Baahubali: The Epic’ Review — The Return of Indian Cinema’s Most Majestic Saga

Introduction: The Legend Rises Again

A decade after its monumental release, S.S. Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion return to theaters as a unified four-hour cinematic experience under the banner Baahubali: The Epic. What began as a regional blockbuster in 2015 has transformed into a global phenomenon, symbolizing Indian cinema’s ability to merge myth, imagination, and emotion into pure spectacle.

The re-release, which debuted worldwide on October 31, 2025, is more than just nostalgia — it’s an event. Fans have thronged cinemas, with social media erupting in celebration, and even after years, Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, and Anushka Shetty continue to command thunderous applause.

Box Office Performance: A Historic Re-Run

Despite being a re-release, Baahubali: The Epic has shattered expectations at the box office.

According to Times of India, the film opened with an impressive ₹14 crore globally on Day 1, surpassing Shahid Kapoor’s Deva and Akshay Kumar’s Kesari 2. Over the opening weekend, Baahubali: The Epic collected ₹44.6 crore ($5.07 million) worldwide, debuting at No. 8 on the Global Box Office charts, outperforming even Hollywood classic Back to the Future.

By Day 4, however, the film witnessed a steep dip, earning around ₹25–26 crore in India, as per reports from Hindustan Times, Republic World, and Moneycontrol. Trade experts noted that while the initial hype was massive, weekday footfalls declined — a pattern typical for re-releases.

Nonetheless, the movie has now become the highest-grossing Indian re-release film ever, as confirmed by Sacnilk and Telugu360.

Critical Reception: Still Towering After a Decade

Critics remain divided, but admiration for Rajamouli’s storytelling and vision continues to dominate.

• The Hindu praised the film, writing, “Rajamouli’s grand vision and storytelling still stand tall a decade later.”

• News18 called it a “Mythological masterpiece”, applauding the seamless integration of both parts into a single, emotionally rich narrative.

• MovieTalkies termed it “a true definition of epic cinema.”

• Conversely, Great Andhra offered a critical view, stating that there was “nothing new to experience” for those who had seen the original cuts multiple times.

Despite differing opinions, one consensus remains: Baahubali’s scale, emotional gravitas, and technical brilliance remain unmatched even today.

What’s New in the 2025 Re-Release

SS Rajamouli’s team has carefully re-edited the saga to deliver a seamless narrative experience:

• The re-release merges both The Beginning and The Conclusion into one four-hour mastercut.

• Certain scenes were trimmed for pacing; notably, Tamannaah Bhatia’s song Pacha Bottesina was removed, as confirmed by Rajamouli himself in an NDTV interview.

• Enhanced 4K visuals, Dolby Atmos sound, and digital color correction elevate the film’s grandeur for modern theaters.

• Subtle edits in VFX-heavy sequences bring a polished cinematic edge, appealing to global audiences.

Audience Reaction: A Celebration Reignited

Cinemas across India have witnessed near-festival-like celebrations.
Fan clubs of Prabhas, particularly in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai, organized mass screenings with banners, confetti, and even fireworks.

Social media has been flooded with enthusiasm:

• @PrabhasRaju on X wrote, “Who would’ve imagined that an Indian re-release would outperform Hollywood classics globally?”

• @HailPrabhas007 proudly shared box office figures, noting Baahubali: The Epic’s entry into the global Top 10 list.

• Videos shared by Free Press Journal show fans erupting in cheers during key moments like “Katappa ne Baahubali ko kyun maara”.

Even memes and recreations have gone viral — one fan’s recreation of the iconic baby-holding scene trended on Bollywood Life for its hilarious accuracy.

Industry Perspective: A Marketing Masterstroke

According to Exchange4Media, Baahubali: The Epic has rewritten the re-release marketing playbook. Instead of traditional promotional campaigns, the team leveraged nostalgia-driven storytelling, minimal teasers, and massive fan engagement to generate organic buzz.

However, Bollywood Hungama’s trade experts argued that the film’s underperformance in the Hindi belt stemmed from “a lack of targeted promotion prior to re-release.” Still, the experiment has opened new doors for Indian cinema — re-releases may now become a powerful trend if marketed strategically.

Behind the Scenes: Memories Rekindled

In a recent Cinema Express interview, Prabhas and Rana Daggubati reminisced about the grueling shooting schedule.
“Rajamouli didn’t even give me a three-day break,” Prabhas joked, recalling the physically demanding war sequences shot under scorching heat.

Producer Shobu Yarlagadda revealed to The New Indian Express that Rajamouli had always wanted extra time for Baahubali 2, hinting that The Epic cut finally realizes his original vision.

Box Office Breakdown: The Numbers So Far

DayIndia Collection (₹ Cr)Global Total (₹ Cr)Day 114.014.0Day 210.524.5Day 36.030.5Day 45.536.0Total (till Day 4)≈25–26 Cr (India)≈45 Cr (Global)

Despite the dip after its first weekend, trade analysts predict that Baahubali: The Epic will likely touch the ₹50 crore global mark within its extended theatrical run.

Conclusion: Still the Benchmark of Indian Cinema

Baahubali: The Epic isn’t just a re-release — it’s a reminder of how far Indian cinema has come in storytelling, visual effects, and scale. Even a decade later, Rajamouli’s vision feels timeless, Prabhas’s performance remains iconic, and the emotional weight of the Mahishmati saga continues to move audiences.

In an era of instant content, Baahubali: The Epic reaffirms that true epics never age — they only evolve.

For fans, it’s nostalgia reborn. For cinema lovers, it’s history repeating itself — gloriously.