‘Bahubali: Crown of Blood’ Review: An Animated Series on Disney+ Hotstar

Directors: Jeevan J. Kang, Navin John

Music: Kaala Bhairava

Editing: Tarun Prasad

Producers: Shobu Yarlagadda, Prasad Devineni, SS Rajamouli, Jeevan J. Kang, Sharad Devarajan, Shaik Maqbool

Release Date: May 17, 2024

OTT Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

The movie “Bahubali,” starring Prabhas, Rana, Anushka, Ramya Krishnan, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj, and Nassar, significantly raised the bar for Indian cinema, achieving substantial box office success across its two installments. This success has led to eager anticipation for a third installment. Addressing this anticipation, the creators have released an animated series called “Bahubali: Crown of Blood,” which began streaming on Disney+ Hotstar from May 17. This series, spanning nine episodes, aims to engage the OTT audience. 

Storyline

Taking place before Bahubali’s death, the series focuses on the antagonist Raktadev, who launches a campaign to conquer the kingdoms around Mahishmati and soon targets Mahishmati itself, intent on seizing it. Bahubali and Bhallaladeva intervene to stop him, but unexpectedly, Kattappa starts working for Raktadev. Who exactly is Raktadev? Why does Kattappa work for him? What danger does Raktadev bring to Mahishmati? Were Bahubali and Bhallaladeva able to defend their realm? To find out, watch the series.

Review

“Bahubali: Crown of Blood” showcases strong graphic work, dynamic battle sequences, and interesting character developments, particularly with the well-crafted villain, Raktadev. His menacing presence is well executed, reminiscent of the formidable villains in Rajamouli’s previous films. A notably captivating aspect is Kattappa’s unexpected alliance with Raktadev. The series introduces a range of unique weapons, but may not entirely meet the high expectations set by the original Bahubali films. The animated version of Prabhas’s character might not appeal strongly to fans, and the Telugu dubbing is somewhat lacking. Nonetheless, the series picks up momentum in the final four episodes, which are quite gripping.

Technically

In technical terms, “Bahubali: Crown of Blood” features satisfactory background music, although it doesn’t reach the heights of Keeravani’s compositions. The editing is robust, and the graphics department has excelled, providing high-quality visuals. The animation for characters, aside from Bahubali, is effectively done. The production values are commendably high, fitting well with the series’ scope.

Highlights

Story and screenplay

Animation work

Battle scenes

Drawbacks

Telugu dubbing

Lack of emotional depth

Rating by Telugu.yousay.tv: 3/5