5 striking similarities between SS Rajamouli-directed 'RRR' and 'Baahubali'
What's the story
SS Rajamouli's big-screen spectacle RRR is finally here! The ace director (and magician) had last helmed the two parts of the famed Baahubali series, so expectations were quite high from RRR. And, the reviews it has been receiving prove that the wait was worth it. Now, as an ardent Rajamouli fan, I did notice some similarities between Baahubali and RRR. Let's discuss. (Spoiler Alert)
#1
Plot: Centered around an abduction
The plot of Baahubali takes flight when the leading lady, Devasena (Anushka Shetty), gets abducted. She is held in captivity by the main antagonist. In RRR, too, the main plot revolves around an abduction. Here, a little girl from a tribal community is kidnapped by the British and kept in captivity. And, the leading men in both films rescue the abducted person.
#2
Loyalty
The quality of loyalty assumes significance in both RRR and Baahubali. In the latter, Karikala Kattappa's (Sathyaraj) devotion toward his rulers is unparalleled. So is the loyalty of Baahubali (Prabhas) for Rajamata (Ramya Krishnan). In RRR, this crucial factor is seen between two friends: Komaram Bheem (Jr. NTR), a tribal leader, and Alluri Rama Raju (Ram Charan), who is a dedicated royal police officer.
#3
Extravagant visuals, top-notch cinematography
Like Baahubali, RRR is also peppered with splendid views and picturesque locales. Here too, we see beautiful moonlit nights and spectacular forest visuals. In terms of cinematic experience, RRR follows Baahubali closely and makes enormous strides. Watch out for the exceptional climactic scene when Raju sets his bike afire. Also, the scene where Charan's character bounces back after escaping from prison is adrenaline pumping.
#4
Protagonists have superhero-like abilities
One of the most fascinating aspects of Baahubali is how enthralling the protagonist's characterization is, though illogical at times. He could use palm trees and climb up huge walls and run on fire-horned cattle. Similar things happen in RRR. The protagonists here can fight off a mighty tiger single-handedly and handle a rampage of thousands of people. The leads of both films are messiahs.
#5
Bows and arrows, stunt choreography
Though there is a huge gap in the timeline of both the films, the weapons used in Baahubali and RRR seem similar. There are guns and grenades in RRR, yes, but like in Baahubali, bows and arrows are also used during crucial parts. Also, the stunt choreography is similar. For example, both films have heroes fighting off a huge crowd using smart tactics.
Dissimilarity
Special mention: Leading lady's characterization disappoints in 'RRR'
Having said it all, RRR is dissimilar to Baahubali in one major thing: the portrayal of the female characters. Though Baahubali: The Beginning failed here, too, the second part, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, compensated for this deficit, giving gave us the fiery Devasena (Shetty) and Sivagaami (Krishnan). However, in RRR, Alia Bhatt appears just in a cameo and doesn't have much to do. Disappointing!