‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’: Unknown facts about the franchise that will blow your mind

Rajkummar Rao’s ‘Newton’ was chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars recently, following which the film gained immensely at the box-office. However, there are many who registered their shock at the biggest hit in Indian history ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ not being the chosen one. While movie-lovers made their displeasure known on social media, the director of the magnum opus S.S. Rajamouli expressed that he wasn’t disappointed at all in an interview to IANS. He said, "(I am) Not at all (disappointed at losing out the race to Oscars this year). When I make a film, I never think about awards. It is not my aim. The aim is to first satisfy myself with the story and then next is to see that it reaches the maximum number of audience and makes money for everyone who has put their life in it. That is my most important thing. If awards come, then I am happy. If they don’t, I don’t mind that because they are not at all my criteria."

SS Rajamouli is now a household name, thanks to the phenomenal success of the 'Baahubali' franchise. While the director is being lauded for his vision and craft, and his film is romping its way past the 1000 crore mark at the international box-office, not many know that the ace director also had a brief acting stint. The movie in question is none other than ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’.

In the first part of the epic fantasy franchise, Rajamouli appeared for a few short minutes in a barely recognisable avatar, as a spirit seller. Right before the Manohari song kicks in, Prabhas aka Amarendra Baahubali argues with the spirit seller to give him more to drink. As cool as his brief appearance was in ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, he did not attempt something similar in the sequel.

Meanwhile, ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ has shattered several records at the domestic and international box-office. It has even gone on to become the highest grossing Hindi films of all time and has even shattered Aamir Khan's 'Dangal' lifetime collection record within just days of its release.

'Baahubali 2: The Conclusion' has claimed box-office supremacy within the first three days of its release. While the film’s director SS Rajamouli has been receiving heaps of praise for his vision and accomplishment of his film, leading men Prabhas and Rana Daggubati are also basking in its glory for their stellar performances. Apart from the film grabbing headlines, an old video of Rana Daggubati making a startling revelation that he is actually blind in one eye is doing the rounds online. The video has the hunk saying, "Should I tell you one thing? I am blind in my right eye. I see only from my left eye. The one you see is someone else’s eye which was donated to me after his death.” In the video, the star puts a hand on his eye saying, “If I close my left eye, I can see no one."

Being blind in one eye has not held the star back in charging forward to claim international stardom with the 'Baahubali' franchise.

This month promises to be a treat for Indian cinema lovers as the highly anticipated S.S Rajamouli fantasy drama, ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ is all set to hit theatre screens on April 28. Fans of the hugely successful franchise are well aware that ‘Baahubali’ is actually one big story divided into two movies, and is now rumoured to have a third film in the works. We are well aware that the upcoming flick will pick up where the first film left off. We have drawn up a list of a few unknown facts that could throw light on the sequel…

Sivagami’s attire

Queen mother Sivagami meets her demise at the start of ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’. She is seen wearing a green saree with a red border. Now, in the trailer for ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, she can be seen in the same attire presenting an infant - Mahendra Baahubali - to the people. Coincidently, in the post credit scene of the first film, she was seen in the same saree sadly caressing someone, possibly the corpse of Amarendra Baahubali. It is thus evident that Baahubali’s death, Mahendra’s announcement as the heir and Sivagami’s demise happened on the same day.

Prabhas played a triple role

Everyone knows that Prabhas plays the dual character of father and son in the movie. However, it might surprise you that he played the role of the grandfather as well! In ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, a painting of King Dharmendra Baahubali, is shown, which looks strikingly similar to Prabhas. This means that the actor has actually portrayed three characters in the film. Maybe, fans will get to see more of Dharmendra Baahubali as well in the upcoming film.

Kattappa met Mahendra Baahubali right after killing his father

Kattappa, the slave warrior stabs Amarendra Baahubali in the back while at war. In the post-credits scene, as he returns to the palace dejected and battle-worn, he can be seen covered in blood with some injuries on his head. Interestingly, he carries the same injuries during a flashback scene, where he recognises Mahendra Baahubali and places the infant's feet on his forehead. Thus, indicating that he met the child after killing his father. Could this hence be an act of remorse on the slave warrior’s part?

Stolen army secrets that were never used

Sivagami’s aide stole the Mahishmati kingdom's army secrets to presumably sell them to the barbaric Kalakeyas. However, Baahubali and Bhallaladeva catch him, but not before he sends the information across with the help of a messenger dove. With the secrets of the army and with the strength of numbers, the Kalakeyas must have surely defeated the Mahishmati warriors. But surprisingly, this did not happen and they attacked without tact. So who got the secrets of the Mahishmati army? There is an indication that the Kalakeyas might attack once again, this time, with the secrets to help them out. Maybe this is the raging war we will get to see in ‘Baahubali 2’ where Kattappa kills his king.

Bhallaladeva was already king before Amarendra Baahubali died

In the promo videos that came out in 2014 before ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, there was one particular interesting video that showed Prabhas aka Amarendra Baahubali displaying his swordsmanship in the royal courtroom. In the background, sitting on the throne is Bhallaladeva! However, in the end of the first film, it was Baahubali who was declared king. So this leads to the question of how the reign of the kingdom passed from Baahubali to Bhallaladeva while the crowned king was very much alive. We can only wait and see if the upcoming film will shed some light on this.