250 Crores. That is the amount they claim to have spent on this movie. It’s called India’s Biggest Motion Picture. And not for nothing either. Baahubali is by far the most stunningly made fantasy in Indian Cinema, and that includes Gunda!
Now, S.S.Rajamouli has proven his mettle, both in storytelling and VFX, earlier. His Magadheera from 2009 was a visual spectacle, with a riveting reincarnation story. And his insanely ingenious Eega from 2012 proved that he could make a hero out of a mosquito, literally. So, no big surprises when he makes Prabhas look like a God in Baahubali! Here is a master, with vision beyond compare and I just hope others dream as big, coz he has shown the way.
Let’s talk about the movie. It is a fantasy tale of kingly proportions and it is designed to be a visual spectacle. Most blockbusters are simple tales and so is Baahubali. It’s a very straightforward clichéd plot of deception. Every other Kingly film has the same tale, so Rajamouli really didn’t spend too much time thinking about the story progression. And that is a good thing, because he meticulously planned out the screenplay, which is riveting to say the least. Even useless song and dance sequences are filled with so much ingenuity, that you can’t help but smile.
So Baahubali is about a prince who is smuggled out of a kingdom, when it becomes too dangerous for him to be there. His evil uncle has usurped the throne and doesn’t want him to be alive. He grows up in a village, fascinated by a majestic waterfall that he wishes to scale and conquer. And when he does, he comes back to meet his destiny. Armed with god given strength and combat skill, he begins the revolution to save his mom and his kingdom. Just like that!
Rajamouli expects you to suspend all belief and common-sense while watching the film. And why not? It’s the emotion and the grandeur he wants you to look at. And he succeeds. Even though the song and dance sequences are laughable, the love story is atrocious and the rise of Baahubali is beyond belief, you are still gripped by the film. It’s the raw emotion that Rajamouli pours into each sequence.
And then there is the scale of the action sequences. For the first time, you see a 20000 men army fight a 1-lakh strong army in an Indian film and feel like it is actually happening. Yes, we have seen better in Hollywood, but this gives hope that we are getting there. The production quality, the camerawork, the background score, the art direction - are insanely good and the battle sequences spectacular. Rajamouli truly gives hope that India can produce groundbreaking fantasies in the future. Maybe in the future, we can also expect better story lines, but then what I am wishing for is in the realms of fantasy too!
Finally, the performances are competent enough. Prabhas provides the right mix of muscle, anger and creepy smile, while Rana Dagubatti plays the perfect Sher Khan ( yeah, he has the menacing cut on the face). Ramya and Anushka, the grandmother and mother of Baahubali play their roles with more than required wide-eyed-menace. But, one of the most brilliant performances comes from Sathyaraj, who plays the loyal servant Kattappa. Tamannaah starts off well in true Hunger Games Katniss style, but settles into a lame clichéd heroine role.
Anyway, the film belongs to one man and one man alone, the Baahubali of the film – Rajamouli! It’s his vision that keeps you wanting more even after 2 and half hours. And it’s not taxing either. The time will fly and you will step out thinking when will you be able to watch Part 2. Yes, that will come in 2016. But for now, go enjoy an Indian fantasy film worth watching and talking about. And lest I forget, language doesn’t matter – it’s not about the dialogues anyway!
Rating: 8/10 – For breaking new ground and for the guts of this visionary director! #CantWaitForPart2
Disclaimer: I watched it in Hindi and it wasn't too bad ( except the songs ofcourse)
Now, S.S.Rajamouli has proven his mettle, both in storytelling and VFX, earlier. His Magadheera from 2009 was a visual spectacle, with a riveting reincarnation story. And his insanely ingenious Eega from 2012 proved that he could make a hero out of a mosquito, literally. So, no big surprises when he makes Prabhas look like a God in Baahubali! Here is a master, with vision beyond compare and I just hope others dream as big, coz he has shown the way.
Let’s talk about the movie. It is a fantasy tale of kingly proportions and it is designed to be a visual spectacle. Most blockbusters are simple tales and so is Baahubali. It’s a very straightforward clichéd plot of deception. Every other Kingly film has the same tale, so Rajamouli really didn’t spend too much time thinking about the story progression. And that is a good thing, because he meticulously planned out the screenplay, which is riveting to say the least. Even useless song and dance sequences are filled with so much ingenuity, that you can’t help but smile.
So Baahubali is about a prince who is smuggled out of a kingdom, when it becomes too dangerous for him to be there. His evil uncle has usurped the throne and doesn’t want him to be alive. He grows up in a village, fascinated by a majestic waterfall that he wishes to scale and conquer. And when he does, he comes back to meet his destiny. Armed with god given strength and combat skill, he begins the revolution to save his mom and his kingdom. Just like that!
Rajamouli expects you to suspend all belief and common-sense while watching the film. And why not? It’s the emotion and the grandeur he wants you to look at. And he succeeds. Even though the song and dance sequences are laughable, the love story is atrocious and the rise of Baahubali is beyond belief, you are still gripped by the film. It’s the raw emotion that Rajamouli pours into each sequence.
And then there is the scale of the action sequences. For the first time, you see a 20000 men army fight a 1-lakh strong army in an Indian film and feel like it is actually happening. Yes, we have seen better in Hollywood, but this gives hope that we are getting there. The production quality, the camerawork, the background score, the art direction - are insanely good and the battle sequences spectacular. Rajamouli truly gives hope that India can produce groundbreaking fantasies in the future. Maybe in the future, we can also expect better story lines, but then what I am wishing for is in the realms of fantasy too!
Finally, the performances are competent enough. Prabhas provides the right mix of muscle, anger and creepy smile, while Rana Dagubatti plays the perfect Sher Khan ( yeah, he has the menacing cut on the face). Ramya and Anushka, the grandmother and mother of Baahubali play their roles with more than required wide-eyed-menace. But, one of the most brilliant performances comes from Sathyaraj, who plays the loyal servant Kattappa. Tamannaah starts off well in true Hunger Games Katniss style, but settles into a lame clichéd heroine role.
Anyway, the film belongs to one man and one man alone, the Baahubali of the film – Rajamouli! It’s his vision that keeps you wanting more even after 2 and half hours. And it’s not taxing either. The time will fly and you will step out thinking when will you be able to watch Part 2. Yes, that will come in 2016. But for now, go enjoy an Indian fantasy film worth watching and talking about. And lest I forget, language doesn’t matter – it’s not about the dialogues anyway!
Rating: 8/10 – For breaking new ground and for the guts of this visionary director! #CantWaitForPart2
Disclaimer: I watched it in Hindi and it wasn't too bad ( except the songs ofcourse)
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