Credits
Banner: Geetha Arts
Cast: Ram Charan Teja, Kajal Agarwal, Srihari, Sunil, Brahmanandam, Sarath Babu, Rao Ramesh, Surya, Mumaith Khan, Sameer, Sekhar, Kim Sharma, Saloni & Hema
Music: MM Keeravani
Sound supervision: Kalyani Malik
Cinematography: KK Senthil Kumar
Dialogues: M Ratnam
Art: Ravinder
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Fights: Peter Hynes & Ram Lakshman
Styling: Rama Rajamouli
Co-producer: Bhogavally Prasad
Story: Vijayendra Prasad
Screenplay, & Direction: SS Rajamouli
Producer: Allu Arvind
Release date: July 30th, 2009
Interesting Facts: https://www.idlebrain.com/movie/postmortem/magadheera.html
Context and opening thoughts: watched it in theater like everybody else, if you didn’t watch it in theaters then rip lmao, have no words to say, biggest telugu movie of all time. It was really hyped due to having the 100 soldier fight which was talk of industry then and also the most expensive movie ever at the time. Became industry hit and further cemented Rajamouli’s status as the top most director in Telugu, then Gunashekar, Meher Ramesh, Prakash Kovelamudi, and VV Vinayak tried to copy him and failed miserably.
Ram Charan became star after and it capitulated Kajal to the A list and she was in every big movie since then and acted with all the top heroes. Despite industry hit status, the collections of the film are controversial to this day as folks add the figures as they please. It got so bad that at one point Allu Aravind and Rajamouli had a talk that it ran for this Many days in x number of centers which was fake and due to fans pressure Allu Aravind did it but it was fake publicity.
Writing/Direction: What can I say? It’s a Rajamouli mark movie with emotions but the grandeur is up 10x in this movie. The core point is about a soldier’s duty to his kingdom so he can’t sacrifice his love for the process that he loves. Overarching theme here is revenge like in many Rajamouli movies. Eventually both taken and they aren’t allowed to be together so they are reborn 400 years later. Opening itself is unlimited goosebumps with the credits rolling and the 100 soldier fight playing out in the background. They die and then immediately they are reborn. Harsha and Kajal the love track happens. It’s sweet but has it aged well idk.
The movie jai ani lesthadi from Panchadaram Bomma song and interval is unlimited goosebumps Rajamouli special. Flashback is the core of the movie and 100 soldier fight is unlimited goosebumps the best scene in the movie. Emotions, taking, BGM, action sequences, Srihari’s acting is perfect.
Basically the movie is over at the this point there’s not much story left other than taking revenge so the last 20 mins feel all over the place especially fort escape sequence and then cut to climax.
Rajamouli specialty in giving highs and goosebumps which no other director can ever match.
Technicalities:
Music and BGM by Keeravani masterclass. Songs are classic obviously everyone’s favorite is Panchadara Momma funny enough the guy who sang it was never seen again.
Cinematography by KK Senthil Kumar is amazing. Lighting, framing, and most of all grandeur in each and every frame is visible
Art Direction by Ravinder is masterpiece. Each and every set is flawless.
Editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao is perfect. Never bored a single moment.
Dialogues by Rathnam are excellent.
Fights by Peter Heins and Ram Lakshman are amazing. Of course 100 person fight is the best among the lot. Goosebumps stuff.
Costume Design by Rama Rajamouli is perfect. Everybody looks so gorgeous on screen.
Production Values by Geetha arts are extraordinary. Highest budgeted movie ever at the time and it shows.
Overall: Classic movie, industry hit, and holds up very well. Everything in the movie is perfect except the meandering last 20 mins. A special film especially theater experience. Raised the standards of Telugu cinema and Rajamouli proved he’s number 1 once again with this film. That is all.
