Baahubali: The Beginning

Director: S.S. Rajamouli
Writers: Vijayendra Prasad, S.S. Rajamouli
Stars: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty
Strength: CGI, Acting, Direction
Weakness: Long runtime, Occasional loss of impact from the story
Runtime: 159 minutes
Rating: 4.5/5

Plot: A dispute between brothers' spans across two generations. This is part 1 of a 2 part period drama. Part 1 shows the brothers Baahubali and Bhallaladeva fight for the throne to Mahishmathi Kingdom.

Review: Touted as one of the most expensive films to be made in India, this highly anticipated part one of the two-part period epic manages to enthral you with its sheer scale and grandeur. Painstakingly made, paying acute attention to detail of the sound and visuals, Rajamouli (Eega, Magadheera), who spent three years making this ambitious film ensures that the larger-than-life execution matches his splendid vision. Though this swashbuckling adventure relies heavily on CGI and VFX, it doesn't lack emotional resonance. The true prowess of this film is understood though the climax of the film which features a battle field of epic proportions is a spectacular scene. Very rarely has an Indian film managed to achieve a feat such as this. The casting is terrific. Ramya Krishnan in her short but substantial role is flawless as the feisty Raajmata. Tamannaah does the action sequences well. Prabhas and Rana Daggubati are outstanding. The scene which sees Shiva singlehandedly erecting a giant gold statue of Bhallala Deva is jaw-dropping. 

There are a few glitches though, which might not be complete deal-breakers. For instance, Tamannaah, who plays the bow-wielding warrior, breaks into a romantic song with Shiva, baring her slender midriff to cater to 'popular demands'. The film's duration could be an issue as well. 

Despite using an age old story, the director has managed to capture the audience like never before. Small wonder that it's now breaking records all over India. 

Reviewed by Intisab Shahriyar