Just like how Baahubali has dual parts, I felt it would be apt and fitting if my review was also split into two as well.
B2 has a storyline of a similar ilk of the yesteryear dual roles MGR flicks. If you have watched Avatar, then you will know that the movie is total crap when the VFX layers are skimmed, removed and deleted from the film. Similarly, even Gods couldn't have saved B2 had it been not for the special effects that really lit up the screens like a blazing sun. To put it in a nutshell, it is like an old wine in a new bottle. In B2's case, it's like transferring the old wine into the most expensive Scotch Bottle on a grandeur scale.
Though Prabhas has done an mind-blowing job by wholeheartedly committing to the entire duration of this ginormous project by undergoing and enduring physical pains to his physique, the sheer strength of his raw muscles just couldn't strike a chord. I will just give a simple example. When Hulk or The Iron Man was unable to lift the Mjolnir, you can vicariously have the feel of the tremendous effort that they have exerted on Thor's Hammer. But, you don't get to have any such experience whenever Shivu or Amarendra Baahubali performed their daring and daredevilry acts of valor and heroism. Also, the duration of the film was a tad too long. Had it been crisper and tauter, B2 would have been an edge of seat engager.
Everything was CGI including the elephants, cows, bulky chariots etc. that you see Prabhas's immense workout has resulted in a supreme toned bod but you don't get to feel his superior power behind those ripped muscles. Maybe, if the elephants and cows had been a live-action CGI as in The Jungle Book, the connection would have been better. I don't know.
Also, I was able to see only Arjuna as Brihannala helping Prince Uttara when Prabhas was behind the I-forgot-his-name person during the wild boar hunt which did not become a bore! Only Rajamouli will know whether he ripped off the scene from The Mahabharata. Likewise, it was like a straight lift off from The Batman Vs Superman when Prabhas was being embraced by his people.
Also, I was able to see only Arjuna as Brihannala helping Prince Uttara when Prabhas was behind the I-forgot-his-name person during the wild boar hunt which did not become a bore! Only Rajamouli will know whether he ripped off the scene from The Mahabharata. Likewise, it was like a straight lift off from The Batman Vs Superman when Prabhas was being embraced by his people.
As we are on the topic of Superman, just like how Prabhas was soaring like a Flying Man here and there in the movie, my thoughts were giving equally challenge to him by wondering what would have happened had Ajith or Vijay performed such action sequences. One thing was positive - The Social Media would have been flooded with rains of memes to the extent that the Internet might have been declared a holiday on account of the incessant downpour..!
Condoning my bad pun of a meaningful example, we were shown in the first installment that Bhalla's son is killed by Shivu. There was this nagging question as to how Bhalla would have handled his wife with Devasena in the pits. Sadly, Bhalla's wife is nowhere to be seen in the picture, pun intended. At least, Rajamouli could have given a glimpse of her drawing..!
But, most importantly, NO ONE CAN STEAL DARTH VADER'S THEME for ANYTHINGGGGGGGGG. There were certain places when Bhalla was striding all alone in the frame, you could hear the world-famous 'Imperial March' from Star Wars being played in the background. Technically, it's not Rajamouli's blunder as it is the Music Director who held the reins to the backscore. Maybe, he got inspired by John Williams's theme. Once again, I don't know.
Condoning my bad pun of a meaningful example, we were shown in the first installment that Bhalla's son is killed by Shivu. There was this nagging question as to how Bhalla would have handled his wife with Devasena in the pits. Sadly, Bhalla's wife is nowhere to be seen in the picture, pun intended. At least, Rajamouli could have given a glimpse of her drawing..!
But, most importantly, NO ONE CAN STEAL DARTH VADER'S THEME for ANYTHINGGGGGGGGG. There were certain places when Bhalla was striding all alone in the frame, you could hear the world-famous 'Imperial March' from Star Wars being played in the background. Technically, it's not Rajamouli's blunder as it is the Music Director who held the reins to the backscore. Maybe, he got inspired by John Williams's theme. Once again, I don't know.
Being the costliest and grandest movie to have ever been made in Indian History, Rajamouli could have cutback his marketing expenses by extending a special invite to Modi Ji. What better way to have a sweeping and lasting impact and reach than the leader of a nation saying in the Social Media that the film is good.
I sincerely hope that atleast Director Shankar has the horse sense to have an exclusive screening for the PM prior to Robot 2.0's release as the movie is in tune with the 'Make in India' strategy.
In fact, with the PM elections less than 2 years from now, if I were in Modi Ji's Marketing Cell, I would have wisely and prudently hard sold the PM's welfare rollouts to all the leading directors and script writers who collaborates with the Khans and Kumars to discreetly and subtly incorporate them into their films. Some might aver that it is unethical but it's Embedded Marketing. In this case, instead of Patek Philippe watches or Aston Martins, you have Modi Ji's beneficial schemes infused into the screenplay.
With the PM or without the PM, Rajamouli has achieved something extraordinary for Indian films through his magnum opus venture. Flaws and mistakes are a part of life. When we overlook them, Baahubali will be the touchstone that every aspiring director would love to emulate and at least come close to the visual magnificence if not excel its splendidness. It is indeed a capstone of Indian Cinema.
With the PM or without the PM, Rajamouli has achieved something extraordinary for Indian films through his magnum opus venture. Flaws and mistakes are a part of life. When we overlook them, Baahubali will be the touchstone that every aspiring director would love to emulate and at least come close to the visual magnificence if not excel its splendidness. It is indeed a capstone of Indian Cinema.
The true king in the movie is not Prabhas. As is the meaning of his name, Rajamouli is the 'King of Kings' of the Baahubali epic which has generated and garnered such an immense and intense attention, attraction, admiration and appreciation from all quarters of the world for the cinematic flair, management finesse and technical brilliance that he has not only brought in but also mesmerized all of us. Thank you Sir for wowing everyone with mind-blasting visuals and stunning sets which could be broken only by you.
X---Concluded---X
PS:
Instead of being an audience, I just imagined how Rajamouli may have handled such a gargantuan people management which involved numerous stakeholders fraught with innumerable risks and uncertainties. It would have been literally a nightmare for him to coordinate every single one of them on such a massive scale for a period close to half a decade. To pull off this kind of a King Kong sized project with flying colors is nothing short of spectacular and truly remarkable. The entire team of Baahubali - not just the lead actors and actresses - but the technicians, extras, art directors etc. has got to be given a loud round of applause. This kind of man power is of the scale utilized in the Titanic film. That's why I addressed Rajamouli as the James Cameron of India. In short, he has epitomized "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained".
X---Concluded---X
PS:
Instead of being an audience, I just imagined how Rajamouli may have handled such a gargantuan people management which involved numerous stakeholders fraught with innumerable risks and uncertainties. It would have been literally a nightmare for him to coordinate every single one of them on such a massive scale for a period close to half a decade. To pull off this kind of a King Kong sized project with flying colors is nothing short of spectacular and truly remarkable. The entire team of Baahubali - not just the lead actors and actresses - but the technicians, extras, art directors etc. has got to be given a loud round of applause. This kind of man power is of the scale utilized in the Titanic film. That's why I addressed Rajamouli as the James Cameron of India. In short, he has epitomized "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained".
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