Overview
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is an Indian epic action film released in 2017, directed by S. S. Rajamouli and produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni under the Arka Media Works banner. Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil, the film was dubbed and released in Hindi, Malayalam, and several other languages. It is the second part of the two-part Baahubali franchise and serves as a direct continuation of Baahubali: The Beginning (2015).
The film became a major commercial success and is widely regarded as a landmark in Indian cinema for its scale, visual effects, pan-India release strategy, and box office performance. It held the record for the highest-grossing Indian film for several years.
Key facts
| Title | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion |
|---|---|
| Director | S. S. Rajamouli |
| Writers | K. V. Vijayendra Prasad (story), S. S. Rajamouli (screenplay) |
| Producers | Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni |
| Production company | Arka Media Works |
| Music | M. M. Keeravani |
| Cinematography | K. K. Senthil Kumar |
| Editor | Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao |
| Languages (original) | Telugu, Tamil |
| Dubbed versions | Hindi, Malayalam, and others |
| Release date | 28 April 2017 |
| Preceded by | Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) |
Cast
- Prabhas as Amarendra Baahubali and Mahendra Baahubali (Shivudu)
- Rana Daggubati as Bhallaladeva
- Anushka Shetty as Devasena
- Ramya Krishnan as Sivagami Devi
- Sathyaraj as Kattappa
- Nassar as Bijjaladeva
- Tamannaah as Avantika
- Subbaraju as Kumara Varma
Plot context
The narrative resolves the cliffhanger from the first film, which ended with the question of why Kattappa killed Amarendra Baahubali. The film moves between the past—depicting the rise of Amarendra Baahubali, his romance with Devasena, his conflict with Bhallaladeva, and the betrayal that led to his death—and the present, where his son Mahendra Baahubali avenges him and reclaims the kingdom of Mahishmati.
Production
Principal photography for both Baahubali films was carried out concurrently, with the second part undergoing additional shooting and post-production after the release of the first. The film was extensively shot at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, alongside locations in Kerala and other parts of India. The visual effects were primarily handled by Indian VFX studios, including Makuta VFX, with contributions from several other companies.
The soundtrack and background score were composed by M. M. Keeravani. The Hindi version was presented by Dharma Productions and AA Films.
Release and reception
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion released worldwide on 28 April 2017 across more than 9,000 screens, marking one of the widest releases for an Indian film at that time. It received broadly positive reviews from critics, who praised its visual scale, action sequences, performances, and Rajamouli's direction.
The film became the first Indian film to gross over ₹1,000 crore at the worldwide box office and held the record for the highest-grossing Indian film until it was surpassed in subsequent years. It was particularly significant for the Hindi market, where it set new benchmarks for a dubbed South Indian film.
Awards
The film won the National Film Award for Best Special Effects at the 65th National Film Awards. It also received recognition at the Filmfare Awards South, SIIMA Awards, and Nandi Awards, among other ceremonies, across categories including direction, music, and technical craft.
Significance
- Helped establish the viability of large-scale, pan-India theatrical releases originating from the Telugu film industry.
- Demonstrated the commercial potential of dubbed South Indian films in the Hindi-speaking market.
- Showcased the capabilities of Indian visual effects and production design at a global scale.
- Contributed to the growing recognition of S. S. Rajamouli as a director with international appeal, paving the way for later projects such as RRR.