Baahubali The Epic Review: A True Definition of Epic Cinema!

RATING - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 4/5*

Baahubali The Epic Review Movie Talkies:

Epic cinema was truly defined decades ago with Pathala Bhairavi (1951) and Mayabazar (1957) in Telugu cinema, while Bollywood had its own crown jewel in Mughal-E-Azam (1960). These weren’t mere entertainers; they were grand allegories of love, valor, and sacrifice. The heroes of that era—N.T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Sivaji Ganesan in the South, and Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, and Amitabh Bachchan in the North—redefined the concept of mass-friendly cinema that was often larger than logic but richer in emotion. Baahubali arrives as a spectacular amalgamation of those glorious traditions. It combines myth, folklore, grandeur, and cinematic audacity into one spellbinding experience. S.S. Rajamouli didn’t just make a film—he recreated the feeling of watching something monumental, something born out of pure cinematic passion.

We are no longer in the age of The Ten Commandments (1956), Ben-Hur (1959), or the silent epics like Metropolis (1927) and Cabiria (1914)—films that gave birth to the very idea of visual extravagance. Baahubali, however, belongs to the 2010s, a time when the world thought such epic storytelling was impossible without Hollywood’s touch. Rajamouli clearly grew up watching those films, absorbing their scope and emotion. While Baahubali may not be entirely original in story, its vision is magnificently original. You can trace cinematic inspirations from various corners, but the heart and the characters make it unique to its core. The director reimagines history, mythology, and cinema itself, creating something at once familiar yet astonishingly fresh. His imagination doesn’t just borrow—it builds.

Take, for example, the romantic interlude Hamsa Naava from Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. Many call it an unnecessary addition, but the song actually holds deeper meaning. It’s the only sequence where Amarendra Baahubali and Devasena truly express love as Maharaja and Rajkumari—free, regal, and poetic. It’s reminiscent of the classic Telugu song Lahiri Lahiri from Mayabazar, filmed on water under moonlight—a visual moment that symbolized eternal love. Rajamouli’s version pays homage to that magic while expanding its emotional weight. Similarly, Mughal-E-Azam dealt with a prince torn between love and the throne, and you see that very conflict in Baahubali. The father-son confrontation, the duty to the crown, and the tragedy of destiny echo timeless themes that Indian audiences have adored for generations. Rajamouli’s brilliance lies in merging these elements without making them feel repetitive or borrowed.

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Cinematic parallels don’t end there. The iconic Ben-Hur chariot race finds its spiritual successor in Baahubali’s action sequences, where chariots transform into lethal war machines. The majestic visual of the father’s image in the sky from The Lion King resurfaces during Shiva’s transformation, reinforcing faith and destiny. Amarendra Baahubali’s story mirrors Karna’s—both noble warriors wronged by destiny, betrayed by kin, and remembered for their unshakable honor. Yet, Rajamouli doesn’t stop at referencing; he builds upon these moments, infusing them with the Indian emotion of rasa—the essence of feeling. Each frame becomes a festival of visuals, philosophy, and mass appeal blended together seamlessly.

Between Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, the second installment emerges as a far more satisfying cinematic experience. It’s pure mass hysteria, constructed with intelligence and heart. Amarendra’s first meeting with Devasena is a beautiful piece of romantic storytelling—he hides his true identity, plays the fool, and lets her teach him archery, only to reveal later that he is a greater warrior than her, leaving her admiring him wholeheartedly. That scene encapsulates everything great about Rajamouli’s cinema—grand yet tender, logical yet magical. Their romance, filled with playful energy and royal elegance, transforms into one of the most memorable love stories in Indian cinema. Even when the narrative dives into palace politics and conspiracy, it never loses its emotional rhythm.

The film’s spiritual tone also deserves praise. Shiva’s strength drawn from Lord Shiva’s pinda (idol) beautifully captures the essence of faith and cosmic justice. The symbolism of divinity empowering humanity becomes a key emotional driver, affirming the age-old belief that good always triumphs over evil. And yes, many scenes defy physics and gravity—boulders fly, waterfalls stretch endlessly, and armies charge like thunder—but that’s the very soul of mass cinema. If Hollywood can celebrate superheroes who bend every law of science, why shouldn’t Indian cinema create its own gods of imagination? Baahubali does it unapologetically, and we, the audience, cheer every impossible moment.

While RRR received global acclaim for its patriotic fervor and spectacle, it’s Baahubali that truly laid the foundation for Indian cinema’s global recognition. If foreign audiences loved RRR, they would be even more fascinated by Baahubali’s scale, sincerity, and emotional storytelling. This film is not just a blockbuster—it’s a phenomenon, a cultural export of mythic proportion. Baahubali: The Epic version, which compiles both parts into one three-and-a-half-hour narrative, captures that magic once again. Watching the two films as a single saga eliminates the waiting gap and makes the story flow effortlessly, giving fans the joy of reliving the grandeur without dedicating five and a half hours. Even a decade later, its entertainment value remains unbeaten. No other Indian film has managed to combine scale, storytelling, and emotion in such balance in these years. Not even Rajamouli himself has been able to outdo Baahubali yet—and perhaps, no one can– at least anytime soon.

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Bahubali The Epic Cast:

At the heart of this mammoth creation stands Prabhas, whose portrayal of Amarendra and Mahendra Baahubali transcends performance. He doesn’t just act; he embodies nobility, strength, and compassion. Just as NTR is eternally remembered for his portrayal of Lord Krishna, Prabhas will forever be synonymous with Baahubali. The rest of the cast—Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, Tamannaah Bhatia—deliver career-defining roles that perfectly complement the grand narrative. It’s rare for a film to achieve such harmony between actors, visuals, and storytelling. Baahubali achieved it with stunning confidence. Prabhas may never surpass this role, and honestly, he doesn’t need to. One timeless performance is enough to etch his name in cinematic history.

Bahubali Review:

Beyond performances, Baahubali also redefined the economics of Indian filmmaking. Before its release, no producer would have dared to invest such a colossal sum in a Telugu-language project. The risk was unthinkable. Yet, someone had to be mad enough to say “yes.” That madness—born of faith in storytelling—created history. The film not only recovered its budget but shattered box office records across languages. With over ten crore footfalls, it became the biggest Indian film event since Sholay (1975). It still ranks among the top five most watched Indian films ever, and notably, it remains the only South Indian film to hold that position in the list. Baahubali united audiences from every corner of the country—something very few films have achieved in the last fifty years.

Ultimately, Baahubali is not just a film; it’s a textbook of mass cinema. It celebrates everything that’s larger-than-life, unapologetically emotional, and gloriously cinematic. It reminds us that storytelling doesn’t need to be grounded in realism to connect deeply. It needs conviction—and Baahubali has that in abundance. The sheer visual impact, even when revisited today, feels unmatched. You can upgrade the VFX, but you can’t replicate its vision. Rajamouli’s world is filled with devotion, valor, betrayal, and love—elements that form the very DNA of Indian storytelling. And in weaving them together, he didn’t just create a film; he created an emotion that transcends time and language.

Baahubali The Epic Movie Review:

So, if epic cinema was once defined by Mughal-E-Azam and Ben-Hur, it has been redefined for this generation by Baahubali. It is the rare kind of film that makes you proud of Indian cinema’s potential to dream beyond its limits. In a world increasingly obsessed with realism and subtlety, Baahubali roars as a reminder that sometimes, madness and imagination are all you need to create history. Because, as Rajamouli proved, only madmen create legends—and Baahubali is one such legend that will stand tall for decades to come.

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