A promise kept with all dignity, honesty and respect. The oath taken by the maverick master S.S. Rajamouli in BAAHUBALI: THE BEGINNING is finally ‘concluded’ with great accomplishment that fulfills the expectations and restores our faith in dreaming big and larger than life. Reinforcing the power of stories inspired from Indian mythologies and folklore, BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION is the epic crowning glory in India’s fantasy/adventure/larger than life stories that has all the arcs of a swashbuckling blockbuster giving the reason why we should visit the big silver screen for experiencing the magic called – CINEMA.
In 2015, after the world watched BAAHUBALI : THE BEGINNING, it was a well-deserved bow to S.S. Rajamouli, Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni and Karan Johar, the unprecedented stunner was a modern day epic classic for its staggering battles, striking landscapes, effects, brilliant filmmaking arc, exceptional cinematography, masterful storytelling with that rare cliff-hanger in the end : ‘WHY DID KATTAPPA KILLED BAAHUBALI?.’ Suddenly the wait for 2016 became intense and the world of Bollywood got introduced to the world of filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli who has an impeccable track record in Telugu cinema.
Finally today in 2017, when we enter the theatre to know the reason, we are overwhelmed to find that WHY DID KATTAPPA KILLED BAAHUBALI? was just a teaser/key to the larger picture that introduces and reintroduces all the characters giving the series a richer, deeper and uplifting treatment. Writers Vijayendra Prasad, S.S. Rajamouli (screenplay) and Manoj Muntashir (dialogue) develop the characters where the story of Amarendra Baahubali (Prabhas) gives a man who strongly believes in dharma than anything else. How the soon to be King of Mahishmati gets abandon with his wife the beautiful Devasena (Anushka Shetty) – a woman who stands for what is right and is not afraid to even question the mighty Sivagami (Ramyakrishna). Bijjaladeva (Nassar) is more shrewd and wicked, while Bhallala Deva (Rana Daggubati) is far more dangerous, devastating and menacing then what we had thought.
What makes BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION stand apart as a film and as a sequel is that it makes your wait interesting till the moment for which everybody is in the theatre – ‘Why Did Kattappa killed Baahubali?’ but soon as we come to know the reason, we are still hooked and captivated waiting for the final credits and when it rolls, we have to adjust ourselves to the ‘reality’ from this fantasy that it’s over. Amazing. This is bound to stay along for long.
Rajamouli narrates this like a dream, from jaw droopingly stunning visuals to beautifully poetic sequence like the bow arrow fight featuring Prabhas and Anushka, to captivatingly dramatic in the scenes involving Anushka, Prabhas and Ramya inside the Mahishmati palace, while turning metaphoric when Devasena enters the Kingdom of Mahismati, a huge statue of an elephant greets her but simultaneously the boat carrying Baahubali and Devasena brushes with the gigantic image and the waving flag on top of the boat gets broken. The flag here represents pride, honour and following incidents in the film showcase how everybody falls prey to the evil ways of Bhallala Deva and lose their honor.
Rajamouli has shot each and every frame with attention and the labour of work is evident in this brilliantly crafted spectacular. Sheer magic.
Without revealing anymore to the plot and turning guilty in front of everyone, let’s talk about the contributions by everyone in making this modern day epic spectacle – a masterpiece.
The eye of BAAHUBALI delivers again – Senthil Kumar camera work is breathtakingly exceptional, every frame is a delight. Sabu Cyril’s production design is spectacular and plays an important part in making BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION a modern day epic. The Hindi dubbing is fine. Action sequences are clap worthy.
From the cast, Prabhas as Amarendra Baahubali, this film is probably his best work to date and will remain memorable for his fandom till ages. Rana Daggubati is absolutely terrific as the menacing Bhallala Deva who infuses the evil at will making BAAHUBALI the promised spectacle we have asked for. Anushka Shetty as Devasena is simply superb; she has the looks, the poise and the attitude for the role of a warrior princess who knows her rights.
Ramyakrishna as Sivagami is terrific indeed. Sathyaraj who plays Kattappa gets a ‘lot’ to do over here and he is just brilliant. Nassar is viciously wicked.
On the flipside, music by M.M. Keeravani could have been better. Top cynics may find it overblown and Tamannaah is wasted.
BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION is an hauntingly eternal, ambitiously spectacular masterpiece that delivers on all fronts, having all the arcs for a swashbuckling blockbuster, the S.S. Rajamouli directed epic fantasy in reality is a lesson on how to conclude a sequel, making it bigger, better and unforgettable in the end. Was sad that BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION has to finally end but glad that the audience faith in the magic of larger than life cinema that worships Indian mythology and pays tribute to Indian ethos is back and backed by the BAAHUBALI (means strong and powerful) shoulders of makers like S.S. Rajamouli who is now a phenomenon in mainstream cinema. Go experience the power of cinema in all its beauty and Indian grandiosity, watch BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION right now.
Director : S.S.Rajamouli
Music : M.M.Keeravani
Lyrics : Manoj Muntashir
Starring : Prabhas, Rana Daggubatti, Tamannaah Bhatia, Anushka Shetty, Sathyaraj, Ramya Krishnan, Nassar and Subbaraju
(source: glamsham)