As S.S. Rajamouli’s epic Baahubali prepares for a grand U.S. theatrical re-release, the acclaimed filmmaker is revisiting one of the proudest moments of his career — the night his film RRR made history at the Oscars.
In a recent interview, Rajamouli opened up about the emotional experience of seeing RRR’s blockbuster song “Naatu Naatu” win the Academy Award for Best Original Song — the first ever for an Indian production.
“It’s so many emotions put together — where we started as people, as a family, and how we brought an Indian story to that global platform,” Rajamouli shared. “There were sacrifices, stories, emotions — all of them pouring into that one moment. I really can’t put that into words.”
Reflecting on his journey, Rajamouli credited Baahubali — which turns 10 this year — as the foundation that allowed him to dream bigger with RRR.
“I was able to make RRR because of Baahubali,” he said. “Baahubali took me from one level to the next — where I could bring in big superstars, dream bigger, and create large-scale action sequences with bigger budgets.”
The upcoming re-release, titled Baahubali: The Epic, will combine both chapters of the saga — Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) — into a single cinematic experience for international audiences.
As Baahubali returns to theatres, fans are reminded of the visionary journey that began with a homegrown fantasy epic and soared all the way to the Oscar stage — cementing S.S. Rajamouli’s place among global cinema’s most celebrated directors.