Jennifer Allen
By Jennifer Allen
We’ve all become aware of some of the most iconic fictional duos of all time, right?
Kirk & Spock; Butch & Sundance; Thelma & Louise; Calvin & Hobbes; Holmes & Watson; Batman & Robin; Han Solo & Chewbacca.
Well now Western audiences can add two more names to that list: Bheem & Rama Raju.
I don’t think anyone could have predicted how much S. S. Rajamouli’s film would explode into mainstream culture since its March 2022 release. Yet, many outside South Asia who had never seen a Tollywood film have been inexplicably drawn to watch this thanks to social media and general word of mouth singing its praises. It’s satisfying to see audiences outside the Indian subcontinent stating that RRR is one of the most enjoyable, uplifting and emotionally gratifying movies they’ve seen in recent memory.
Though this is a film which will depend on how open minded one can be about the way Indian cinema, especially South Indian cinema well… is. If you’re willing to suspend considerable belief and embrace all the quirks and idiosyncrasies, then it will ultimately be a fulfilling and rewarding experience.
To broadly explain what I mean, RRR is an amalgamation of set pieces which include (but are not limited to) an attempted residential siege with CGI animals flying everywhere, a dance battle involving an inventive use of suspenders, a prison break sequence with the two leads piggybacking and dispensing a gratuitous amount of violence via a pair of English rifles, and a plethora of slow-motion shots with various uses of both fire and water.
It ramps everything up to 11 by telling the laws of physics, gravity, and sometimes all common sense to take a break for the sake of entertainment.
On top of the spectacular visuals, the film’s overall tone switches from light-hearted comedy and feel-good moments of friendship to downright dark and somber as both Bheem and Rama Raju are often forced to do terrible things in service of a greater good.
There’s also an overtone of ‘the British are evil’ that is much more explicit than Western audiences may be accustomed to. It’s not a new concept by any means. There’s a reason why the most overall celebrated holiday in the world involves a country’s independence from the British sovereignty.
Still, RRR does not shy away from depicting some scenes showcasing the British Raj’s cruelty upon Indian civilians. They even went so far as to kill young women and children which I personally found very difficult to watch.
One of the most prominent anti-British themes is expressed in a very early scene when Governor Buxton (Ray Stevenson) mentions in all his mustache twirling glory that an Indian’s life isn’t even worth a single rifle bullet. This will become a very important metaphor that has great payoff by the end of the story, let me tell you.
Both Stevenson and Alison Doody (mostly known for her role as Elsa in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) are present as cookie cutter antagonists who chew the scenery so much that’s almost laughable in an already grandiose production. The real heart of the story, however, are Jr. NTR’s and Ram Charan’s performances as Bheem and Rama Raju respectively.
Watching their friendship grow throughout the movie is a testament to their chemistry which is undeniably a joy to watch and experience.
Both men experience melodramatic revelations, betrayals, and misunderstandings that push them to their absolute limit until finally they do try to make amends. How many reprehensible acts can one commit for a noble cause before they become no better than the enemy they swore to defeat? How much can and should a man sacrifice to protect a friend? How much knowledge of a person’s past would alter your perception of who they are in the present? How far can you test the bonds of brotherhood before they break?
All these questions and more are explored over the course of this 3-hour epic.
It’s proof that quality stories can be universal. The story of a brotherly bond that forms between two people from different backgrounds to which both gradually reach a common ground is a compelling one.
The fact that a movie primarily spoken in Telugu has become so acclaimed outside of India is because of this gratifying story concept. It’s a shame that Hollywood has taken it upon themselves more recently to rely on remakes and familiar intellectual properties to put butts in seats.
I initially watched RRR on Netflix, dubbed in Hindi due to a rights issue with other streaming services. As a non-native speaker of either language I was not deterred by the dub, but I have since learned that Rajamouli is not fond of certain dubs as the Telugu language is a large part of the culture the story depicts. I absolutely sympathize with his reasoning, even if most Western audiences may not fully understand it.
Overall, I’m glad Indian cinema is finally getting the worldwide recognition it deserves. Hopefully more films, past and present, will find a broader spectrum of viewers… all thanks to a beautiful tale which at its core is about two men’s amazing bond of friendship and love.
Jennifer Allen works at Saathee and is also a Blogger, Photographer, Graphic Artist, Gamer, Martial Arts Practitioner, and an all around Pop Culture Geek. You can reach her at saathee@saathee.com
