The nation wants to know; why did
Katappa kill Bahubali? Assuming he did, it is not very difficult to imagine
why. However to detail that would be playing a spoil sport and also dampening
the box office returns of arguably the most expensive film from Tollywood. The
conclusion of the two-part epic proportion Rajamouli indulgence that it is
indeed a brave attempt on the part of the film maker at putting a tonne of
money behind his belief. However the filmmaker continues to bank on his craft
more than his art. Also at the outset the graphics do not reflect the years
spent in the making. However craft over art is a conscious choice and thus the
film must essentially assessed from that stated premise. Could this be
Tollywood’s Mughal-e-Azam, Mother India, Sholay wrote into one? A moot
question. The film must appeal to a ten year old and to many in whom ‘a ten
year old’ and his fantasies still exist.
The film lasts nearly three hours and without enough material to pack it. A ten
minute boar hunt [read bore hunt] and strained comedy do not make for a
blitzering take off. The characters dad Bahubali I [Prabhas], Mom Shivagami
[Ramya Krishna], Uncle Bijjala Deva [Nassir], envious cousin Bhallaladeva
[Rana] are all there in attendance. The promised glamourising of Devasena
[Anushka Shetty] and the shift from men thrills to women empowerment is the new
facet. Devasena the princess of a neighbouring small kingdom wins the heart of
Bahubali I in a chanced encounter. However a hinted in the prelude bro Bhalla
not only eyes the kingdom but also the gal. There is palace intrigue, inspired
from our epics; predictable clash of interest; clash of egos and good eclipsed
by evil. As the plot unfurls you know the how, why and who relating to the
death of BB-I and the avenging success of BB-II.
The star again is the crew. Rajamouli places great faith in grandeour along the
side fantasy and prepares a heady mix of the two. No pretentions. No apologies.
There is no debate about the scale and substantially its technical execution.
We would grudgingly have to accept it falls short of global standards. While
photo shop reliance could be innovative at this scale the execution is not even
at the crisp scale that Mani Ratnam gave us in Ravan. The editing
[Venkateshwara Rao] is indulging. Cinematography [Senthil Kumar] breath taking,
visual effects is a mixed bag. Peter Heins in charge of action is often sharp.
There is a sense of grotesque phantasmagoria to it. Does it rob the tale of
credibility? Personal opinion.
We have been for long fed on the Bond genre. Here is a true desi answer. Bond’s
stylised futuristic weaponry is replaced by archaic effective antique
alternatives. Smart guns by sword, spears and massive chains. Western modern
six lane highways give way to collapsible wooden bridges, bikini clad girls are
replaced by six yard wraps – all this and more. So contrasting, yet so similar.
Bond converges in Bahubali. If you like Bond you will savour Bahubali.
War is an old habit of man. Kill, avenge and let the virtuous be the victor.
Its mankind’s old fantasy. We love watching destruction, hurt, pain and the
drama built around it. Grander the scale greater the enjoyment. Tamanna has a
fleeting moment. The cultivated brawn of Prabhas and the stiff regal
presentation of Anushka makes them a made for each other pair. Did we expect
more? Rana has less punch now but continues to make up with screen presence
while Subba Raju makes an effort. It is Satyaraj as Katappa who is the most
effective. There is Ramya Krishna, regal, royal, effective, gorgeous,
compelling, matching the style and supplying the substance. As Shivagami it is
her moves, her ego, her passions, her empowerment that makes the film. In fact
more than Bahubali it is about Shivagami. While Prabhas and Rana get huge
support from the stunt man, Ramya does not.
Don’t miss the lovely designer jewellery, silks and brocades [here too Ramya
steals the march] and stylised dhotis.
It falls short of the hype but nonetheless grand. If hyperbole impresses you
this is a winner. And yes unlike Bond BB concludes. See it if nothing how out
of peer pressure and the unprecedented effort.
Rating : 3 stars.
Plus: Ramya Krishna, Cinematography.
Minus: predictable, Hyperbole.
L. Ravichander