With stories of vengeance and a nail-biting cliffhanger, Baahubali: The Beginning left a lasting impact on audiences everywhere. With its second instalment prepared to hit cinemas on April 27, fans around the world can finally end their two-year wait. In anticipation of Baahubali: The Conclusion, here are 10 things you should know about the first film:
1. It had exceptional popularity
The movie was made in Telugu and Tamil and dubbed in Hindi, Malayalam and French. It was a Pan-Indian phenomenon, and hit 4,000 screens, including 135 in the US, reported India Times.
2. It made big money
Along with being a fan favourite, the film also did really well on the commercial front. Produced on a budget of Rs1.8 billion (Dh102 billion) and having grossed over Rs6.5 billion, Baahubali was the highest grossing Indian film in India and the third-highest grossing Indian film in the world.
3. It had a star cast and crew
The director of the film, S.S. Rajamouli, has garnered several awards including two National Film Awards, three Filmfare awards and the Padma Shri award in 2016 for his contribution towards the field of art.
4. Getting the right look was a tough task
According to the Times of India, Prabhas had a personal gym built with equipment worth Rs15 million and Rana Daggubati received martial arts training while preparing for his role. They weighed around 100 kilos each after two years, having undergone a dramatic physical transformation.
5. Comic book inspiration
In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Rajamouli revealed that he was inspired by Amar Chitra Katha, an Indian comic book series. Introduced to the comics by his father at a young age, he drew inspiration from the images of the forts, battles and kings portrayed in them while creating his own vision for the film.
6. The production drew a lot of attention
Along with various videos posted on YouTube, the film was also featured in BBC’s documentary, 100 Years of Indian Cinema. According to UK newspaper The Guardian, Baahubali required 2,000 extras for its battle scenes along with 500-600 technicians.
7. Majority of the film involved CGI
More than 600 artists from 17 studios were used to create the visual effects for the film and according to The Indian Express, a few team members from the Jurassic World Industrial Light and Magic Team freelanced on Baahubali. India Times reported that 90 per cent of the film used CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery), including the whole kingdom of Mahishmati.
8. The film featured a completely new language
Kilikili is a fictitious language that was created for the film by Tamil Lyricist and dialogue writer Madhan Karky. It has at least 750 words and more than 40 grammar rules. On screen, it was used by the Kalakeyas, a warrior tribe portrayed in the film.
9. It’s expected to get its own museum
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Baahubali will have its own museum, consisting of weapons, armours and costumes used by all the characters, making it the first of its kind in the world of Indian cinema. It is expected to be ready after the release of the sequel.
10. The first film ended with a huge cliffhanger
One of the many reasons fans are anticipating the sequel is because of the major cliffhanger at the end of the first movie. While many theories have attempted to debunk the mystery surrounding Baahubali’s death, the question still remains: Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?
— Anieka Sequeira is an intern at Gulf News.
