What's behind global rise of Rajamouli? - Page 2

I first heard of Rajamouli with Bahubali and then RRR, so my knowledge is limited, but I'll base my answer on these 3 movies.

For me, none of the movies were that amazing. They were both overrated. But they were definitely a good one time watch. Rajamouli did have some good characters in Ram and Bheem and he could have made the films slightly more realistic, but that complaint of mine is for another day.

Back to your topic.

I think he rose so much because his movies work anywhere. They are Telugu movies (I think), but really work in every language. They are larger than life with the typical masala makings, but the dubbing is adapted to get the same meaning across and to work on each scene.

Let's just look at Naatu Naatu as an example. The lyrics work in Telugu, Hindi, and probably any other language. And it isn't just a word-for-word translation. The lyrics are taken and repurposed into Hindi to present the same feelings.

Now the reason these movies work on a global scale is because they show the world a new presentation of Indian movies. They present the new age where we've moved past dancing around trees, landing up in Switzerland in skimpy sarees, and where the female is all pious. It presents this aggressive alpha who is untouchable, females who are strong, and dance moves that put Michael Jackson to shame (like how he made moonwalk famous).

His movies work with the global audience because those are the types of movies that many of them like nowadays. After COVID (and even before it), the movies that did well in theatres were those that were about superheroes. Pick up any Marvel movie. Most likely it was a super success (barring a few). RRR and Bahubali were on that level with their alpha males not story lines (untouchable, lots of action, basically like a superhero).

RRR and Naatu Naatu did so well on a global scale also because of the actors I feel. When Rajamouli started pushing for RRR to go the Golden Globes and then the Oscars, we saw 2 actors who were down-to-earth, love their country, and just want their film and Indian cinema to be recognized on a global scale. People loved these 2 actors as well. I mean just look at wherever Ram Charan went. Everyone from Indians to the most gore of folks were screaming his name and he's folding his hands in respect, taking selfies with people with a smile, and then waving his way past them. Ram Charan and Jr NTR wore Indian attire to the Oscars and celebrated in the sweetest way possible. Somewhere they were able to bring Rajamouli even more success.

Now this is just my theory, but I feel like I can put all these together to explain why he's a global success today.

Magadheera was first film I noticed from Rajamouli. It was really good. The man is clearly a master story teller and has a knack for weaving a convincing fantasy. His sense of casting and music are also spot on.

I know it is not overnight but very rarely have other filmmakers managed to get such commercial success pan India before. The only one who comes to mind in close comparison is S. Shankar with Nayak, Robot, Sivaji etc.

Very very well reasoned, well argued post and well thought out arguments.

It makes sense.

His films are indeed unique and larger than life. Transport you to another world and characters are powerful. I mean Bahubali has each character so headstrong and well fleshed out.

Eega was totally unique concept too.

I have not watched RRR yet but I am surprised at its popularity.

I do agree his films are different from usual chiffon sarees and dance in Swiss Alps that Bollywood has to offer. And they are also not as preachy as say, typical Aamir films.

He seems to have managed to entertain audience and send them to world of fantasy and made that fantasy believable.

I think a certain old world charm in his films works better for him compared to more futuristic S. Shankar. Those kingdoms, kings, queens or period drama elements and themes inspired from Mahabharat or Ramayan, or folk lore, make his films more enticing.

I agree about his stars too. NTR Jr and Ram Charan have behaved very classy, decent and not wannabe at all unlike Ash, Anil, PC when they went abroad. And no attempts to sound pseudo intellectual or flaunt so called wit. NTR Jr put up an accent but it was not as fake as Anil or PC. The humility and disciplined demeanour are attractive.

I see.

Rajamouli has put everyone else to shame when it comes to marketing and cracking code for markets where Southern films worked quite rarely earlier.

I must agree his marketing, lobbying skills are amazing and he also gives off a humble vibe compared to say, snooty K Jo or that mysterious Mr India invisible Adi Chopra.

PR, Rajamouli played it very big this time , marketing his movie to the west which he did very well, otherwise RRR is not as a good film as Bahubali,

Originally posted by: Maroonporsche

That’s 30 seconds more than me

very easy to make fun of a masterpiece ryt

That is what I was thinking. RRR is not of quality of Bahubali series or Eega. I even find Magadheera better than RRR.

But its popularity and Naatu winning global awards simply surprised me.

Also his rise as a pan Indian commercially successful filmmaker since 2010 is meteoric and amazing rise for a Telugu filmmaker.

He has entirely broken the mould or barrier that kept non Hindi ones as just 'regional' filmmakers.

Man is an inspiration for all non Hindi filmmakers and has let the world know India has more than just Bollywood.

I must say I got a bit offended when that host at Oscars called Naatu a Bollywood song. I hate westerners calling any Indian film as Bollywood.

yes, he called it bollywood, idiot , and i guess rajamouli has spent a lot of money for marketin RRR , his ego got hurt when RRR not got selected for oscars.... but he made it, this is kind of passion 👏

I’ve seen rajamoulis work throughout the years right from his first film in 2001-2002 to now …I can’t say I’m a fan of all his films but his biggest asset is he improves by leaps and bounds with each film …

His graph in terms of skill, scale , vision and success has always been upwards ….he’s never stayed stagnant or regressed as far as I saw in his career ….he’s always gone from strength to strength

Some of his earlier films had shoddy vfx , vulgarity, some didn’t have a good second half, he was bad at filming comedy, song sequences and romantic sequences …and he just worked on each piece of criticism and improved (despite all those films being blockbusters ) …he never seemed to take his success for granted and “relaxed”…

Many “masala hit” filmmakers have either regressed, fallen off the radar or stayed where they are with no improvement (prabhu Deva, sajid khan , rohit shetty , Farah khan )…because none of them pushed themselves to improve the way rajamouli did …Shankar was doing great till endhiran….and post that he’s never hit the same highs again…

Thanks for detailed post. I have not seen SSR's earlier work. So cannot comment.

I do agree on Shankar. I wonder what has happened to him post Robot. He seems to have hit a plateau. Otherwise he had huge hand in making Tamil films popular pan India and making Rajinikanth a bigger pan Indian star and introducing him to new generation of audience.

I like vision of Shankar and SSR though. They have grand, large scale visions. Something that not all filmmakers have or know how to execute.