Baahubali: The Beginning

Rajamouli dived deep into Joseph Campbell territory here, crafting a classic epic adventure saga on a such a scale he needed two films to showcase it. The ambition of this production is simply breathtaking, a Telugu analogue to Avatar and Lord of the Rings. Everything here is spectacular, beginning with the towering waterfalls which separate the Amburi tribe from the kingdom of Mahishmati, high in the mountains. Orphan Sivudi becomes the first to climb the thundering falls and encounters a beautiful rebel maiden, Avantika, whose people are at war with a tyrannical ruler. What Sivudi does not know, he is the rightful heir to the throne…

Baahubali became the first biggest commercial success in Indian cinema, but was eclipsed by the success of the second installment, which became the all-time #1.

Wide-eyed and wondrous, [Rajamouli’s] film could be a blockbuster reboot, or the first blockbuster ever made, a reinvigoration of archetypes that is always entertaining, and often thrilling, to behold.

Mike McCahill, Guardian

Right from its opening frames, Baahubali holds out many promises: of adventure and romance, love and betrayal, valour and weakness. And it delivers magnificently on each of them. This is full-tilt, fully-assured filmmaking of a very high order. Baahubali is simply spectacular.

Shubhra Gupta, The Indian Express

Baahubali: The Beginning is overflowing with beautiful cinematic elements, each artfully contributing to the spectacle and substance of this genre-spanning narrative. The film has colossal battle sequences, steamy romance, a mysterious origin story, and even a full music video-esque dance number.

Josiah Teal, Film Threat