Bahubali...1,000 Crore Mania

I am reluctant to write anything about Bahubali saga, as there is plenty of information overload on every platform, possible. Bahubali created a page for itself in the history of Indian Cinema, so I am creating a page for invincible Bahubali on my blog. 

Thanks to phenomenal success of “Eega-Telugu” (Makkhi-Hindi, Naan Ee-Tamil, Eecha-Malayalam), the Beginning of Bahubali, which began as a high budget Tollywood product of Rajamouli ended up as a national level celluloid revenge drama connecting not only 4 Metros but whole nation unlike Golden Quadrilateral network as envisaged by then Prime Minister by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001. This “#Make in India” (current PM Modi’s mantra) Beginning product garnered Rajamouli The Padma award.

I guess, actor’s Job Description is changing these days, not only enacting director’s vision on screen but helping product marketing & distribution at times. Bhalladeva (Rana), the macho antagonist of Bahubali was a real hero who connected Karan Johan, Dharma Productions and Arka media producers of Bahubali to distribute it nationally. Rana did the same thing with “The Ghazi” attack movie. I have numerous instances where new bees are funding/pooling funds for their first ventures and established ones are capitalizing contacts to access pan India reach, we will cover this topic separately.

Awards & #WKKKB

The Part I though surprised national audience with the scale & grandeur, featured on international arena across most film festivals and ended up as the best Feature Film at 63^rd National Film Awards, yet ridiculed for lack of gripping content. Aslo, questions were raised why an unfinished movie (we love half boil egg fry down south) was given award in the category of whole feature film. However, it left the whole world with a never before asked Vikram Betal question of #WKKB. And suddenly Kattappa, loyal servant of Mahishmati kingdom became Indian obsession. At some point Kattappa almost killed Bahubali II in real life with his 8 years old Pro Tamil Cauveri river comments.

Devasena

Now, “The Conclusion” is conclusive answer to all the short comings of part I. It's mammoth and content is full of twists and turns where you feel for characters of Mahishmati and Kuntala kingdoms. Anushka as Devasena is riveting till she goes back to her Part I old draped sari days at the end. In this shot when she was entering the Mahishmati along with Bahubali, after a dream song sequence on the boat, the flag on top breaks when it hits the massive stone carved elephant with water fall. So is it a hint that there is no more scenes of Devasena’s Kuntala kingdom where she fell in love with Bahubali in elaborated sequences of wild hunting, enemy attack and a proposing song on Lord Krishna. I guess since the Bahubali brand has grown so big that no other GOD than Krishna can represent Universally, thanks ISKON. In this song, even Lord Krishna got cheated, who himself is known for mischievous acts. Each flower showered, Harathi offered are bestowed upon Bahubali indirectly, God must have been so angry here, that you get to see an enemy attack immediately after.

 Sivagami

Ramya Krishna was a thunderous this time too in her glorious Sivagami role. Sridevi missed an opportunity here, opting out for Puli (not so successful Vijay’s Tamil Movie). She is adorable in her confrontations with Devasena and her melancholy towards the acts of ruling the death of Amarendra Bahubali are true visual treats (oops I have answered the #WKKB).

Bijjala, Bhallala, Avantika & Rest

Bijjala got meaner and Bhallala stronger and effective, who was ridiculed for his stone faced expressions during his “Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum” days. What a redemption. Bahubali couldn’t have been this bigger without mighty Bhallala. His act of fondling the iron chain (with which Devasena was tied during part I) and caressing the throne during enthronement are noteworthy. Avantika appears in the penultimate scenes but nothing much to do but to help & see Devasena to walk over face of fallen Bhallala statue, in the end.

Climax

Rajamouli choreographed the whole sequence very dramatically with a big fire on the back drop so that rest everything is shadowed including faceless attackers, #we are not interested in anything else other than why & who killed Bahubali. So, you see the shadows of Kattappa, Bahubali and a stab in the back. No close up shots except the one where Amarendra pulls sword and rests his arm before his soul is rested forever and making way for the movie to storm box office with ever before seen worldwide collections by any Indian Movie….1,000 crores still counting!

The next big question after #WKKB is what next Rajamouli???....

Bahubali #3 or Chhatrapati Shivaji or Mahabharat or a small scale product to lower the expectations???

Jai Mahishmati !!!