One year, nine months, 18 days and countless memes and social media posts later, the second instalment of SS Rajamouli’s epic drama has finally hit the big screen. Don’t worry, there are no spoilers ahead.
Grand, majestic and larger than life are a few adjectives that best describe Baahubali: The Conclusion. Taking off from where the previous instalment left us, we are transported back to the Maheshmati kingdom. And once again, we find ourselves grappling with the question: Katappa ne Baahubali ko kyun mara?
Be rest assured, the makers impress with the manner in which they handle the mystery surrounding Baahubali's death. Luckily, this isn't the only thread that the film holds on to, a feature that makes Baahubali: The Conclusion a far more engaging affair than its predecessor.
"Make love and not war" may be a suitable message for the real world; but this film is better off with elaborate scenes between the warring parties. The stunning choreography in the action sequences is bound to keep viewers in a hypnotic spell. Bur alas, the spell is broken by some cheesy love scenes (all of them in the first-half). Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Sathyaraj and Ramaya dominate here.
Nasseer and Rana Daggubati help the story move forward, while Tamannaah has an extended cameo at best. Prabhas earns his Baahubali tag as he essays the role of the lead protagonist with aplomb. From the vulnerable Shiva to the venerable Amarendra Baahubali, he keeps viewers glued to the screen.
The plot and the Katappa-Baahubali mystery may not exactly make for earth-shattering cinema, but the splendid visual effects are bound to leave viewers in a trance for most of the film.
Expectations can be tricky. The greater the frenzy over a film, the higher the chances that the film will appear dull in comparison. Luckily for us all, Baahubali 2 manages to live up to the weight of our massive expectations.
Go for this one. It is special and it certainly doesn’t deserve to be watched on a small screen.
I give it 4.5 Quints out of 5.
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