Rating: TV-MA | Runtime: 187 minutes
Release Date: March 25th, 2022 (India/USA)
Studio: Raftar Creations / Sarigama Cinemas / Variance Films
Director(s): S.S. Rajamouli
Writer(s): S.S. Rajamouli / Vijayendra Prasad (story)

Your friendship is more valuable than this life, brother.

While the calls for RRR to get an Oscar nomination as Best Picture (since India chose Last Film Show for International Film consideration instead, ultimately making the shortlist) are akin to the people who wanted Spider-Man: Far From Home to get one last year—namely that the shiny new toy you just saw being fun and exciting doesn’t mean it’s a masterpiece—I can’t say S.S. Rajamouli’s epic isn’t still an absolute blast.

With crazy choreographed fights, a ton of romance and humor, wall-to-wall computer effects (including wild animals that probably didn’t need a full disclaimer to tell us as much in case we were worried real tigers, etc. were used), and the most homo-erotic leading duo since Point Break, what’s not to love about this historical-set fantasy?

Hardly original in narrative with adversaries accidentally becoming best friends only to realize it too late and have to choose between “brother” and “mission,” it is wild in its orchestration with one climactic fight unfolding fully on piggyback. There’s some big brain insanity in that respect to offset the otherwise over-the-top theatricality of caricatured villains (Ray Stevenson and Alison Doody as the governor and his bloodthirsty wife leave little scenery left after chowing down every time the camera places them in frame) and swooning score.

But that’s Tollywood for you. It’s all a heightened state of reality with musical montages, interludes (“Naatu Naatu” made the Oscar Song shortlist), and supernatural-esque sequences imbuing men with God-like powers.

And why shouldn’t Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) and Ram (Ram Charan Teja) become Gods? These are two men who would laugh in the face of danger if they weren’t so gosh darn serious every time danger rears its head (it’s often, very often).

The former is his peaceful village’s champion, sent to Delhi to rescue a young girl the governor “bought” by any means necessary. The latter is an ambitious royal officer in the governor’s army looking for a promotion by single-handedly jumping into a violent gang of Indian civilians to arrest someone who dared to throw a rock, earning a couple concussions for his trouble. They were rendered as Gods well before the plot (and music lyrics) caught up. Gods, patriots, lovers, and friends-to-the-end. Who better to start an explosive revolution?

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Ram Charan Teja and N.T. Rama Rao Jr. in RRR.