‘Baahubali – The Beginning’ | Movie Review
Cliches and buffoonery aside, S S Rajamouli’s latest magnum opus Baahubali – The Beginning is actually an entertaining film of a man with super-human strength, who as a baby was taken away from his family to be raised by a local tribe, who on his own could support the weight of a 10-storey building-sized statue, and who can also scale the crazy heights of mountains, tips of which are mostly hidden in clouds. On that great height lies a CGI-developed fantasyland Mahishmati, destined to be saved by this agent of God.
It’s a beautifully designed space, this spectacular Mahishmati, which comes out to its maximum glory during the second half. The VFX employed make sure to cover up for an indistinguishable story, and in some sections even the dull acting. Coming to actors, Tamannah gives a proper tribute to Salman Khan by walking very much like him. She even gets to wear the absurd pendant, and her warrior antics soared through various levels of absurdity. Prabhas in the titular role is better. He gets to show off his nicely sculpted bod, and it’s in the war scene that he performs in true flourish. He and Tamannah engage in a stripdance sesion, where he strips her body armor and turns her skirt inside out to show her how beautiful she is. And then they fall in love. Better love story than Twilight and all, but still meh.
Ramya Krishnan as the king’s hand is brilliant, and Sathyaraj as the loyal warrior-slave Kattappa is the most convincing performer of the lot. Kichha Sudeep has an important cameo in the film, and he owns the frame he’s in. Anushka has very little role in the first part of the film. Hopefully she has more screen presence in Baahubali – The Conclusion scheduled to release next year. Rana Daggubati flares his eyes and flexes his muscles well, and that’s all he does in the entire length of the film.
The first half of the film is laughable. There’s little character and story development, and too much focus on glorifying the heroism of the lead star. It’s the second-half where the film realises its true potential and is truly engaging. As most Telugu films, we are thrown into a flashback sequence where the director has picturised one hell of a war, complete with a whole new wildling army, the action and bloodshed contributing to multiple eyegasms. The fight sequences and stunts are very well choreographed with some really awe-inducing moments. The song and dance sequences only add to the drag, and could’ve been entirely scissored.
Part-I climax is good, and it’s the only thing that makes one anticipate for the second and final installment in the series. And yes, Anushka Shetty kicking some serious ass is something we would love to watch.
Drishti
July 10, 2015 at 7:33 pm
I agree with this review. Baahubali had very little content. Even I disliked the first half very much. Second half with the war scene was awesome. Part 2 will have flashback of Anushka as a warrior princess, will watch it for her. 🙂
Anurag Kashyap's Ego
July 13, 2015 at 7:41 pm
I wonder how Virat Kohli will react.
Satyam
July 10, 2015 at 7:36 pm
I wonder if you even understand good cinema. Telugu cinema is proud of S S Rajamouli and Baahubali. I love telugu movies, and Bahubali was simply out of this world!!!! Deserved 5/5 for sure.
Vish
July 10, 2015 at 10:53 pm
After watching the movie and then reading your review, i know about armchair generals who comment about war without even stepping into the battle field. I guess u watched the movie with a bunch of zombies from the movie wherein you gave 5/5 rating
Venkata Mujje
July 11, 2015 at 2:41 am
Pathetic Review. The amazing beauty and story telling is what makes its content worth it. should be 4.5 /5.
RIP you critics..
Rajendra
July 11, 2015 at 6:44 pm
I don’t know how credible critic you are..I would like to see the list of movies which you have rated higher than this magnum opus.
It’s just not a movie…a phenomena called BAHUBALI. Made us all film loving Indians proud. It definitely deserves 4.5+
Anurag Kashyap's Ego
July 13, 2015 at 7:39 pm
Sir, please watch my film also. It’s called Bombay Velvet. Very nice film sir. Full krantikari mode.
Abhilash Atmaram
July 12, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Hey peeps it’s in his perspective and you can not complain about it.
Anurag Kashyap's Ego
July 12, 2015 at 8:13 pm
So much butthurt. More hurt than I was when Kalki left me.
Sagar
July 12, 2015 at 8:39 pm
I enjoyed reading the reviews and comments below the reviews more that watching the movie itself. Only CGI-infested crap Baahubali was. And yes, I didn’t like 300 either, so please don’t start the Hollywood vs. Indian movies debate. This review just nailed it!
Bala
July 12, 2015 at 10:01 pm
Chutiya review. Hindustan ki shaan hai ye film. Made in such low-budget. Tum logo ko Hollywood ki mehengi movies hi pasand aayegi. Kabhi achchi movies ko appreciate karna seekho.
Pritish Ranjan
July 13, 2015 at 2:54 pm
After reading your review, I understood what is wrong with Indian cinema. That is reviews like yours.
Let me review this movie in short.
Poor acting, very poor story line. Music is a pain in ears, special effects is like movies from 20 years ago.
It seems that this movie was made to show that Indian cinema is now learning to carry out large scale epic dramas. But it was a big fail, lot to work in the coming years. Just don’t rate it a perfect 5/5 and leave no space for improvement.
As a movie lover and an enthusiast, I will rate it 1/5 for all the hard work people have put into this.
Pritish Ranjan
July 13, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Even 3/5 for this movie is a lot.
Let me review this movie in short.
Poor acting, very poor story line. Music is a pain in ears, special effects are like movies from 20 years ago.
It seems that this movie was made to show that Indian cinema is now learning to carry out large scale epic dramas. But it was a big fail, lot to work in the coming years. Just don’t rate it a perfect 5/5 and leave no space for improvement.
I read somewhere that this movie was geting compared to masterpieces like The Lord Of The Rings and Ben-Hur and that made me laugh hard. Bahubali is an idiotic movie at all levels.
Being a movie enthusiast, I will rate it 1/5 for all the hard work people have put into it.
Anurag Kashyap's Ego
July 13, 2015 at 7:37 pm
I’d rather watch “Margarita with a Straw” while I do straight shots of Old Monk.