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Has Baahubali really copied 35 scenes from Hollywood films? A breakdown

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Shaurya Thapa
Shaurya ThapaSep 22, 2022 | 20:00

Has Baahubali really copied 35 scenes from Hollywood films? A breakdown

A viral Twitter post has got people wondering if Rajamouli used visual tributes in Baahubali or just ripped off Hollywood scenes (photo-DailyO)

SS Rajamouli gained global popularity thanks to his ambitiously over-the-top Baahubali franchise. However, as a viral video on Twitter shows, a few crucial scenes from the two films might have been a tad bit inspired by period action flicks like 300 and Hercules

However, the video might be exaggerating the inspirations as some scenes might be too formulaic for such fantasy films in general. For instance, the scene involving Bhallaladeva running towards a bull is similar to a scene in 2014's Hercules but the sequence still doesn't seem like a frame-to-frame remake. Similarly, the battle formation of an army covering itself with shields is comparable to several real-life examples such as ancient Rome's "turtle formation" and not just a sequence from Lord of the Rings

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Apart from 300, the video also makes comparisons with another Zack Snyder film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But it isn't possible that Rajamouli ripped off the DC film as it was released in 2015, a year after Baahubali's release. Wonder Woman, another Hollywood blockbuster featured in the video, came out in 2017, the same year as Baahubali 2

Still, the resemblances (intentional or unintentional) are pretty uncanny. You can slide across the images below to see for yourself. 

1- Tree Of The Dead (300

2- Jellyfish replaced by butterflies (Avatar)

3- The villain catches a flying arrow (The Avengers)
4- Credit scenes visualisations (Hercules
 
5- A rain of arrows (Hercules)
 
 
 
 
6- The hero makes a colossal statue fall (Hercules)
 
7- Lifting a vehicle, spinning it around, and tossing it (Hulk)
 
 
8 - A white-robed woman floating in the air (The Myth)
 
 
9- The lead character falling off a cliff and landing into vines (King Kong)
 

10- And of course, the famous "baby holding" scene (The Lion King)

 
While Rajamouli hasn't passed any remarks on these influences, it will be interesting to hear his take. Even if he reduces these similarities to stylistic influences, till what extent is "inspiration" justified? For instance, Hollywood bigwig Quentin Tarantino is also notorious for taking frames and themes from previous films without directly giving them credit. Some viewers regard his work as stylistic reinterpretation while others just reduce him to a copycat. As for Rajamouli's fans, what category would they put him in? 
Last updated: September 22, 2022 | 20:00
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