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.
| Franchise | Baahubali |
|---|---|
| Created by | S. S. Rajamouli, V. Vijayendra Prasad |
| Original language | Telugu (also shot in Tamil) |
| Production company | Arka Media Works |
| Producers | Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni |
| Music | M. M. Keeravani |
| Cinematography | K. K. Senthil Kumar |
| Lead cast | Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, Nassar |
| First film | Baahubali: The Beginning (10 July 2015) |
| Second film | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (28 April 2017) |
| Setting | The fictional kingdom of Mahishmati |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.