S. S. Rajamouli is an Indian filmmaker who primarily works in Telugu cinema and is known for his action, fantasy, and epic genre films. He is the highest grossing Indian director of all time.[1] He is a recipient of various national and international honours including a New York Film Critics Circle award, a Critics' Choice Movie Award, two Saturn Awards, and three 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.[2]
Rachel Dwyer called Rajamouli "India's most significant director today".[3] His films are typically characterised by their epic grandeur, unbridled heroism and larger-than-life characters. His films have themes and characters inspired from ancient Indian epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata and are noted for their integration of the essential lessons and emotions in those ancient epics with visual grandeur. He frequently mentions that the mythological themes in his films are storytelling elements intended to create strong emotional impact on the viewers and are not a reflection of his personality or worldview. His films also have a liberal dose of violence, often orchestrated in stylised action set-pieces.
Rajamouli's films mostly follow the three-act structure where every major plot point ends on a high note with the film having a clap-worthy moment every 10 to 15 minutes. Several of his films also feature flashback episodes. His recent films focus heavily on visual storytelling. They are primarily made in Telugu and then dubbed into various other Indian and foreign languages. His works are typically visual effects-heavy, and he is one of the pioneering filmmakers in India in integrating computer-generated imagery (CGI) with live action. He prefers practical effects over CGI and likes to capture as much footage as possible in-camera. With his Baahubali films, he has pioneered the Pan-Indian film movement.
M. M. Keeravani, his cousin, has worked as the music composer for all of his films. Rajamouli has co-written several of his films with his father, Vijayendra Prasad. Rajamouli's wife, Rama worked as a costume designer or stylist for all of his films starting from Sye. Other frequent collaborators include editor Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao, cinematographer K. K. Senthil Kumar, production designers Sabu Cyril and S. Ravinder, action choreographers Peter Hein, Ram-Lakshman, and King Solomon. His films feature many recurring actors, notably Prabhas, Ram Charan, Jr. NTR, and Anushka Shetty, who appeared in lead roles in several films.
- ^ "Ahead of Oscars 2023, revisiting SS Rajamouli's RRR -the records it broke, legacy it created, glory it brought". Pinkvilla. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
He's the highest grossing Indian director and also the director to secure the highest theatrical share.
- ^ "The 100 Most Influential People of 2023". Time. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Dwyer, Rachel (1 April 2022). "Director's Roar - The globalisation of South Indian cinema began with Rajamouli". Open Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
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.