 "Netflix’s Modern Masters: S.S. Rajamouli Movie Review: Master of storytelling RRR & Baahubali director celebrates masculinity in his film")
Language: English
Director: Raghav Khanna, Tanvi Ajinkya (co-director)
RRR and Baahubali director, S.S. Rajamouli is often criticised for being a hero’s director. The hero is super- powerful in his film which doesn’t go down well with many cinema lovers. From Hyderabad to Hollywood, his journey has been truly interesting. The docu-film beautifully weaves together his personal and professional life, not missing out any person who contributed in his journey in the making of S.S. Rajamouli who is one of the most celebrated directors of India.
He is undoubtedly the master of storytelling and likes to tell stories in the best possible way and has the audience listening to him with interest. Netflix’s _Modern Masters: S.S. Rajamouli_ docu-film is one of the most honest documentaries made so far where S.S. Rajamouli doesn’t shy away from talking about his drawbacks.
You can’t miss his films, but at the same time you can’t deny that they are sexist and women are just mere ornaments in his movies. Probably that’s the reason everybody wants to be a S.S. Rajamouli’s hero and not his heroine. Talking about his childhood days, Rajamouli says that his mother didn’t really care about school education and thought it to be overrated.
Netflix’s _Modern Masters: S.S. Rajamouli_ talks about his film Magadheera which was like a sharp turn in his filmography. It was the first time that he had the visual effect supervision listed in his credits. The film was a next level of storytelling and a natural evolution. The documentary talks highly about the journey of Rajamouli including his move from Chennai to Hyderabad. Among all the contemporary directors of India, he is indeed the most celebrated directors of India. Netflix’s Modern Masters: S.S. Rajamouli also emphasises on his entire family’s contribution to his craft. No doubt the man had talent, but he had a good support system too.
Coming from a humble background, Rajamouli and his family are passionate about creating compelling stories. Rajamouli credits his family for their unwavering support, encouragement, and contributions by playing key roles in his craft. From his father to son, everyone is integrally involved in his filmography. His uncle, K. Shiva Shakthi Datta, is a lyricist; his father, V. Vijayendra Prasad, is a screenwriter and director; both his sister-in-law, M. M. Srivalli, and his son, S. S. Karthikeya, are line producers; and his wife, Rama Rajamouli, is a costume designer.
We get to know a lot of things about Rajamouli’s personal life through Netflix’s Modern Masters: S.S. Rajamouli and how the entire family works together as a team. His courtship with his wife Rama, his relationship with his step-son and the strong bond that he shares with his sister-in-law Srivalli.
Additionally, his cousin, M. M. Keeravani, is a music composer famously known for the 95th Academy Awards (Oscars) winning song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from RRR; another cousin, S. S. Kanchi is a writer; and his nephew, Kaala Bhairava, is a singer. It is very rare for an entire family to work together so closely in Indian cinema. Rajamouli shares in the docu-film, on working with his family, “I feel I am extremely lucky to have such a family who are so protective about me.” Rajamouli’s family has stood by him at every step of his career, working tirelessly to bring exceptional cinema to audiences.
His journey started as a storyteller for Telugu speaking states and within ten to 15 years he became a Pan Indian director and now a global director. Karan Johar rightly says, “Rajamouli’s _Baahubali_ is the Sholay of our times.” This movie, just like Sholay, had a slow start. It was completely run down by the critics calling it the regressive cinema of highest order which supports casteism.
A perfectionist and a stickler for details, Rajamouli is like a monster at work. Honest to the core, he does admit that he is a hard man on the sets. “I do empathise with my heroes. But at the same time, I have to complete my films within certain days.”
Giving hits like Magadheera, Eega, the Baahubali and RRR, his actors reveal that Rajamouli could have been a brilliant actor too. The whole emotion that we see on screen is there in his narratives. He can actually make you see what he is directing and as an actor that makes you excited. He is an extremely focused director and when he directs a movie, he completely puts his mind into it.
He has a different way of interpreting mythology. In the docu-movie he says, “As a kid we learn that Cauravas are bad and Pandavas are good. Rama is bad and Ravana is good. But as you grow up and read about it, you realise that it’s not so simple. I like Ravana more than Rama It’s a fantastic character and quite complicated too.” With an unconventional way of thinking, he understands the uniqueness of the characters and has a different way of interpreting it in his movies.
Talking about RRR, Joe Russo rightly says, “In Hollywood people were blown away by RRR. The level of craft that Rajamouli exhibited is equal to any major film that comes out of Hollywood.”
Rama Rao Jr. in the documentary rightly says, “His heroes are not heroes, they are weapons. All the heroes are like his missiles and the director is like a launchpad.” But still every actor wants to be his hero because he creates such an incredible persona.
But at home Rajamouli is a completely different person. His wife Rama says that when Rajamouli is not shooting or playing a game, he loves to laze around and you will find him mostly sitting on the couch. But for him sports is like meditation. He says, “When I am playing my whole focus is on the ball.” Netflix India truly celebrated Rajamouli, just the way he celebrates his heroes!
Rating: 4 out of 5
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