RRR

Story:

RRR is an epic action drama film in Telugu, released in 2022. Directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad, it was produced by D. V. V. Danayya. The star-studded cast includes N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, and Olivia Morris. The story revolves around fictional versions of two Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, and their friendship as they fight against the British Raj.

Rajamouli was inspired by the stories of Rama Raju and Bheem and envisioned a hypothetical scenario where they would have met and become friends. The film was officially announced in March 2018, and principal photography began in November 2018, lasting until August 2021 due to production delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The shooting occurred across various locations in India, with some sequences filmed in Ukraine and Bulgaria. The film’s music was composed by M. M. Keeravani, while K. K. Senthil Kumar handled the cinematography and A. Sreekar Prasad edited the film. Sabu Cyril did the production design, and V. Srinivas Mohan supervised the visual effects.

RRR is the most expensive Indian film to date, with a budget of ₹550 crore (US$72 million). The film’s theatrical release was initially planned for 30 July 2020 but faced several postponements due to production delays and the COVID-19 pandemic. RRR finally hit the screens on 25 March 2022. It made a staggering ₹240 crore (US$30 million) worldwide on its opening day, setting a new record. In its home market of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, RRR emerged as the highest-grossing film, earning over ₹415 crore (US$52 million). It grossed ₹1,200 crore (US$150 million) to ₹1,258 crore (US$160 million), becoming the third highest-grossing Indian film and the second highest-grossing Telugu film worldwide.

RRR received widespread acclaim for Rajamouli’s direction, performances, soundtrack, action sequences, and visual effects. It was recognised as one of the ten best films of the year by the National Board of Review, making it the second non-English language film to achieve this feat. The song “Naatu Naatu” won the Best Original Song award at the 95th Academy Awards, marking the first-ever win for a song from an Indian film and an Asian film in that category. The film also garnered nominations at the Golden Globe Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film. It won the Best Original Song category for “Naatu Naatu,” making it the first Indian and Asian film to achieve this distinction. Additionally, RRR won the Best Foreign Language Film and Best Song awards at the 28th Critics’ Choice Awards.

PLOT

In the year 1920, during the time of British rule in India, Governor Scott Buxton and his wife Catherine visit a forest in Adilabad where they abduct Malli, a young girl from the Gond tribe who possesses artistic talent. This enrages the tribe’s guardian, Komaram Bheem, who disguises himself as a Muslim man named Akhtar and travels to Delhi to rescue her. The Nizamate of Hyderabad, sympathetic to the British, warns Scott’s office about the impending danger. Catherine, undeterred, recruits A. Rama Raju, an ambitious officer in the Indian Imperial Police, to handle the situation. Raju and his uncle attend pro-independence gatherings to gather information about Malli’s whereabouts.

Eventually, Bheem’s aide, Lachhu, falls for Raju’s deception and tries to involve him in Bheem’s plan. However, Lachhu discovers Raju’s true identity and flees. Later, Bheem and Raju unknowingly cross paths, and while working together to save a boy from a train accident, they develop a friendship. Raju helps Bheem court Jenny, Scott’s niece, unaware of Bheem’s intention to infiltrate Scott’s residence. Bheem manages to locate the room where Malli is held captive and promises to free her. Meanwhile, Raju realises Lachhu’s true identity and captures him. During the interrogation, Lachhu instigates a banded krait snake to attack Raju, revealing that only the Gonds know the antidote.

Confused and injured, Raju seeks help from Bheem, who tends to him. Recognizing similarities between Lachhu and Bheem, Raju deduces Bheem’s true intentions. Bheem reveals his tribal identity and mission, unaware of Raju’s true identity. During an event honoring Scott, Bheem’s men create chaos by unleashing wild animals, allowing Bheem to fight briefly. However, Raju arrives and informs Bheem about Scott’s plan to kill Malli. Feeling obligated, Raju surrenders. Raju’s actions lead to his promotion, but he feels guilty for his betrayal as he originally infiltrated the police force to smuggle guns for his village.

At Bheem’s public flogging, Raju tries to convince him to recant his actions, but Bheem chooses to be flogged. Bheem’s defiant singing incites the crowd to rebel, opening Raju’s eyes to the consequences of his actions. Determined to save his friend, Raju convinces Scott to execute Bheem while preparing an ambush to rescue him secretly. Scott becomes aware of the plan and manages to capture Malli, but Raju is gravely injured. Bheem, thinking Raju intended to harm Malli, attacks him and escapes with her. Months later, Bheem, Malli, and his group hide in Hathras, while Raju is imprisoned and facing execution. Raju’s fiancée, Sita fends off the authorities by claiming a smallpox epidemic.

Unaware of Bheem’s true identity, Sita reveals Raju’s real objectives and impending execution to Bheem. Realizing his own mistakes, Bheem vows to save Raju. With Jenny’s help, Bheem infiltrates the barracks where Raju is held captive and frees him, defeating the soldiers. They escape to a nearby forest and continue to fight against the soldiers, using a stolen longbow from a Rama shrine. They launch a flaming motorcycle into the barracks’ magazines, causing a destructive fire. Bheem manages to secure a cache of guns for Raju before the barracks is destroyed. The resulting explosion kills many, including Catherine. Raju, finding a wounded Scott, orders Bheem to execute him with a British rifle to accomplish their goals. Ram is reunited with Sita, and Bheem is reunited with Jenny and his family.