An Impressive Introduction to the world of S.S. Rajamouli

In 2022, Indian filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli made big waves globally with the hit Telugu-language epic RRR. The film became a sensation in America, even landing it an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. To fans of Indian cinema, though, Rajamouli was already a staple, compared to the likes of Steven Spielberg and James Cameron in terms of audience appeal and blockbuster success.His project before RRR was the massive, two-part fantasy epic Bāhubali; the first part, The Beginning, was released in 2015, and its follow-up, The Conclusion, hit cinemas in 2017. With a combined running time of about five and a half hours, though, watching both films is quite a commitment. Now, Rajamouli has produced Bāhubali: The Epic, a single film re-edit with visuals remastered for 4K and IMAX that includes VFX improvements, a new color grade and some surprises for fans.

Coming in at a comparatively compact three hours and 40 minutes — with an intermission that gleefully lets audiences know they won’t have to wait two years for part two this time around — Bāhubali: The Epic is an impressive introduction to the world of Rajamouli. This is cinema at its grandest, telling a story that has all the power of myth and the excitement of the biggest movie productions imaginable.

Bāhubali: The Epic tells the story of Mahendra Baahubali — played by Telugu cinema superstar Prabhas — who is rescued from the river as a baby while his mother drowns while being pursued by ruthless soldiers. Raised in a nearby village and given the name Shivudu, he grows into superhuman strength, venturing off to climb the high cliffs along the river and make his way to the top. Eventually, he finds himself in the opulent kingdom of Mahishmati, where he learns his real name, and that he is the son of the warrior prince Amarendra Baahubali.

The story then shifts back in time, to tell the story of Amarendra, also raised as an adoptive son as well as a prince of the kingdom. To get into all the complicated backstories and backstabbing that make up the plot of Bāhubali: The Epic would be overkill, because one of the best things about the film is how it doles out reveal after reveal, sending the story in more and more epic directions at every stage. Giant battles, betrayals, musical numbers and fantasy sequences abound. It’s all extraordinarily and thrillingly melodramatic, as the best mythical tales should be.

What sets Rajamouli apart from many other filmmakers working in India is his sense of story, crafting marvelously huge films that nonetheless feel balanced by great character work and a sharp sense of humor. (See: 2012’s Eega, an incredible film about a guy who turns into a fly and takes revenge on the man who murdered him.) Here, Rajamouli is operating on his biggest scale to date —bigger, even, than RRR — and he displays a keen sense of showmanship in blockbuster filmmaking. Comparisons to Cameron are apt, given how brilliantly conceived, gloriously rendered and absolutely crowd-pleasing a film like Bāhubali is. It’s Avatar-level filmmaking, even if the CGI isn’t nearly up to Avatar standards.

But Bāhubali: The Epic is not a new film, and its previous, two-part iteration already has plenty of die-hard fans. It’s worth asking, then, what the value is of this re-edit. The opportunity to see Bāhubali on the big screen is, perhaps, valuable enough, particularly for international fans who weren’t able to do so the first time. The remastering work is also fantastic. While the original two parts were impressive in terms of visual scale, the new 4K master is a massive improvement in the look and feel of the film. Rajamouli has expanded the frame from its original widescreen format, opening up the top and bottom to fill IMAX-sized screens; the effect is mostly excellent, and scenes like the cliff-climbing sequence feel more vertiginous than ever. Some shots have been cropped from the sides to keep the framing looking decent, while others look a bit less artful. But on a visual level, The Epic has the original two-parter beat.

The editing is where Bāhubali: The Epic becomes more of a mixed bag. Those new to the world are unlikely to feel that much is missing amid the movie’s incredibly brisk pace; even at close to four hours, Bāhubali: The Epic never lets up. But cutting two hours out of any movie is going to mean a different experience for those who know and love the two original films. Numerous comedy scenes are cut down, and musical numbers are less prevalent throughout this version of the film. Many scenes are cut, and many more are shaved down to bare essentials. The result sometimes feels like a speedrun through the original Bāhubali — which isn’t a bad thing, especially given how well-done this new cut is. But it does sap the movie of some of its beating heart.

Still, as a gateway, it’s impossible not to recommend Bāhubali: The Epic, particularly as a theatrical experience. Seeing it on an IMAX screen must be a deliriously fun experience, but what the film’s afterlife will be is anyone’s guess. It’s not hard to imagine many opting for the swifter, more action-oriented single-film cut Rajamouli has put together here, but The Beginning and The Conclusion still exist, and offer a more complete experience — the extended editions, as it were. No matter which version someone chooses, though, they’ll be greeted with one of the most blisteringly entertaining, wildly epic films released in the last decade. All the better to keep everyone satisfied while Rajamouli crafts his next big adventure, SSMB29, which features Indian superstars Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra and is due for release in 2027.

From Variance Films, Bāhubali: The Epic is now playing in theaters worldwide.