Baahubali: The Beginning

An injured woman emerges from a hidden cave beneath a massive waterfall, carrying an infant. While attempting to cross a raging river, she is swept away by the current. Facing imminent death, she submerges beneath the water but holds the infant aloft, praying to Lord Shiva to preserve the child's life for the sake of his mother and the kingdom of Mahishmati. The child is rescued by the tribesmen of Amburi, and Sanga, the wife of the tribal chieftain, adopts him, naming him Sivudu. Sivudu grows into an exceptionally strong and ambitious young man, obsessed with scaling the towering waterfall despite Sanga's strict objections. Demonstrating superhuman strength, he uproots a massive stone Shiva Lingam and places it directly beneath the waterfall to satisfy his foster mother's religious vows. Shortly after, Sivudu discovers a wooden mask that washed down the waterfall. Inspired by the artifact, he successfully scales the cliff face for the first time. At the summit, he encounters Avantika, a fierce warrior belonging to a subterranean rebel alliance. The group is dedicated to rescuing Devasena, a former queen who has been subjected to public imprisonment and psychological torture for 25 years by the despotic ruler of Mahishmati, Bhallaladeva. Concurrently, Kattappa, the royal slave-commander of Mahishmati who is bound by a sacred oath of absolute fealty to the throne despite detesting Bhallaladeva's tyranny, regularly witnesses Devasena's suffering. Devasena consistently refuses to escape, firmly believing that her long-lost son will return to liberate her. Motivated by his love for Avantika, Sivudu vows to complete the rebels' mission and infiltrates the fortified capital of Mahishmati in disguise during Bhallaladeva's birthday celebrations. He single-handedly rescues a workforce of civilians from being crushed by a collapsing, colossal golden statue of the king. During the chaos, an elderly artisan recognizes Sivudu's face, prompting the entire crowd to chant the name "Baahubali," which profoundly infuriates Bhallaladeva. That evening, Sivudu creates a tactical diversion, rescues Devasena from her outdoor cage, and flees the city. They are rapidly pursued by Bhallaladeva's son, Bhadra, and Kattappa's royal guard. In the ensuing confrontation, Sivudu overpowers the forces and decapitates Bhadra. As Kattappa prepares to strike back, he catches a clear glimpse of Sivudu's face under the moonlight. Recognizing his striking resemblance to the former king, Kattappa kneels in absolute submission, proclaiming Sivudu as Mahendra Baahubali, the rightful heir to the throne and the son of the legendary Amarendra Baahubali and Devasena. When the surrounding rebel forces and Amburi tribesmen demand answers, Kattappa narrates the history of Mahishmati. Twenty-five years prior, following the sudden demise of Mahishmati's ruler, King Vikramadeva, his sister-in-law, Shivagami Devi, assumes supreme regency over the unstable kingdom. She raises both her biological son, Bhallaladeva, and Vikramadeva's orphaned son, Amarendra Baahubali, with equal affection, declaring that the throne will eventually be awarded to whichever prince proves more worthy. While Bhallaladeva grows into an arrogant and power-hungry warrior under the toxic influence of his physically disabled father, Bijjaladeva, Amarendra Baahubali wins the adoration of the populace through his deep compassion, humility, and natural leadership. The rivalry between the princes reaches a critical turning point when Mahishmati faces an apocalyptic invasion by the savage, language-less Kalakeya tribe. Shivagami commands both princes to lead separate divisions of the royal army, promising the crown to the warrior who slays the Kalakeya chieftain, Inkoshi. Throughout the brutal warfare, Bhallaladeva uses a ruthless, mechanical chariot that massacres innocent civilian shields to clear his path, whereas Baahubali employs ingenious tactics and risks his life to protect his soldiers and the hostage populace. Although Bhallaladeva ultimately secures the physical kill of the Kalakeya chieftain, Shivagami officially names Amarendra Baahubali as the future Emperor of Mahishmati, citing his unmatched moral courage, humanity, and defense of the people. In the present, deeply moved by the tale of Amarendra Baahubali's greatness, Sivudu and his foster parents eagerly ask to meet him. Tears streaming down his face, Kattappa delivers a shocking confession: Amarendra Baahubali was backstabbed and murdered years ago, and he was the one who killed him.

Plot from Baahubali: The BeginningCC BY-SA 4.0