Before RRR, there was Baahubali. Ranking among the best SS Rajamouli movies to watch, Baahubali: The Beginning and its prequel/sequel Baahubali: The Conclusion redefined big-budget, larger-than-life, pan-Indian cinema in contemporary times. The story might have concluded in two swords-and-sandals epics but the legacy continues through an animated series, a comic book, a trilogy of novels, and even an upcoming Netflix prequel.
SS Rajamouli has been working in the Telugu film industry for decades now but it was the two-part Baahubali series that made him a household name, even drawing recognition from overseas. The latter is relevant to how both movies ended up raking nominations at the fantasy and sci-fi-centric Saturn Awards. Based on mythological epics like Mahabharata, the filmmaker’s father V. Vijayendra Prasad wrote an endearing tale of legacy and righteousness set in the fictional kingdom of Mahishmati.
With Telugu star Prabhas in a dual role as the emperor Amarendra Baahubali and his son Mahendra, Baahubali revolves around stateplay, war tactics, family rivalries, rebel alliances and a lot more. The world-building of the Baahubali franchise is a marvel to watch, especially with some highly original fight sequences and visual effects that are impressive for non-Hollywood standards. Here’s a guide on how to stream Rajamouli’s visionary franchise.
How to watch the Baahubali movies in order?
As is evident from their titles, the Baahubali movies can be watched in the same order as their release date. The open-ended third act twist of Baahubali: The Beginning left many viewers eagerly waiting to know just why did the loyal military general Kattappa kill his own king Amarendra Baahubali? Two years and a bazillion memes later, Baahubali: The Conclusion provided the answers while also offering some crucial backstory on the same king. At the same time, the 2017 release fulfilled its sequel duties by building upon the current fate of Mahishmati.
How to watch the Baahubali animated show in order?
In the same year as Baahubali: The Conclusion’s release, Amazon Prime Video released an animated spin-off series titled Baahubali: The Lost Legends. Acting as a prequel to the events of both movies, the show chiefly focused on the friendship-turned-enmity between the young princes Amarendra Baahubali and Bhallaladeva as they competed to rule over Mahishmati. Other classic characters like Bhallaladeva’s mother Sivagami and Kattappa also made appearances even though none of the original movie actors returned to voice them. The show’s popularity endured among diehard Baahubali fans with a five-season run that also included one special in 2017. Baahubali: The Lost Legends concluded in 2020.
How to watch future Baahubali projects?
While Rajamouli hasn’t announced any upcoming Baahubali movies, he did confirm that he has been working on a prequel series to watch on Netflix. It’s unlikely for the show to come out anytime soon considering that Rajamouli is currently working on an RRR sequel.
Where to watch the Baahubali movies and animated shows?
You can stream both Baahubali movies on Netflix, Hotstar, and Sony LIV. The movies are available in the original Telugu version along with dubs in Hindi and Tamil. They can also be rented from YouTube, Google Play Store, and Apple TV+. As for Baahubali: The Lost Legends, the animated prequel streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
