Directed by S. S. Rajamouli, RRR (Rise, Roar, Revolt) is a Telugu epic saga centering on two fictional revolutionary leaders of the British Raj India: Raju and Bheem, who both blaze their way to liberate India from the despotic rule of the British. RRR sees two initially hostile characters who eventually unite in the fight against their common enemy for the greater good. RRRas highlighted by Variety‘s review, is indeed a renaissance of action and adventure that is full of themes of loyalty, betrayal and friendship. There was a lot of hype surrounding the Indian film which naturally positioned it to become an international blockbuster success.
In perhaps a mind-bending move, as outlined by slash movie, RRR was unfortunately not chosen as India’s selection for the International Feature Film category at the upcoming Oscars, despite its resounding success with Western audiences. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily take away the chances of being recognized by the Academy in other categories. In fact, the studio behind RRR is currently launching For Your Consideration campaigns in multiple categories this awards season. Or RRR is yet to garner Oscar nominations, but in the meantime, here’s a list of the best moments in the hit Indian runaway film.
6/6 Load, aim, shoot
RRR introduces Raju as something of the film’s antagonist. But soon, through a series of flashbacks, RRR unpacks the character’s harrowing past and switches gears for Raju to become the protagonist. The montage follows Raju’s badly injured father who unequivocally scans “Load, Aim, Shoot” for a younger Raju and instructs him to shoot a British soldier. These words essentially capture an undeniable trust between father and son on the battlefield. Significantly, the scene doesn’t end here; it takes it up a notch, where Raju’s father, now carrying explosives, recites the same words to him and urges him to shoot him, ultimately resulting in an explosion that kills the remaining soldiers and his father’s ultimate sacrifice for marks his relatives.
5/6 Raju’s transformation into Lord Rama
Lord Rama is highly regarded in Indian culture, and the assembly in RRR with the transformation of an injured Raju into Lord Rama is undeniably one of the film’s most eye-catching moments, especially for Hindu Indian viewers. Indeed, the montage of Raju’s transformation shows a bow and arrow battle between Raju and the army of settlers in a cinematic aesthetic. However, as emphasized by SlateThrough its religious iconography, the controversial montage sometimes comes out as propagandistic and biased, leaning towards right-wing ideology.
4/6 The Animal Cavalry
The order of the cavalry of animals in RRR instantly threads together and begins to understand the scene introducing Bheem’s character while eventually solving the mystery of catching the carnivores. In this montage destroying the gate, it is revealed that Bheem captured these deadly carnivores and recruited them as his cavalry to attack the heavily armed British soldiers. Really, the montage is visually appealing as the audience witnesses hundreds of carnivorous animals springing up for their share of prey.
3/6 Bheem sings without kneeling
The scene where Bheem is tied to a pole and beaten by Raju in RRR is one of the most emotionally complex scenes. On the one hand, Bheem feels betrayed by Raju and has severe pain and wounds due to his eyelashes. On the other hand, Raju, guilty, is just a dumb spectator of the blood from his friend’s body and can do nothing but hurt Bheem even more. In all this, Bheem sings without kneeling in front of his spectators, a classic sign of his defiance against the British soldiers. Indeed, the scene pours more power into the story of RRR.
2/6 Epic Dance Battle
If you have been an avid watcher of Indian cinema, you know how important singing and dancing is in any Indian film. True to the spirit of Indian music and film tradition, Bheem and Raju immerse themselves in an innocent dance showdown with Jake. Indeed, dancing to the tunes of “Naatu Naatu”, which translates to “Dance Dance” in English, both protagonists deliver the most energetic performance that will force even the most non-dancing audience to tap their feet to the bombastic beats of Nacho Nacho.
1/6 Catching the Tiger
This scene marks a humble introduction to one of the protagonists of RRR, Bheem. It follows a relentless chase between Bheem and the tiger, with the former doing everything in his power to catch the latter. Of course, through this single sequence, the film not only conveys Bheem’s raw power, but also unravels the film’s intended ambitions. Meanwhile, it also keeps audiences on the edge of their seats wondering about the necessity and plot of carnivores in a freedom struggle movie