Baahubali 2: The Conclusion

The epic continues with “BAAHUBALI 2: The Conclusion”!

Mounted on a gigantic scale, embellished with dazzling CGI and marked by a gripping narrative, this historical fantasy film from S.S. Rajamouli is predictable yet entertaining and almost as good as the first part. It may not have the quality of intrigue that made its predecessor the talk of the town, but it still manages to allure you with its excess. Recommended!

The story picks up again with our hero Shivudu (Prabhas), as he comes to terms with his legacy and the responsibility placed on him by this knowledge. Shivudu's quest aims to find the answer to the question that's been plaguing the nation for nearly two years: why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?

As mentioned above, it’s in the excess that BAAHUBALI finds its glory. Larger than life action, mythological drama, pleasing VFX and fantasy like treatment of the subject make it a blockbuster of the highest order. S.S. Rajamouli’s imagination knows no bounds, and his style of visual storytelling shines once again. Be it a romantic song on a fairy-tale like cruise, or out-of-the-box ideas during a war scene, or the general display of heroism, he puts so much effort to convey his thoughts in the most unique and unforeseen manner. He uses the CGI to an optimum level, and with the help of technology, he designs the utopian fantasy world he’s created in his mind.

However, it’s the content that lacks too much power this time round. While it’s still awe-inspiring and deserves all the accolades and box-office success it achieves, the script is far from inspiring. The conflicts are run-of-the-mill and so are the developments. You can see what the climax holds from far. Even the answer to the big question (Kattappa ne Baahubali ko kyun maara) is underwhelming to say the least. Stark resemblance of the film’s subject and conflicts to the told and retold mythological stories like Ramayana and Mahabharata, makes it a tad clichéd. Nevertheless, the conviction with which Rajamouli presents the subject and the invigorating resourcefulness that he displays is nothing short of breathtaking. This franchise has taken Indian cinema a huge leap forward.

The performances of the lead pair are terrific. Prabhas is exceptional and puts in the effort you usually relate with the actors in Hollywood. Anushka too is extremely convincing and does an immaculate job. Another highlight is Rambha’s performance which again is powerful in every sense of the word. Rana Daggubati and others do an adequate job.

To sum up, BAAHUBALI may not be perfect, but it still is a satisfying and an extremely entertaining blockbuster experience that deserves a watch for more reasons than one. Go for it!