Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) wasn’t just a movie—it was a cultural event that brought an entire nation together. Directed by S.S. Rajamouli and starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, and Ramya Krishnan, the film was tasked with the impossible: answering the question that had haunted India for two years—”Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?” . Not only did it deliver a satisfying answer, but it also became the highest-grossing Indian film of all time, cementing its place in cinematic history .
Film Overview & Cast
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion |
| Release Date | April 28, 2017 |
| Languages | Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam |
| Director | S.S. Rajamouli |
| Cast | Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sathyaraj, Ramya Krishnan, Nassar |
| Budget | ₹250 Crore (for both parts combined) |
| Worldwide Gross | ₹1,788 Crore |
| Runtime | 167 minutes |
The Story: A Shakespearean Tragedy in Golden Armor
The film picks up with Kattappa (Sathyaraj) continuing his narration of the events that led to Amarendra Baahubali’s death . The story reveals that Amarendra Baahubali was raised by Queen Mother Sivagami (Ramya Krishnan) alongside her own son, Bhallaladeva (Rana Daggubati). Sivagami, a woman of unwavering principles, initially decides to make Amarendra the king of Mahishmati .
However, everything changes when Amarendra falls in love with Devasena (Anushka Shetty), the fiery princess of the Kuntala kingdom. Unbeknownst to him, Sivagami had already promised Bhallaladeva that she would get him married to Devasena. When Amarendra chooses love over the crown, Sivagami appoints Bhallaladeva as king instead .
What follows is a tale of jealousy, political manipulation, and tragic betrayal. Bhallaladeva and his conniving father Bijjaladeva (Nassar) devise a plan to destroy Amarendra. Through their machinations, Amarendra and the pregnant Devasena are exiled from the palace. On the very day Devasena gives birth, Kattappa is forced to kill Amarendra Baahubali .
The final act returns to the present, where Mahendra Baahubali (also Prabhas) rises to avenge his father’s murder and free his mother from 25 years of captivity at the hands of Bhallaladeva .
For those who enjoyed the epic storytelling of RRR, Baahubali 2 represents Rajamouli’s masterful command of mythological narrative structure, blending Shakespearean tragedy with Indian epic traditions.
What Works: The Grandeur and Storytelling
A Satisfying Emotional Payoff
The film’s greatest achievement is delivering a emotionally devastating answer to its central question. As one reviewer noted, the revelation is handled “in such a masterful way, that you’re just left in tears for something you knew was coming all along” . The build-up to Kattappa’s betrayal is methodical and earned, transforming what could have been a cheap twist into genuine tragedy .
Performances That Elevate the Material
The cast delivers career-defining performances:
Prabhas embodies both Amarendra and Mahendra Baahubali with remarkable physicality and emotional grace . His work as the father, Amarendra, proves more nuanced—balancing nobility with warmth and creating a character whose righteousness never feels preachy . His portrayal set “a new standard for cinematic heroism, radiating nobility and humanity that resonate far beyond the screen” .
Anushka Shetty’s Devasena is the film’s secret weapon. She brings fierce dignity and intelligence to a character that could have been a passive prize. Her defiance against Sivagami gives the film its emotional backbone, and her suffering feels palpable without reducing her to a victim . Shetty makes Devasena’s suffering palpable without making her a victim, and her chemistry with Prabhas feels authentic .
Ramya Krishnan’s Sivagami commands every scene she inhabits. Her portrayal of a queen mother torn between duty and maternal love is the film’s dramatic engine. Krishnan navigates Sivagami’s tragic arc with authority, making her manipulation and eventual realisation genuinely heartbreaking . The sequence where Sivagami discovers Bhallala’s deception and attempts to crown Mahendra Baahubali represents the film’s thematic core—how institutional loyalty can blind even the wisest leaders to manipulation .
Sathyaraj as Kattappa delivers the film’s most emotionally complex performance. His internal conflict between duty and love for Baahubali provides genuine tragedy. His final betrayal scene works because Sathyaraj has built such empathy for this conflicted character throughout both films .
Rana Daggubati’s Bhallaladeva is compelling as the antagonist, though the sequel pushes him into cartoonish villainy at times. His physical transformation and commitment to the role’s brutality are admirable, even when the writing reduces him to sneering and scowling .
Rajamouli’s Masterful Screenplay
S.S. Rajamouli’s biggest strength is his screenplay and emotional drama. He ensures there is at least one peak or elevation scene every 10-15 minutes, keeping audiences engaged throughout the lengthy runtime . The conflict between Sivagami and Devasena is written beautifully, with the interval block (from the time Amarendra utters “Amarendra Bahubali anu nenu” till the interval card) being particularly mindblowing .
The film also makes the first film better. References big and small are left unused—the bull that charges at Baahubali serves to acclimatize you for a later battle sequence, and the linga from the first film finds a meaningful end that put smiles on viewers’ faces .
Technical Achievements
K.K. Senthil Kumar’s cinematography captures the grandeur of the production, while the art direction by Sabu Cyril creates a visually coherent world that feels both ancient and alive . The coronation scene, for instance, leaves you gasping at the interval .
Strong Female Characters
Both Devasena and Sivagami are written with agency and complexity. They drive the plot rather than simply reacting to male characters, which remains frustratingly rare in large-scale action epics . As Roger Ebert’s critic Simon Abrams noted, these characters “have more than a token amount of influence and power throughout the film” .
What Doesn’t Work: The Criticisms
Inconsistent and Sometimes Subpar CGI
The overuse of particularly bad CGI is the film’s Achilles heel. As one detailed review noted, “The visual effects range from adequate to PlayStation 2 cutscene quality. The water buffalo stampede, the climactic battle, and numerous background environments look embarrassingly artificial” . While the production was done in-house in India without access to international expertise, the overreliance on digital effects rather than practical solutions undermines the epic feel. When you’re constantly aware you’re watching pixels, the emotional impact suffers .
Some sequences, like the “Human Trebuchet” scene at the climax, were criticized as “an affront to basic common sense” . Even positive reviews acknowledged “some really stupid moments” where lead characters “break the walls and floors every time they fall down and can land unscratched from 100ft drops” .
Physics-Defying Action
The film leans heavily on melodrama and physics-defying action that stretches credibility past the breaking point. Characters survive absurd falls, arrows curve mid-flight for no reason, and emotional beats are telegraphed with the subtlety of a sledgehammer . While these tropes work for some audiences, critics noted they “stretch credibility past the breaking point” .
Overlong Runtime and Pacing Issues
At 167 minutes, the film feels long. While it never bores, some sections—particularly the comic-romantic track in Kuntala—could have been trimmed . The overuse of slow-motion capture is excessive, with nearly every action beat getting the 300 treatment, which diminishes impact through repetition .
Predictable Narrative
Some critics found the story predictable, following the Hamlet or The Lion King style narrative . As one reviewer put it, “story is very predictable with no twists and turns, dialogues are too simple, penning the screenplay for this movie was an effortless job and doesn’t require any imagination” .
Dubbing Issues
In the Tamil and Hindi dubbed versions, lip-sync issues were noticeable and distracting. As The New Indian Express noted, “You hear ‘Azhaithu vaarungal’, but you see the mouth say, ‘Theesko randi'” .
The Cliffhanger Resolution
While the answer to “Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?” was emotionally affecting, some critics felt it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype . One reviewer noted, “I wasn’t mind-blown by the answer, but it’s affecting enough on an emotional level. To be fair though, I doubt any answer could have been staggering, considering the hype involved” .
Box Office Performance: A Commercial Juggernaut
| Metric | Collection |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | ₹1,788 Crore |
| India Gross | ₹1,417 Crore |
| India Net | ₹1,030 Crore |
| Overseas Gross | ₹371 Crore |
| Hindi Version Net | ₹511 Crore |
The film became the highest-grossing Indian film ever within six days of its release . The Hindi version alone crossed ₹500 crore, a record that stood unchallenged for over five years .
For context, Baahubali 1 grossed ₹650 crore worldwide, making the sequel nearly three times more successful at the box office.
The Polarizing Reception
The film’s reception was sharply divided . While it received mostly positive reviews from critics—earning a “fresh” score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes —some viewers were deeply disappointed .
The Positive View
For many, Baahubali 2 is “the masterpiece that was promised, if not more” . It’s seen as “one of the all-time greatest triumphs in world cinema—a majestic symphony of storytelling, spectacle, and soul” . Supporters argue that the film’s success is proof of its quality—”no movie in the world wins the box office just through the hype or publicity” .
The Negative View
Detractors call it “an outright insult to the intelligence of its audience,” arguing that it “miserably fails to deliver anything beyond a hollow spectacle draped in garish CGI” . Some felt the first film was superior, with a slicker edit and tighter pacing .
Why the Divide?
The film works best when experienced in a theater with a cheering audience. As one reviewer noted, “This movie can only be truly enjoyed in a theatre. It won’t have the same impact when being watched on a TV or phone. It needs a huge audience to cheer, a perfect environment to be absorbed” .
Final Verdict
| Rating | Source |
|---|---|
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) | Roger Ebert |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) | The New Indian Express |
| ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5) | Idlebrain |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) | IMDb Users |
Bottom Line: Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is a flawed but fascinating blockbuster that proves Indian cinema can compete on the world stage. It’s a technical masterpiece that sacrifices some narrative depth for spectacle, but delivers on its promise of an emotional, satisfying conclusion to one of Indian cinema’s greatest sagas.
Who Should Watch:
- Anyone who watched Baahubali: The Beginning and needs closure
- Fans of epic fantasy and grand spectacle
- Admirers of S.S. Rajamouli’s visionary storytelling
- Those who appreciate ambitious world-building
Who Should Skip:
- Viewers sensitive to problematic CGI and unrealistic action
- Those who prefer tight, realistic narratives
- Anyone who found the first film over-the-top
- Viewers who dislike melodrama and convenient coincidences
FAQs About Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
Q: Is Baahubali 2 better than Baahubali 1?
A: Opinions are divided. Many feel Chapter 2 has a stronger emotional payoff and better character development, while others prefer Chapter 1’s tighter pacing and sense of discovery. Rotten Tomatoes shows positive audience reviews often state “Baahubali 2>>>>>> Baahubali 1 in all aspects” .
Q: Do I need to watch Baahubali 1 before Baahubali 2?
A: Absolutely. While the sequel recaps key moments, the emotional impact of the story relies heavily on the foundation built in the first film .
Q: What was the budget of Baahubali 2?
A: The combined budget for both parts was approximately ₹250 Crore .
Q: How much did Baahubali 2 earn at the box office?
A: The film grossed approximately ₹1,788 Crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Indian film at the time of its release .
Q: Is Baahubali 3 happening?
A: Currently, there are no official plans for a third installment. The story was concluded in Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. However, the ending does tease a potential continuation .
Recommended Reads
If you enjoyed this review, you might also like:
- Baahubali 1 Movie Review – The epic that started it all
- Baahubali 1 Box Office Report – The foundation of the franchise
- Baahubali 2 Box Office Report – The record-breaking conclusion
- RRR Movie Review – Rajamouli’s later global phenomenon
- K.G.F: Chapter 1 Review – The film that continued the pan-India trend
- K.G.F: Chapter 2 Review – The bigger, louder sequel
- Pushpa: The Rise Review – Another south Indian blockbuster
- Pushpa 2: The Rule Review – The sequel that dominated 2024
- Marco Movie Review – The most violent Indian film
For more information about Baahubali 2: The Conclusion and related films:
- IMDb – Baahubali 2: The Conclusion – Detailed cast, crew, ratings, and user reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes – Baahubali 2 – Critical and audience scores
- Roger Ebert Review – Simon Abrams’ 4-star review
- The New Indian Express Review – Detailed critical analysis
- Bollywood Hungama – Box office data and film information
- Idlebrain Review – Telugu cinema review
- Box Office India – Accurate box office data
- Know Your Meme – Cultural impact and viral moments
Disclaimer: This review is based on critical analysis and audience reactions. Viewer discretion is advised for violence and mature themes.
Have you watched Baahubali 2: The Conclusion? Share your thoughts in the comments below—did the answer to “Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?” satisfy you?
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