What Is the Story About?
Directed by Raghav Khanna, produced by Applause Entertainment and Film Companion Studios, the Netflix documentary follows the rise and rise of SS Rajamouli – Modern Indian Cinema’s Legend from his early days as a mere member of a film family, to an associate director to the celebrated man of Magnum opuses that he is today post the furore his latest film RRR made in the west.
Performances?
This 73 minute long documentary tracking SS Rajamouli’s film journey mostly features his inner and closest circle including his father, wife Rama and son Karthikeya, producer Shobu, actors Prabhas, Ramcharan, NTR Jr, Karan Johar, James Cameron and Joe Russo, to name a few.
Anecdotes from his father, celebrated writer V Vijayendra Prasad, Wife Rama and son Karthikeya add a personal touch to an otherwise largely professional anecdote-filled, restrictive documentary.
Analysis
Produced by Applause Entertainment and newly formed Film Companion Studios and directed by Raghav Khanna, Modern Masters : SS Rajamouli is a celebratory documentary of the director and largely sticks to following his rise and rise in the field of cinema. A compilation of interviews from Anupama Chopra, the documentary features SS Rajamouli’s close family, actors, Karan Johar ,legendary director James Cameron and director-producer Joe Russo of The Russo Brothers.
The 73 minutes documentary follows Anupama Chopra interviewing SS Rajamouli, his father V Vijayendra Prasad, wife Rama, son SS Karthikeya, MM Keeravani, K Raghavendra Rao, Shobu Yarlagadda, Karan Johar, Prabhas, Ramcharan, NTR Jr, Rana Daggubati, James Cameron and Joe Russo.
While the documentary traces his growth from being a member of a film-obsessed family that saw financial failures since his childhood, to being an associate to K Raghavendra Rao to directing a short-film to delivering his debut feature film (a hit film at that) for Swapna Cinemas – Student No 1, to a game-changer Magnum opus Magadheera, to a cinematic achievement in Eega to being a pan-Indian sensation through Bahubali movies, it fails to acknowledge some of the directors early films – also blockbusters like Sye, Chatrapathi, Vikramarkudu, Yamadonga and Maryada Ramanna.
The documentary follows a very wikipedia-like narration where the focus is largely on what Rajamouli is for the hindi-speaking audience. ie, the phenomenon that Bahubali movies and RRR was and his two other films – Magadheera and Eega which became sensational beyond the Telugu-speaking audience. For his native audience, he’s made big blockbusters before and most of them even remade in other languages including Hindi, like Vikramarkudu which was remade in Hindi as Rowdy Rathore.
The documentary puts little to no nuance on his journey to being a big name in Telugu cinema post Student No -1 and Simhadri. The narration takes a somersault directly to Magadheera which is disappointing for south Indian audience. For a name this huge, people expect to see and hear more about his less popular (amongst the Hindi speaking audience) movies, struggles making them and the nature of the Industry he is working in etc.
It’s also appalling that the makers of the documentary couldn’t fetch a single anecdote from any of his heroines. Be it Anushka Shetty with whom he has worked in multiple movies or Ramya Krishna or his significant other artists like Nassar. Add to it how there’s no valid rebuttal or addressal of some of his critiques when mentioned about the criticisms against the politics of Bahubali and RRR. SS Rajamouli and Indian Cinema post RRR-wave was something that could have made it to the documentary, which alas doesn’t.
However, some personal anecdotes from his wife Rama and son Karthikeya about how the visionary director is at home, how they met before becoming a family, how he plans their vacations etc were heartwarming. His actors – Prabhas, Ramcharan, Rana Daggubati and NTR Jr talking about him being a task-master, perfectionist and also a really fine-actor on-set piques curiosity alongside on-set videos of him demonstrating stunts.
To conclude, Modern Masters : SS Rajamouli had chances on becoming a very candid, heartwarming and personally touching documentary of a modern-day cinema genius with genuine conversations had it focussed on the director’s complete trajectory, his pains and pitfalls rather than just sticking to what his fans and well-wishers already know about him.
Highlights?
– Personal anecdotes from family
– Perfectionism and on-set videos
– James Cameron and Joe Russo’s thoughts on the modern-day thespian
Drawbacks?
– lack of anecdotes from female actors
– lack of nuances about the industry
– No mention of his other movies like Vikramarkudu, Chatrapathi, Yamadonga, etc
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in parts.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes. But with reservations.
Modern Masters : SS Rajamouli Review by Binged Bureau