Touted as India’s most expensive film ever with an estimated $40 million budget, the first part of a planned two-part epic has become the fastest Indian film to cross the 1 billion rupee ($16 million) mark, the local standard for a strong box-office performer.
According to the producers, the film’s opening weekend box-office revenue reached almost $25 million (1.63 billion rupees), considered the highest for any Indian film ever. The film opened across 4,650 screens worldwide.
Baahubali also recorded the highest opening weekend ever for an Indian film at the U.S. box office, collecting $3 million, according to Rentrak, landing in the 11th spot. According to the producers, Baahubali also picked up another $1.4 million from Thursday preview shows.
Hailed as India’s “biggest” film in its posters, here are five things to know about Baahubali, which The Hollywood Reporter review described as “epic entertainment for those with a taste for swords, sandals and saris.”
1. The Movie Puts the Spotlight on South India’s Film Industry
While most attention from people abroad typically goes to Bollywood, or the Hindi film industry based in Mumbai, the South Indian film industry based in Chennai and Hyderabad is quite dynamic and has its fair share of stars. Baahubali’s success has put the spotlight on talent from this region as the film was shot at Hyderabad’s Ramoji Studios.
2. It Showcases VFX Prowess
South Indian films are also known to push the envelope in terms of visual effects, and Baahubali is seen as a game changer, raising the bar for Indian films.
3. There Has Been Debate about When and Where the Story Is Set
Given that the film is an epic – and India has enough historical references such as The Mahabharata – one of the obvious questions raised by some critics is in which time period the story is set, which revolves around warring brothers battling for control of an ancient kingdom.
Yarlagadda tells THR: “It is set in a completely fictitious kingdom and era. But for reference, we looked at the period before the invention of gunpowder or fire power. ”
4. Baahubali Invents a New Language
In what is another first for an Indian film, a special language was invented for Baahubali, perhaps a nod to the specially created Dothraki in Game of Thrones or the Elvish language from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Baahubali’s Kiliki was invented by the film’s writer-lyricist Madhan Karky and is said to be made up of about 750 words with its own set of 40 grammar rules. The language was invented for the film’s terrifying warrior tribe, the Kalakeya.
5. Baahubali Is Expected to Get a Film Museum
Baahubali is scheduled to have a film museum showcasing the film’s sets, weapons, artillery, costumes and props. That would be a first for India.
“We are in discussion with Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, where most of the film was shot, to create a museum and also convert one of the major sets that was erected there into a tourism attraction,” Yarlagadda tells THR.
He adds: “This could be ready before or just after the release of Baahubali’s sequel [scheduled for 2016].”