Netflix dropped the trailer of a new documentary feature called Modern Masters: SS Rajamouli earlier on Monday (July 22). The docu is focused on the award-winning filmmaker, told from the perspective of those who have worked with him and admired his work. As I saw the usual suspects sing paeans to him (Jr NTR, Prabhas, Karan Johar et al), the trailer flipped the script with a shot of James Cameron talking about ‘our man’.
The director of the most successful films in the history of cinema is paying tribute to an Indian filmmaker. If the RRR tsunami had left any doubt as to who is the face of India’s soft power in the West right now, this should settle the debate. James Cameron and SS Rajamouli have a lot in common actually.
Both began as independent filmmakers making commercial films. Both had a breakthrough film of a large scale in the commercial genre. For Cameron, that was Terminator 2: The Judgement Day, and for Rajamouli Magadheera.
The commercial success of these films allowed them to flex their muscles and tell their story in the way they wanted to. The result was similar again – all-time blockbusters Titanic and Baahubali. They then went on to redefine their industry’s cinematic grammar with follow ups that – in many ways – outdid their greatest successes.
Avatar out-earned Titanic, which was considered impossible by many. Back home, RRR got way more critical acclaim than Baahubali, no mean feat in itself. But the similarity is for observers to see.
For C.