S. S. Rajamouli | |
---|---|
Born | Koduri Srisaila Sri Rajamouli 10 October 1973 Hire Kotnekal, Mysore State, India |
Other names | Jakkanna, Raja, Nandi |
Occupations |
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Works | |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Father | V. Vijayendra Prasad |
Relatives | M. M. Keeravani (cousin) Kalyani Malik (cousin) M. M. Srilekha (cousin) Raja Koduri (cousin) |
Family | See Koduri family |
Awards | Full list |
Honours | Padma Shri (2016)[1] |
Koduri Srisaila Sri Rajamouli (/ˈrɑːdʒəmaʊlɪ/ RAH-juh-mow-li; born 10 October 1973) is an Indian filmmaker who primarily works in Telugu cinema. Known for his epic, action and fantasy genre films, he is considered the highest grossing Indian director of all time,[2] as well as the highest-paid director in Indian cinema.[3] Rajamouli is a recipient of various national and international honours including a New York Film Critics Circle award,[4] a Critics' Choice Movie Award,[5] two Saturn Awards, five Filmfare Awards, and four National Film Awards. In 2016, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, for his contributions in the field of art. In 2023, he was included on the Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[6]
Rajamouli has been described by film trade analyst Komal Nahta as "the biggest Indian film director ever".[7] Rachel Dwyer, professor of Indian Cultures and Cinema at SOAS, called him "India's most significant director today".[8] He has directed twelve feature films so far, and all of them have been successful at the box office.[7][9] Three of his films—Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), and RRR (2022)—are among the top ten highest grossing-films in India to date. All three films were also the most expensive Indian films ever made at the time of their release. Baahubali 2 is currently the highest grossing film in India, and sold over 10 crore (100 million) tickets during its box office run; the highest estimated admissions for any film in India since Sholay (1975).[10][11]
The 2009 fantasy action film, Magadheera was the highest-grossing Telugu film ever at the time of its release.[12][13] Eega (2012) won nine awards at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, including the Most Original Film. Baahubali films have received six Saturn Award nominations with Baahubali 2 winning the Best International Film. RRR received various international accolades including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for the song "Naatu Naatu", and a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Rajamouli's films are typically characterized by their epic grandeur, stylized action sequences, unbridled heroism and larger-than-life characters with historical and mythological references. His films have been noted for their integration of CGI with practical effects. With his Baahubali films, he has pioneered the pan-Indian film movement.[14] He is also credited for expanding the market of Telugu cinema and South Indian cinema into North India and international markets.[15]
He's the highest grossing Indian director and also the director to secure the highest theatrical share.
It catapulted Rajamouli into becoming India's most expensive director, commanding about $13m to direct a film.
DNA also reported that the director SS Rajamouli, took home a mammoth profit share of Rs 100 crore. This is probably the most any director has earned from a movie, yet.
In 2020, S.S. Rajamouli, known for films like Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2, was the leading director in India whose charge for a single project grossed about one billion Indian rupees.
Sharma-2022
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).SS Rajamouli is perhaps India's most significant director today. He can make a film in a south Indian language that, when dubbed, becomes a pan-Indian film that can also be enjoyed overseas.
And he has never failed — he has not had a film which was unprofitable at the box office, and ...... At what he has set out to do — whether or not it's to the taste of the art film aficionado or the film critic — he has never yet failed.
After Magadheera, which became the highest-grossing Telugu film of all time, .....
And his latest movie Magadheera became industry hit in all areas across India and overseas by breaking previous records by miles.
He is perhaps singlehandedly responsible for the rise of the pan-Indian film.
Before the release of Bahubali: The Beginning (2015), the term 'Pan India film' did not exist in film media or audience lingo.
Producer G Dhananjayan says, "Rajamouli has redefined the reach of regional cinema consistently through his films, starting with Eega [2012] to the Baahubali series, and now with RRR. The entire concept of pan-Indian films came from him when he succeeded with Eega across many Indian languages. This opened up this concept. Thanks to his vision, today, a lot of films are able to be made on a bigger budget targeted at a pan-Indian audience. Rajamouli stands tall among all Indian filmmakers for his vision, innovation, and expansion of the regional language market at a global level."
As audiences lapped up 'Why did Katappa kill Baahubali?', a market was not just created in the North for theatrical releases of Hindi-dubbed south Indian films, but it also paved the way for them to hammer Hindi films in their home turf. Clearly, Rajamouli has sown the seeds of south Indian cinema's dominance of Indian movie theatres across the country, with others following in his footsteps.
SS Rajamouli is perhaps India's most significant director today. He can make a film in a south Indian language that, when dubbed, becomes a pan-Indian film that can also be enjoyed overseas. SS Rajamouli is now widely regarded as one of India's greatest directors. Rajamouli's impact on Indian cinema is yet to be assessed, but he is perhaps primarily responsible for galvanising the interest in south Indian cinema that is now being watched all over India.
Rajamouli and his last film RRR may have single-handedly prompted not just Indian audiences but also cinephiles worldwide to look beyond Bollywood while seeking entertaining Indian blockbusters.