on a promise of more to come in its sequel.
Despite complete leaps of imagination and superhuman qualities to its hero, this fantasy- mythical film shocks and awes at first watch, making you contemplate a second trip just to get your head around the whole deal!
Baahubali Review: Script Analysis
The script isn’t absolutely new or fabulous. To be fair, as its director S S Rajamouli has often said, the film encapsulates tales of Amar Chitra Katha to create a story of destiny & justice. It draws from various Indian mythical tales.
Baahubali Review: Star Performance
Prabhas is on top of his game & Rana Daggubati is menacing in perfect mythical villain manner.
But while Prabhas, Rana & Ramya Krishnan are brilliant, others tend to over bulge their eyes, over puff their chests & over do every emotion.
