Rise, Roar, Revolt, or RRR first came out all the way back in March, yet towards the end of the year it’s become clear that S.S. Rajamouli’s action-packed reimagined Indian epic is one of the critics’ favorite movies of 2022, well critics and most of the people who have actually seen it. That is because as a foreign language film coming from the country’s less reputable industry, RRR still has a tough hill to climb.

Nevertheless, although multiple rereleases all over the world have allowed cinephiles to enjoy RRR in all its theater glory, the movie’s merits are more than enough to make it one of the best currently available on Netflix. So how is it that this 3-hour Tollywood film has endeared itself to so many? Are the cultural differences between Indian filmmaking and Western audiences too big? And, lastly, just how much dancing is there actually in RRR?

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The Who, What, When And Where Of RRR

Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr. as Bheem riding horse and motorcycle in RRR

The film’s settings is surprisingly simple as Rajamouli choosing to tackle a piece of fictionalized Indian history (think Assassin's Creed India), set during the middle of the country’s move to independence, choosing real-life revolutionaries Komaran Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) and Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) as his superheroes, since that’s how the director chooses to call the two men who never met. Now, that’s about as much of a lesson one needs heading into the movie because, at its heart, RRR is more like Tollywood flavored action flick, much in the vein of Quentin Tarantino’s alternative history spin in Inglorious Basterds.

So what exactly is Tollywood? Well contrary to its more famous sibling Bollywood, this is the film industry that caters to the South Indian part of the 1.3 billion people nation. As such, Tollywood films tend to feature dialogue in Telugu and not Hindi which is India’s more widely spoken tongue, however, that also introduces more contrasts as Tollywood is known more for its high-octane action films compared to Bollywood, the cradle of all those dance numbers.

This is where Ramajouli’s superheroes come in as RRR’s action scenes are incredibly over-the-top, to say the least. Both Bheem and Ram are capable of incredible feats and stunts, the kind that will have Western audiences reminiscing many ‘80s and ‘90s action classics, but it all looks amazing. Sure, RRR’s galore of CGI animals might be off-putting for some, but the movie uses slow motion to make sure its combat hits viewers as hard as it can, with the opening scene featuring Ram being a perfect highlight and preview of what to expect.

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. as Bheem and Ram Charan action scene in RRR

Does that mean RRR is just an action film? Most definitely not as the movie elegantly moves across genres to feature comedy elements, musical numbers, two love stories, as well as Bheem and Ram’s buddy cop dynamic showing also featuring the kind of brotherly love that will have viewers pining for them to solve their differences. Still, this is the most expensive Indian film ever ($66m), and it really shows in the sheer scale of some of its actions sequences.

Overall, RRR is the type of film that’s just excellent at everything it does, making audiences quickly shift the tone of their reactions from laughter to genuine pain when these characters are suffering, despite how absurd it can be at times. RRR basically captures the essence of a masterfully crafted Hollywood movie, just one not made in America, let alone in 2022.

Why Ramajouli’s RRR Is So Brilliant

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. as Bheem and Ram Charan dancing in RRR

A common complaint among moviegoers these days is that every film can turn out to be the same, as both superhero movies or big franchises have established themselves as the tentpole blockbusters for most studios, and sequels tend to govern the box office. In that sense, RRR has the most in common with 2022’s biggest movie, Top Gun: Maverick, because of how “back to basics” its formula is, with the added value of not being able to rely on nostalgia.

Even the most foreign tropes of Indian cinema, like the dancing and singing can be easy to accept as they tend to really help move the story with two particularly being crucial to Bheem and Ram’s character arcs, and the same foes for the few flashbacks which are just are brilliant as everything else in the movie. Certainly, the musical aspects and subtitles can be the most alienating parts of RRR, but they are both easy to accept for such a joyful ride, especially now that the movie is readily available on Netflix and allows for one to take a break when the film invites us to do so.

Ramajouli recently took part in a poll that included acclaimed directors like Martin Scorsese and Bong Joon-ho, and it’s safe to say his picks for favorite movies ever showcase the very influences that inspired him to make RRR. The director named Raiders of the Lost Ark, Braveheart, Django Unchained, Forrest Gump, and even Kung Fu Panda in his top 10, and those with a keen eye will be able to spot moments in RRR when Ramajouli pays homage to those masterpieces.

Ram Charan and Olivia Morris in RRR party dance scene

RRR’s story also lends itself to showcasing the tension of film’s like Scorsese’s The Departed or even South Korean classic Joint Security Area, because of the beauty that lies beneath Bheem and Ram’s friendship. That’s one of the main drivers in a movie that truly does it all because, at the end of the day, RRR could also be summed up as simply an superb Indian buddy cop adventure.

Sure, there are political undertones to RRR that those not familiar with India’s culture will miss, yet none of that gets in the way of enjoying a movie truly unlike anything else out there for a very entertaining 3 hours. As for the dancing, well Bheem and Ram's moves are so sick it really dukes it out with RRR's jaw-dropping action to see which one is more impressive.

RRR is currently available on Netflix.

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