Overview
Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is an Indian epic action film directed by S. S. Rajamouli and produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni under the Arka Media Works banner. Released on 28 April 2017, it is the second part of the two-part Baahubali franchise and a continuation of Baahubali: The Beginning (2015). The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil, with dubbed versions released in Hindi, Malayalam and several other languages.
The film answers the question "Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?", a cliffhanger that had been left at the end of the first part and which became one of the most discussed plot points in Indian popular culture between 2015 and 2017. Upon release, it became a major commercial success, breaking several box office records in India and overseas.
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 |
| Original languages | Telugu, Tamil |
| Dubbed versions | Hindi, Malayalam, and others |
| Music | M. M. Keeravani |
| Cinematography | K. K. Senthil Kumar |
| Editing | Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao |
| Release date | 28 April 2017 |
| Preceded by | Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) |
Cast
- Prabhas as Amarendra Baahubali / Mahendra Baahubali (Shivudu)
- Rana Daggubati as Bhallaladeva
- Anushka Shetty as Devasena
- Tamannaah as Avantika
- Ramya Krishnan as Sivagami Devi
- Sathyaraj as Kattappa
- Nassar as Bijjaladeva
- Subbaraju as Kumara Varma
Plot context
The narrative is set in the fictional kingdom of Mahishmati. The film moves between the past, where Amarendra Baahubali is heir to the throne, marries the princess Devasena of Kuntala, and is eventually betrayed and killed by his loyal protector Kattappa under the orders of queen mother Sivagami; and the present, where his son Mahendra Baahubali returns to Mahishmati to overthrow the usurper Bhallaladeva and restore his mother to her rightful place.
Production
Both parts of Baahubali were shot back-to-back over an extended schedule beginning in 2013, primarily at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, with additional locations in Kerala and other parts of India. The film made extensive use of computer-generated imagery and pre-visualisation, with visual effects supervised by multiple Indian VFX studios including Makuta VFX. The film's combined production with the first part is widely cited as among the most expensive Indian film projects undertaken up to that time.
Music
The soundtrack and background score were composed by M. M. Keeravani. The Telugu and Tamil albums feature songs such as "Saahore Baahubali", "Dandaalayyaa" and "Hamsa Naava". Lyrics for the Telugu version were written primarily by M. M. Keeravani, while the Hindi version featured lyrics by Manoj Muntashir.
Release and reception
The film was released worldwide on 28 April 2017 in 2D, 3D and IMAX formats. It received generally positive reviews, with praise for its scale, visual effects, action choreography and performances, particularly those of Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj.
Commercially, it became the highest-grossing Indian film at the time of its release, surpassing earlier records held by Hindi-language films, and was the first Indian film to gross over ₹1,000 crore at the worldwide box office in a comparatively short span. It opened to record-breaking collections in both domestic and overseas markets, including in North America, where it set new benchmarks for an Indian film release.
Awards
At the 65th National Film Awards, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion received the award for Best Feature Film providing Wholesome Entertainment, along with the Best Special Effects award for the team led by V. Srinivas Mohan. The film also won several Filmfare Awards South, SIIMA Awards and other recognitions in technical and popular categories.
Significance
The success of Baahubali 2 is widely regarded as a turning point for the pan-Indian film, demonstrating that a film made primarily in Telugu could achieve nationwide and international commercial success across language markets. It accelerated the trend of major South Indian productions being released simultaneously in multiple Indian languages, and brought wider attention to Telugu cinema, Hyderabad-based studios and Indian visual effects work. The franchise also spawned tie-in novels, animated series and a related streaming series, Baahubali: Before the Beginning.
Related topics
- Baahubali: The Beginning
- S. S. Rajamouli
- Prabhas
- Rana Daggubati
- Anushka Shetty
- M. M. Keeravani
- Arka Media Works
- Telugu cinema
- Ramoji Film City
- National Film Awards
References
- Central Board of Film Certification, Government of India.
- Directorate of Film Festivals, 65th National Film Awards announcements.
- Arka Media Works official communications and press releases on the Baahubali franchise.