Guwahati: SS Rajamouli is back, and how! Not that he was missing in action. After three-and-a-half years, it is truly great to see the master’s magic on screen. Living up to the expectations of Baahubali is itself a huge pressure, no matter how big the budget of your next film might be. Rajamouli has truly understood that and has now come up with RRR, starring two A-listers, Ram Charan and Jr NTR.
SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus ‘RRR’ starring Ram Charan, Junior NTR, Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt hit the theatres on Friday (March 25) and it has left fans awestruck and memerised, proving that it was definitely worth the wait. For the unversed, the film’s release date was delayed multiple times in the past due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.
RRR’s story is something we have seen in all war dramas. British couple Mr and Mrs Scott (Ray Stevenson and Alison Doody) forcefully separate a child from her mom, who belongs to the Gond tribe from Adilabad. Bheem (Jr NTR) is the protector of the tribe. He, along with a few members of his tribe, travel all the way to Delhi to rescue the child. In Delhi, Ramaraju (Ram Charan) is a police officer working for the British. He offers to get hold of the members of the Gond tribe so he can get promoted at work. Will he succeed in his mission? What’s Ramaraju’s past? Will Bheem rescue the child? RRR has answers to all these questions, and more.
SS Rajamouli has once again proven that the core story matters. It needs to have the necessary punch to mount it on a huge scale. With RRR, he and his writer-father Vijayendra Prasad, have a solid story in hand. With stunning set-pieces and goosebump-inducing emotional sequences, RRR is a war drama that takes us back to the pre-Independence era.
From showing how heartless the Britishers were to showcasing the valour and the courage of Indians, the film does it all. What strikes the most is the Fire vs Water concept. Jr NTR’s Bheem is a metaphor for water. His character needs to ‘flow’ as per the circumstances so he can succeed in rescuing the child. And Ram Charan’s Ramaraju is compared to a burning flame. One can see the rage in his eyes and the introduction scene encapsulates just that. The first half of RRR has amazing sequences that keep bringing the Fire vs Water concept back, which is extremely clever and innovative.
Rajamouli has always been a fan of epics, especially Ramayana and Mahabharata. Even in RRR, we can see how he values Ramayana as he modelled Ram Charan and Alia Bhatt’s characters around Lord Ram and Sita’s lives.
Ram Charan and Jr NTR deliver their career-best performances in RRR. However, it is Ram Charan who has the slightest edge when compared to Jr NTR’s role. Charan’s character arc takes us on a rollercoaster ride and when his backstory is revealed, you’ll understand the rage in his eyes. Jr NTR’s eye speaks volumes. When he etches plans to rescue the child, his longing eyes make you feel.
The film is 3 hours long and though there are several whistle-worthy moments that keep you glued to the screen, it is too long.
Alia Bhatt’s Sita is more of a cameo instead of a supporting role. It is safe to say that this was a cakewalk for the actress that she is. On the other hand, Ajay Devgn gets a solid role. Even though his screen time is limited, he makes an impact.
