The First Time I Watched Baahubali

I didn’t even plan to watch Baahubali on the first day. It was Sunday — third day after release — when my dad called. He had somehow managed to get tickets and told me to be ready, he’d come pick me up.

I reached the theatre 15 minutes early.

What I saw there didn’t feel like just another movie crowd. People were packed in front of the counter. Not a queue. A storm. A student walked away from the crowd, showing his ticket to his friends — shirt torn, bleeding, but smiling like he won something big.

That’s when I realised — maybe the hype was actually real. All those news channels, all that buzz... it wasn’t just social media noise. Something was happening.

The Scene That Hooked Me

Until the movie started, I didn’t think much. I expected big visuals and action. But then — Prabhas lifted the Shiva lingam.

Not just the lifting. The way he breaks the rocks around it. The way he walks across the hilly path, jumps into the water, and places it gently beneath the waterfall — all of it was emotional. Powerful. And that small dance he does afterward, as if it’s just another day for him?

That moment told me this wasn’t a film trying to impress. It was something else. Something that wanted to stay with you.

The Twist That Froze Everyone

When Kattappa stabbed Baahubali — I didn’t shout or gasp. I just sat there and thought: “Like... what? Why?”

I wasn’t even reacting. I was already trying to find the answer.

And I think that’s what worked. That scene didn’t just shock — it made people think. It made the silence louder than applause.

Pride Came Later

At first, I just thought I saw something great. Everything — the characters, the scenes, the emotion — felt complete.

But a few days later, something happened that really made it feel special.

A friend of mine who doesn’t speak Telugu started talking about the film. Not casually — like he had seen something great. I didn’t say much. I just listened. But in that moment, I felt something quietly:

This is ours. And now, they see it too.

Even Now, the Feeling Stays

I’ve watched it many times after that. And somehow, the feeling always returns. Not many films do that.

There have been bigger ones, louder ones, trendier ones — but nothing hits the same.

People ask why we still talk about Baahubali after all these years.

I don’t know.

Maybe because it was the first of its kind.

Maybe because nothing after it could match the feeling.

Maybe because some films aren’t just movies — they’re memories.

Whatever the reason... it’s still here.

And it hasn’t faded.