The animated spin-off series is a prequel to the Baahubali film starring Prabhas and Rana Daggubati.

It’s been nearly nine years since Rajamouli’s epic period series Baahubali, set in the fictional kingdom of Mahishmati, hit Indian screens but it still feels fresh amongst its fans. Magnificent sets, a gripping storyline, impressive VFX, subtle performances and addictive songs make Rajamouli’s epic unforgettable.

So when Hotstar announced the animated spin-off, fans of the franchise like me couldn’t help but get excited, especially when the storyline promised an unexpected twist from what we’ve come to expect from the familiar characters. Kattappa, a loyal guard of the Mahishmati kingdom who has vowed to serve royalty all his life, chooses to fight against the kingdom and faces off on the battlefield against two princes whom he himself trained.

The actors from the film reprise their roles, making an equal impact with their distinctive voices. For the Hindi version, the makers chose Sharad Kelkar as Baahubali, Samay Thakkar as Kattappa, Mausam as Sivagami and Manoj Pandey as Bhallaladeva. For the Telugu version, Prabhas and Rana Daggubati provide the voices.

Though the creators had the advantage of betting on an already established blockbuster, the animated series is a toned-down, watered-down version of the franchise that seems tailored for a younger audience.

The series is set in a time long before a successor to the throne was chosen, when Prince Bhalla Deva was jealous of the affection Prince Baahubali received from the people of Mahishmati and feared he might usurp the throne. But when a new threat to the kingdom emerges in the form of a masked villain, and of course, Kattappa, the two stepbrothers are forced to join forces for the sake of Mahishmati.

The original Baahubali film featured similar storylines like the Kalakeya raid, which were epic and gripping to the audience. However, the series feels like an oversimplified version of those stories, Amar Chitra Katha, with the morally nuanced characterisation and emotional complexity of the film nowhere to be found. It seems the makers were hesitant to add depth to the storyline lest the series become too complicated for the target audience. Similarly, despite the entire premise of the series being based on suspense, the thrill and excitement of what will happen next is delivered only sporadically. Despite having beloved characters and a familiar storyline, the show is inconsistent and somehow fails to hold the audience in stitches.

The series is a prequel to the Baahubali Film

What irritated me the most was how the dignity of Baahubali’s character, which forms the backbone of the franchise, has been compromised. In one scene, he is depicted as a helpless Panchatantra character, chasing people trying to tell him what is right and what is wrong, and getting reprimanded by everyone. For that matter, even his mother Sivagami seems to be leaning towards the villain, moving away from Ramya Krishnan’s iconic portrayal. In one scene, she is seen convincing her son to ignore his promise to the slave and focus on his royal duties. Hmm, what? Or maybe Rajamouli was trying to hint that there was always a hidden villain side to Sivagami and the way she treated Baahubali’s wife Devasena in the film was not just an isolated incident.

However, the show does a great job of capturing the shrewdness of Bijjaladeva’s character. He remains the loathsome scoundrel he was portrayed to be in the film – poisoning his son’s thinking and being cruel, heartless and selfish at heart. In fact, one of the major premises of the show revolves around Bijjaladeva’s corrupt nature, which brings misfortune to the entire clan.

On the technical side, the animation is pretty good, with all the characters looking strikingly similar to the original star cast, and the animators have even experimented with giving each character clear boundaries and even having a sunlight or moonlight glow in some scenes.

I wish the same could be said for the cartoon-style backgrounds. Apart from a few impressive scenes in the royal palace, the screen is filled with boring backgrounds. In some scenes set in the royal courtyard, the emptiness gives off an eerie feel rather than a royal aesthetic. With more detailed animation beyond the characters, this show could have easily received a higher score.

From “Baahubali: Blood and Blood” to “Bridgerton” Season 3

Given that the number of quality Indian animated shows is already pretty slim, I had high hopes for Rajamouli’s latest effort. He has previously collaborated with the creator of Hotstar’s Hanuman, a popular series about a Hindu god, but Baahubali pales in comparison to the creator’s previous work in some ways. If the intention was to introduce Indian superheroes to kids, Rajamouli should have done more research on how to outdo their Western counterparts. But that may be too high a bar to clear. Baahubali 2: Blood and Blood may not live up to the standards of Rajamouli’s best works, but it can add variety to kids’ viewing lists.

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