What all was edited out of 'Baahubali: The Epic'?
What's the story
The highly anticipated re-edited version of the iconic Baahubali series, titled Baahubali: The Epic, will hit theaters on Friday, October 31. In a recent promotional interview with actors Prabhas and Rana Daggubati, director SS Rajamouli revealed that several scenes were cut from this new version to reduce its runtime from over five hours to three hours and 45 minutes. The edited film is a unique blend of Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017).
Cut scenes
Love story, songs, and war sequences trimmed
Rajamouli revealed that major portions removed from Baahubali: The Epic include Avanthika's love story with Shivudu, the songs Pacha Bottesina, Kanna Nidurinchara, and Irrukupo. Multiple sequences from the war sequences have also been trimmed. He emphasized that every scene in Baahubali carries emotional weight and narrative importance, but they wanted this new version to be purely story-driven.
Film's inception
This is how 'Baahubali: The Epic' came into being
Rajamouli revealed that the idea for Baahubali: The Epic was conceived five years ago. They explored whether the story could be told as a single film but faced challenges with linear narration and scene length. Ultimately, they decided to remove certain episodes to create this compact re-edited version.
Sequel speculation
Meanwhile, here's what Rajamouli said about 'Baahubali 3'
In the same interview, Rajamouli addressed ongoing speculations about Baahubali 3. He revealed that an animated film set in the same universe is currently in development. Meanwhile, Baahubali: The Epic also stars Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, and Nasser in pivotal roles. It premiered internationally on Wednesday.