BAAHUBALI RATING: 4/5
Our hero is Shivudu (Prabhas), a prince who is smuggled out of his kingdom and raised by a different tribe. He grows up not knowing his lineage, but acquires some serious rock-climbing skills. If his wooing techniques are any indication, lurking under his hulking physique is an aspiring tattoo and make-up artist. In the first half of Bahubali, we see Shiva scampering up a mighty waterfall and pursuing the feisty Avanthika (Tamannaah), who is part of a rebel group that lives in a hideout, high up in the mountains. She is possibly the worst assassin in the history of all time, given how she doesn't notice minor details like Shiva's bulked-up self lying on a branch above her, painting paisleys on her shoulder. Then again, you know what they say — love is blind.
Shiva is besotted by Avanthika and so he marks her as his own by discreetly painting tattoos on her. Later, when they finally lock eyes on one another, he subjects her to aZorro-inspired striptease (mythical rebel heroines have nice underwear. In satin, no less) and in a flourish that will make stylists clap delightedly, Shiva turns Avanthika's green dhoti into a red skirt-type-thing. Avanthika sees herself post-makeover and sensibly decides Shiva is a keeper. Meanwhile in Mahishmati, King Bhallala Deva (Rana Dagubatti) shows off his rippling shoulder muscles and takes a giant bull by the horns, literally.
