'Bahubali' review: A masterful stroke to use best VFX in a story laced with passion, power and betrayal

Film: BAHUBALI – THE BEGINNING
Starring: Prabhas, Rana Daggubatti, Tamanna Bhatia, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan
Directed by: S.S. Rajamouli
Rating: ****

WHAT’S IT ABOUT:

Promoted as India’s biggest motion picture, Bahubali-The Beginning had a lot to live up to in terms of content as well as audience expectations. Especially so because the man behind it, S.S. Rajamouli is often reckoned as one of India’s finest contemporary makers with films like Magadheera and Eega to his credit. Bahubali has been his most ambitious project so far and the result is simply overwhelming. Truly, you haven’t seen anything like this on Indian screen before. It’s a masterful stroke to use the best visual effects ever seen in the country in a story laced with passion, power and betrayal. Sivudu (Prabhas) is a young boy brought up by a local tribe from under the valleys. From his childhood, the boy has a deep fascination for what lays beyond the magnificent waterfalls that surround his existence. A chance encounter with the beautiful Avanthika (Tamanna) makes him follow her into the world he’s always been enchanted with. This is the glorious city of Mahishwati, now under the tyrannical spell of the evil Bhallala Deva (Rana). It’s only a matter of time before Sivudu discovers the real connection between him and the land.
 
WHAT’S HOT:

From the first frame of the film, Bahubali is like a gorgeous picture postcard. The crux of Rajamouli’s story is the tried-and-tested Lion King types so the emotions are just perfect. A helpless mother waits for her long-lost son to come and rescue her; an entire city waits for its hero. Rajamouli adds his genius in the sheer detailing – be it with regard to the creation of the entire city, the outstanding and breathtaking sets and the near-perfect special effects. The director ensures that Bahubali is quite easily the biggest spectacle you have seen on Indian screen, quite on par with Hollywood films in terms of polishing and finesse. The most amazing part is that Rajamouli keeps building up momentum as the film progresses – just when your mind is blown away, he adds something new in the next reel and you’re blown away once more. The battle scene, lasting over 25 minutes, is the film’s highlight. Totally edge-of-the-seat, it is the best action sequence you’ve seen in the country so far. Peter Hein’s delightful stunts matched with some incredulous visual effects involving over 150,000 warring soldiers – it’s nothing short of a surreal experience.
 
WHAT’S NOT:

Despite the film’s length of 2 hours and 40 minutes, the ending comes abruptly and just when you don’t mind sitting for an hour more to let the story unfold. You don’t want the film to end; you want this swash-buckling spectacle to continue –that, according to me, is Rajamouli’s greatest achievement.
 
WHAT TO DO:

Bahubali is beyond your imagination – a film that takes Indian cinema to the next level. Don’t miss it.