Released in 2015 the pan-India ‘Baahubali‘ directed by SS Rajamouli starring Prabhas in the lead made a humongous mark in shaping the upcoming storm of Telugu massy films. Recently filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma discussed the impact of the film, where he shared that the film proved strong content transcends regional boundaries.
During a chat with Pinkvilla, Ram Gopal Varma stated, “Starting with Rajamouli, like Baahubali… he surprised everyone with an unknown star like Prabhas”. He further explained, “It became such a big hit, which made it clear that if the content is good, people don’t care where the movie is coming from”.
Varma shared that the film’s success gave confidence to filmmakers and provided them with a larger canvas to release their films in multiple languages. He stated, “When you’re pitching the movie and discussing finances, such success gives you a bigger net, allowing the film to release in multiple languages and become a pan-India film”
Varma also noted that Rajamouli’s talent was not specific to the Telugu film industry, stating, “Even if Rajamouli was born in Gujarat instead of South India, he would have still made the same film. That is his sensibility. Nobody else made Baahubali in the South except him. This isn’t about the culture of Telugu films, but others tend to take pride in claiming something as their own.”
‘Baahubali: The Beginning,’ had a budget of Rs 180 crore, making it the most expensive Indian film at its time of release. With a worldwide box office gross of Rs 600–650 crore, it became the highest-grossing Telugu film and the second highest-grossing Indian film worldwide at the time of its release. The film garnered national and international acclaim for its direction, story, visual effects, and cinematography.
Varma also mentioned that not every South Indian film becomes a pan-Indian success, and strong content, like that of ‘Maharaja‘ and ‘Kantara,’ is essential for a film to resonate with audiences.
