Baahubali (franchise)

Overview

Baahubali is an Indian epic action film franchise primarily in Telugu, written and directed by S. S. Rajamouli and produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni under the Arka Media Works banner. The franchise comprises two theatrical films, Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), along with extended works in animation, literature, television and digital media. Set in the fictional kingdom of Mahishmati, the saga draws on Indian mythological and historical motifs, blending fantasy, dynastic conflict and large-scale war set pieces.

The films were shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil, and dubbed into Hindi, Malayalam and several international languages. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion became the highest-grossing Indian film at the time of its release and is widely credited with reshaping the commercial scale and pan-India appeal of Indian cinema.

Key facts

Background

The story was developed by veteran screenwriter V. Vijayendra Prasad, father of S. S. Rajamouli, who drew inspiration from Indian epics, Puranic literature and historical chronicles such as those of the Kakatiya dynasty. Rajamouli, known for earlier Telugu hits including Magadheera (2009) and Eega (2012), conceived Baahubali as a two-part film due to the breadth of the narrative and the production scale required.

Filming began in July 2013 at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, with extensive use of practical sets, miniature work and visual effects. Indian VFX studios including Makuta VFX, Firefly Creative Studio and others contributed the bulk of the post-production. The total combined budget of the two films is widely reported as one of the largest in Indian cinema at the time.

Films

Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)

Released on 10 July 2015, the film introduced the kingdom of Mahishmati, the rivalry between cousins Amarendra Baahubali and Bhallaladeva, and the journey of Shivudu (Mahendra Baahubali) who learns of his royal lineage. It ended on a cliffhanger built around the question, "Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?", which became a major popular culture talking point in India.

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)

Released on 28 April 2017, the sequel resolved the back-story of Amarendra Baahubali, the conspiracies in the Mahishmati court, and the eventual reclamation of the throne. It set new box-office records in India across multiple languages and had a wide international release including in North America, the United Kingdom, the Gulf region and East Asia.

Cast and recurring characters

• Prabhas as Amarendra Baahubali and 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

Music

The soundtracks of both films were composed by M. M. Keeravani, with lyrics in Telugu by him and others, and Hindi lyrics by Manoj Muntashir. The score made extensive use of orchestral and classical Indian elements. Songs such as "Dhivara", "Manohari", "Saahore Baahubali" and the theme "Kaun Hai Woh" became widely recognised.

Expanded universe

Animation

• Baahubali: The Lost Legends – an animated television series produced by Graphic India and Arka Mediaworks, broadcast from 2017 onwards, which expands on events preceding the films.

Literature and graphic novels

• The Rise of Sivagami (2017) by Anand Neelakantan, the first novel in a prequel trilogy titled Baahubali: Before the Beginning, published by Westland.
• Chaturanga (2018), the second novel in the same series.
• A series of graphic novels published in collaboration with Graphic India.

Stage and digital adaptations

• An interactive virtual reality experience and mobile games tied to the franchise were released around the time of the second film.
• Baahubali: Crown of Blood, an animated series, was released on Disney+ Hotstar in 2024, depicting events set before Baahubali: The Beginning.
• Baahubali: The Eternal War, an animated film, has been announced as part of the franchise's continued expansion.

Re-releases and recut

In 2023, the two films were re-released theatrically in India as a single combined cut titled Baahubali: The Epic in select markets, and again in 2025 to mark a decade since the first film's release.

Reception and significance

The franchise received largely positive critical reviews for its scale, production design, musical score and performances, particularly those of Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj. Both films won National Film Awards in technical categories, including Best Special Effects, and several Filmfare Awards South and SIIMA Awards.

Baahubali is frequently cited as a turning point for the wider acceptance of Telugu and other South Indian films in Hindi-speaking markets and overseas, paving the way for later pan-India successes such as KGF, Pushpa and RRR. It is also credited with raising the profile of Indian visual effects studios and large-scale period film-making in the country.

Awards

• National Film Award for Best Feature Film (Baahubali: The Beginning, 63rd National Film Awards).
• National Film Award for Best Special Effects for both films.
• Multiple Filmfare Awards South, Nandi Awards, SIIMA Awards and CineMAA Awards across acting, technical and music categories.

Related topics

• S. S. Rajamouli
• Prabhas
• Rana Daggubati
• Anushka Shetty
• Ramya Krishnan
• Sathyaraj
• M. M. Keeravani
• Arka Media Works
• Ramoji Film City
• Telugu cinema
• RRR (film)
• Anand Neelakantan

References

• Official press materials and production notes released by Arka Media Works.
• Interviews and statements by S. S. Rajamouli and V. Vijayendra Prasad in Indian print and broadcast media.
• Reports of the National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards South recognising the films.
• Westland Publications listings for The Rise of Sivagami and Chaturanga.