Baahubali: Before the Beginning

Baahubali: Before the Beginning is an upcoming Indian streaming television series based on Anand Neelakantan's 2017 and 2020 novels The Rise of Sivagami, Chaturanga and Queen of Mahishmathi. A Netflix original and a part of the Bahubali franchise, the series is produced by S. S. Rajamouli and Arka Media Works.[1] The first season consists of nine episodes[2] and acts as a prequel to Baahubali: The Beginning,[3] following the journey of Sivagami's rise to power in the Mahishmati kingdom.[4]

Baahubali: Before the Beginning
Based onThe Rise of Sivagami
Chaturanga
Queen of Mahishmathi
by Anand Neelakantan
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Country of originIndia
Original languagesTelugu
Tamil
Hindi
English
Production
Producers
Editor
Production companiesArka Media Works
Netflix
Budget₹300 Crore[lower-alpha 1]
Release
Original networkNetflix
Original releaseTBA (TBA)
Related
Baahubali

Before the Beginning was officially announced by Netflix in August 2018. Production began in September 2018 with Deva Katta and Praveen Sattaru as its directors. Mrunal Thakur was cast as Sivagami, who was later replaced by Wamiqa Gabbi. Rahul Bose and Atul Kulkarni play pivotal roles. In March 2021, it is reported that Netflix has revamped the project with a new creative team, scrapping the previously shot version. Made on the budget of ₹300 Crore, it is the most expensive part of the Baahubali franchise and one of the most expensive Indian TV series ever made.

Premise

The series follows Sivagami as she matures from a defiant and resentful girl into a wise queen, around the same time when the kingdom of Mahishmati rises from being a city-state to an influential empire.[5][6]

Cast

Snigdha Akolkar, Vaquar Shaikh, Jameel Khan, Anup Soni and Sonali Khare have been cast in undisclosed roles.[15][13][16]

Production

Development

In March 2017, after the release of The Rise of Sivagami written by Anand Neelakantan, S. S. Rajamouli, the director of the two-part Baahubali films, confirmed that a television series will be made on the novel, comprising 13 episodes.[17] In November 2017, The Hans India reported that Deva Katta would direct a web series based on the world of Mahishmati.[18] In July 2018, Katta confirmed that he will co-direct a three-season Netflix original series, tentatively titled Shivagami.[19] The series, titled Baahubali: Before the Beginning, was announced in a public statement released by Netflix on 1 August 2018.[20] It was to be directed by Katta and Praveen Sattaru; Rajamouli will serve as a producer alongside Prasad Devineni under the Arka Media Works banner.[21] The announcement also revealed that the series was planned to have two seasons.[22]

Baahubali: Before the Beginning was the third Netflix original series announced from India after the crime thriller Sacred Games and horror miniseries Ghoul.[21] Erik Barmack, Vice-President of Netflix International Originals, felt that the theme of Baahubali "resonates globally", one of the reasons for considering the series.[23] On 2 August 2018, a teaser announcing the series was released online by Netflix both on their website and other social media platforms, including YouTube.[24] Rajamouli expressed his enthusiasm for the series, saying, "With Netflix as our partner, we have the opportunity to create a rich and riveting series and take this quintessential Indian epic to the world, which is very gratifying to me as a story-teller".[25] Neelakantan serves as the series' screenwriter.[26] According to the author, it is "the biggest thing Netflix has done in India so far", and is made along the likes of Game of Thrones.[26] He reasoned adapting the novel as a series, stating, "[G]iven the story's dark and violent tone, the current censorship rules won't allow for it to be made as a film".[26] Neelakantan said that part of the series is shot in Kerala and would feature something akin to the now obsolete Mamankam festival.[26] Sattaru stated that unlike the two Baahubali films, the series would not be limited to "a south or north... It's a pan-India series[...]".[27]

Filming

In September 2018, filming for the series began, with television actress Mrunal Thakur was confirmed to play the role of Sivagami in the series, with Rahul Bose and Atul Kulkarni in pivotal roles.[10] Three sets were erected at locations where the two Baahubali films were filmed.[10] Principal photography was completed in February 2019.[28] In April 2021, Thakur walked out of the project due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced by Wamiqa Gabbi.[7][8]

In March 2021, Bollywood Hungama reported that Netflix has scrapped the previously shot version after investing ₹100 crore, and new version with a budget of ₹200 crore is planned.[29] The Hans India stated that the revamped version would have a new director and production team.[30] Kunal Deshmukh was reportedly signed as a director but he later opted out.[31]

In January 2022, Variety reported that Netflix was reevaluating the series, and has been "struggling with the project for some time now."[32]

Notes
  1. Originally, the series was shot with the budget of ₹100 Crore but Netflix scrapped it and revamped the series with the budget of ₹200 Crore, thus bringing it's total budget to ₹300 Crore.

References
  1. "Netflix to feature Baahubali prequel". Press Trust of India. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018 – via The Hindu.
  2. Kenny, Glenn (24 August 2018). "'The After Party' and 'Baahubali': Hip-hop Dreams and Indian Fantasy From Netflix". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  3. Express Web Desk (2 August 2018). "Baahubali: Before the Beginning is Netflix India's next big original series". The Indian Express. Bengaluru. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  4. Dalton, Ben (2 August 2018). "Netflix orders 'Baahubali' prequel series". Screen International. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  5. "Story of Prabhas' Baahubali, 'before the beginning' announced, Rajamouli opens up". Press Trust of India. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018 – via Deccan Chronicle.
  6. "Baahubali: Before the Beginning–Netflix announces prequel to the blockbuster Baahubali franchise". Netflix. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  7. Jha, Shefali (23 April 2021). "Mrunal Thakur opts out of Baahubali prequel despite finishing 70% shoot; here's why". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. "Wamiqa Gabbi to play Sivagami in 'Baahubali' series". The Times of India. 5 July 2021.
  9. Nahaar, Rohan (11 November 2018). "Mrunal Thakur, Rahul Bose announced as leads of Netflix's Baahubali prequel series, more details teased". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  10. Adivi, Sashidhar (18 September 2018). "Mrunal Thakur to play Sivagami". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  11. Bansal, Ravi (9 November 2018). "Netflix unveils Asia expansion plans with 17 new Originals". Press Trust of India. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  12. "Netflix unveils Asia expansion plans with 17 new Originals".
  13. "Baahubali - Before the beginning Cast". 9 November 2018.
  14. Rajesh, Author: Srividya (5 October 2018). "Tej Sapru in Netflix Originals' Baahubali: Before the Beginning". {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  15. Rajesh, Author: Srividya (14 June 2019). "Marathi film actress Sonali Khare joins the cast of Netflix Originals' Baahubali". {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  16. Rajesh, Author: Srividya (6 September 2018). "Snigdha Akolkar in Netflix Originals' Baahubali: Before the Beginning". {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  17. "Rajamouli to make mini TV series on The Rise of Sivagami". Press Trust of India. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2018 – via India Today.
  18. "Deva Katta's Web Series On Baahubali". The Hans India. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  19. Shekhar, Mimansa (4 July 2018). "Baahubali prequel to unravel on Netflix. Here are all the deets". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  20. Ramachandran, Naman (2 August 2018). "Netflix Adds Prequel Series to 'Baahubali' Indian Hit Movie Franchise". Variety. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  21. Tartaglione, Nancy (2 August 2018). "Netflix Sets 'Baahubali: Before the Beginning'; Gives Two-Season Order To Prequel Of Epic Indian Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  22. Jha, Lata (2 August 2018). "Netflix lines up two-season Baahubali prequel web series". Mint. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  23. "'Baahubali' prequel series announced by Netflix". Indo-Asian News Service. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018 – via Gulf News.
  24. DNA Web Team (2 August 2018). "Prabhas's 'Baahubali' to get its own Netflix prequel series, watch the teaser". Daily News & Analysis. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  25. Patches, Matt (2 August 2018). "Netflix reveals plans for a Baahubali prequel series". Polygon. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  26. Shrijith, Sajin (8 August 2018). "Baahubali prequel series will be along the lines of Game of Thrones: Anand Neelakantan". Cinema Express. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  27. "CONFIRMED: Mrunal Thakur and Rahul Bose to lead Netflix original Baahubali: Before The Beginning". Bollywood Hungama. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  28. "Baahubali web series on Netflix may release before its planned date". In.com. Web18. 22 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  29. "SCOOP: Bahubali, now planned on a budget of 200 crores as Netflix scraps the already shot version of 100 crores". Bollywood Hungama. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  30. Vyas (24 April 2021). "All is not well with 'Baahubali' web series". The Hans India. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  31. "'Baahubali-Before The Beginning' web series paused; new creative producers to take over". The Times of India. 19 January 2022.
  32. Ramachandran, Naman (27 January 2022). "Netflix's 'Baahubali' Prequel Series Being 'Reevaluated'". Variety.
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