Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | April 28, 2017

Rating: 2.5 / 5

The essence: The entire mood and atmosphere is ‘aam junta-centric’ as is evident from every scene which is greeted with huge applause. However, given an option, I would prefer watching the beginning again.

Too much sound.

Too much drama.

Too much action.

Too much pyrotechnics using humans as cannon balls.

Too much run-time: two hours and 47 minutes!

Baahubali 2 is in excess of everything.

The beginning had it all: Brilliance in performance. Brilliance in art-work. Brilliance in direction. Brilliance in its execution of the action sequences. Brilliance in recreating a bygone era. It was epic!

The only reason why the interest level peaked for the second edition could be for the fact that everyone wanted to know why Kattapa killed Baahubali? The brilliance of that nugget and the manner in which it was planted towards the end, left the audience panting for more; S S Rajamouli managed to hold his audience in a thrall.

Given an option, I would prefer watching the beginning again.

For all the ‘too much’ of everything, director Rajamouli does give the first half the brilliance of Part I. It is after the interval that everything comes crashing down and after a point in time the special effects actually get to you. It’s ‘too much’.

The conclusion focusses more on the beginning! It puts in perspective Baahubali (Prabhas) and Bhalla Deva’s (Rana Dagubatti) relationship. Rajamouli also cleverly weaves in a love angle and the interests of both the brothers for the same girl, Deva Sena (Anushka Shetty).

Bhalla Deva’s ploy to usurp Baahubali’s love after getting a promise from his mother (the queen), fails, but that does not deter him from ensuring he gets the better of Baahubali; he wants the throne as well!

Katappa’s role in killing Baahubali and his hand in ensuring that the child is king is what the movie is all about. A true warrior, Kattapa’s character is well defined and Sathyaraj yet again belts out an epic performance. Ditto Nassar for his evil, negative role. Tamannah Bhatia who impressed as Avantika in the beginning does not have much of a role here, considering that this part focusses on the beginning!

Prabhas and Rana Dagubatti both are first-rate while Anushka Shetty in the part of the warrior princess is impressive.

The entire mood and atmosphere is ‘aam junta-centric’ as is evident from every scene which is greeted with a huge applause. In that respect, Rajamouli has managed to hit the right nerve.

Going by the crowds thronging the first three shows on the first day at IMAX, Wadala (Mumbai), I’m sure by the end of the day, the Box Office collections pan India would have touched Rs 100 crore.

CREDITS
Producer: Karan Johar
Director: S S Rajamouli
Star Cast: Prabhas, Rana Dagubatti, Sathyaraj, Anushka Shetty