‘Baahubali’ is a golden chapter in Indian cinema. Its two parts - The Beginning and The Conclusion - mesmerized the world and took Telugu cinema to the globe. But when this epic comes to the theaters as ‘Baahubali: The Epic’, a question arises: Why watch it again if we have already seen the story?
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People watched Part 2 to answer the question ‘Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?’ So, what do they watch this time? There is only one answer: for S. S. Rajamouli’s editing magic! It’s a testimony to Jakkanna’s talent to compress the 6.5 hours of the two parts into 3 hours 45 minutes and arrange the scenes in a way that gives a new experience without losing any of the suspense. It’s not just showing old footage together but feeling like watching a new movie in the theater.
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Direction & Editing: S. S. Rajamouli ’s intelligence: S. S. Rajamouli has been very wise in this version of The Epic. The story of the two parts... the first part has been divided into two halves and the second part into two halves. Because of this editing, even those who haven’t seen either of the two parts can understand the story fully. Now for those who have seen the movie... this edition will give you goosebumps.
The best scenes of the audience have been highlighted. The introductions of the main characters, the coronation of Bhallaladev, the battle with Kalakeyas, that crucial scene where Baahubali is beheaded... the feeling of watching all this on the big screen again is beyond words. The director has made the story run without any boredom with these amazing action scenes and strong elevations.
Editing balance: Without losing the soulJakkanna took some tough calls during the editing process. Some scenes of Avantika’s love story have been removed. But using voice-overs to avoid any loss to the story is a great idea. Also, it’s clear that some key scenes and songs related to Kiccha Sudeep’s character have been removed from this epic version. But, despite all these cuts, Jakkanna’s care in not losing the soul of the story is appreciable. He has focused on the main points without deviating from the story and that’s given this version a new freshness.
But, the minor disappointment in this great effort is the length. 3 hours 45 minutes feels too long at times. If it had been cut by at least 20 minutes more, the audience would have had a better experience.
Technical Category: Collection of Wonders Technically ‘Baahubali’ is a milestone. M.M.Keeravani’s music is the backbone of this film. The BGM he composed 10 years ago has given new life to this epic version. His re-recording has added to many scenes.
Special mention to the VFX. Even after all these years since the film’s release, the visuals look sharp. Even in many films made with double the budget we can’t see this level of VFX and grandeur... that’s the testament to Rajamouli’s vision and production values. Every frame looks rich, grand and amazing. Production values are very high.
Actors’ performance: Eye catching performance Everyone who acted in this film including Prabhas and Rana lived their roles. Especially Prabhas and Rana competing with each other in action scenes is entertaining. Their physical strength and hardwork is visible on screen.
Also it’s a treat to see Prabhas-Anushka on the big screen again. Their chemistry and screen presence is amazing. Senior actors like Ramya Krishna (Sivagami) and Sathyaraj (Kattappa) have raised the bar of their roles. Tamannaah and Subbaraju have done their best within their limits and have taken the story forward.
Final Verdict: In short ‘Baahubali: The Epic’ is not just a re-release of an old film. It’s a ‘theatrical experience’. Jakkanna has succeeded 100% in presenting this film to the audience as a visual wonder on the big screen. This epic version has once again proved that Rajamouli can keep the audience engaged even with a big film no matter how well known the story is. This masterpiece will be a landmark in re-releases for a long time to come.