Highest grossing film director of India: How SS Rajamouli revived spectacle cinema

New Delhi: It wouldn’t be an overstatement if we say that SS Rajamouli changed the way Indian audiences enjoy cinema. SS Rajamouli introduced the Indian audience to the exultation of spectacular storytelling on the screen.

From the colossal sets, seat gripping action sequences to reimagined mythology, SS Rajamouli, with his enormous commercial success, clap backed at the hypocritical viewers who mocked Telugu cinema for “cringe VFX” but fawned over Hollywood’s half-backed superhero fiction.

With RRR, and its international accords, Padma Shri Awardee Srisaila Sri Rajamouli has become a household name pan India.

Let’s dive deep into the legend of a storyteller, India’s highest-paid director SS Rajamouli

1. Bahubali the beginning

In 2009, with Maghadheera, SS Rajamouli conquered the Telugu cinema, but it was with ‘Bahubalu, The Beginning’ in 2015, he took the magic of spectacular movies to each and every corner of the country.

Bahubali was a risk, made with a mammoth amount of 180 cr. But in the end, it all paid off as Bahubali emerged as the pride of Telugu Cinema.

“Kattapa ne Bahubali ko kyu mara,” became the most asked question for many subsequent years until finally, we got the answer with the sequel.

With Bahubali, Rajamouli quenched the Desis’ need for grandiose action and heroic storylines.

Moreover, Bahubali successfully made up to the expectations it set with aggressive promotions.

2. Bahubali, The Conclusion

Amongst its phenomenon success with a collection of 6 billion rupees to loads of critical acclaim from cinephiles worldwide, SS Rajamouli’s biggest achievement with Bahubali 2 would be giving female characters their share, something he unintentionally missed in part 1.

With such a benevolent sequel, Rajamouli established a standard for spectacle films that visuals aren’t always compensation for lack of storyline, but actually a combined powerful experience at the theaters.

3. RRR

Just when OTT appeared to have sidelined the cinemas in the aftermath of the covid pandemic, Rajamouli came with RRR and proved that the experience of enjoying a spectacle film can not be replaced by any OTT production.

Since Rajamouli stepped out from his mythical archaic characters and fictionalized two real freedom struggle heroes, RRR, for many, felt like a weak storyline supported with VFX.

But none of it could take away the unprecedented success that also brought India its first Golden Globe.