Merging, remastering and compressing a 2hr 38mins of Baahubali: The Beginning and 2hr 47mins of Baahubali: The Conclusion is no mean achievement and this is just my crazy idea to imagine what and how the movie could be cut to compress all that emotion, story and action into a 3 hr 44 movie:
(Fan) Screenplay by: [Anilmation] Duration: 3 Hours 44 Minutes
Genre: Mythic Historical Epic / Action-DramaPROLOGUE (8 mins)
Storm rages. Sivagami, wounded and bleeding, emerges from a cave clutching an infant. Soldiers chase her through the river.Sivagami (to the skies):
“Lord Shiva, save this child. Mahendra Baahubali must live for Mahishmati!”She lifts the baby above the river, drowns, and the child flows downriver—found by villagers. The woman Sanga raises him as Sivudu.
ACT I: THE RISE OF SIVUDU (35 mins):
Sequence of Sivudu’s youth under the waterfall. He dreams of the mountain above—his destiny beyond sight. After countless failures, he climbs the cliff.Add deleted visual montage of his struggles with storms, rockfalls (from alternate Japanese cut).Reaching the summit, he meets Avantika, a warrior of Kuntala. He learns of her mission—to free Devasena, queen imprisoned by Mahishmati’s tyrant Bhallaladeva.Romantic tension builds. Avantika’s tears as Sivudu paints her shoulder-tattoo remains intact. When she gives him her mission, he whispers:
“The woman you love should never go to war alone.”
ACT II: THE RESCUE OF DEVASENA (25 mins):
Sivudu infiltrates Mahishmati. The iconic statue sequence is retained: he saves the falling structure by sheer strength.Amid celebrations, he storms the prison fort and rescues Devasena, battling Bhallaladeva’s son Bhadra. Sivudu kills him swiftly.Kattappa, the slave-warrior, pursues—but seeing Sivudu’s face, drops his sword.
Kattappa (overwhelmed): “Baahubali!”Cut to a wide reveal of Sivudu’s stunned face.
INTERMISSION FLASHBACK: THE LEGEND OF AMARENDRA (1 hr 15 mins):
A beautiful dissolve leads into Kattappa’s narration, spanning Amarendra’s youth:Queen Sivagami raising both princes, Amarendra and Bhallaladeva.The Kalakeya War in full glory—kept intact with enhanced deleted footage of Baahubali’s strategic counterstorm tactics.Baahubali’s mercy on civilians contrasts Bhallaladeva’s cruelty.Despite Amarendra's heroism, political deceit makes Bhallaladeva king, sowing seeds of future tragedy.Amarendra and Devasena (Love & Politics)Add deleted Kuntala kingdom scenes:
The joyous market, the archery practice, the humorous spar between Amarendra and Devasena where they ambush bandits.Their romance evolves naturally—ending in a rebellious marriage against Sivagami’s arranged plans.Bijjaladeva manipulates events, accusing Amarendra of treason. He is banished yet revered by the people.
ACT III: THE ASSASSINATION AND THE FALL (35 mins)
Devasena, pregnant, faces growing tension as Amarendra continues serving the people outside the palace.
A night sequence—deleted from the theatrical version—shows Amarendra fighting off a surprise Kalakeya ambush to protect Kattappa (from Japanese alternate cut).
Moments later, Kattappa lures him into isolation.
Amarendra (smiling): “My sword for you always.”
Kattappa (trembling): “My loyalty... even when it breaks my soul.”
He stabs Amarendra.
The heart-wrenching “Why, Kattappa?” echoes before Amarendra dies under a monsoon sky.
Soon, the kingdom drowns in chaos—Devasena escapes with her infant, Sivagami sacrifices her life saving the baby (linking back to the prologue).
ACT IV: MAHENDRA’S RETURN (45 mins):
The revelation devastates Sivudu—now Mahendra Baahubali. With renewed rage, he rallies Avantika, Kattappa, and the rebel armies of Kuntala.
Massive battle preparation montage—blacksmiths forging weapons, rebels painting banners, and Kattappa standing before Baahubali’s statue.
The final siege of Mahishmati:
Elephants charge, flaming boulders crash, water siege machines erupt.
Bhallaladeva fights with monstrous ferocity, wielding spiked chariots.
Mahendra and Bhalla duel atop the burning palace.
Bhallaladeva (mocking): “Even your father kneeled before me!”
Mahendra: “He kneeled before loyalty. I kneel before justice.”
After a brutal sword exchange, Mahendra impales Bhallaladeva on Devasena’s burning pyre.
EPILOGUE (8 mins)
Coronation sequence mirrors Amarendra’s victory long ago. Avantika crowns Mahendra. Devasena blesses her son, as Kattappa bows in peace.
The camera cranes up to the palace spire.
Child’s voice (off): “Will Baahubali’s son rule one day?”
Elder’s voice: “Only Lord Shiva knows.”
Fade out on the Mahishmati insignia—restored glory, perpetual legend.
NOTES ON COMPRESSION AND FLOW
Songs retained only as instrumental montages.
Dialogue density cut by 30% for fluid transitions.
Flashback transitions designed with visual rhyme (e.g., Shivudu lifting Lingam → Amarendra lifting War Elephant).
Final runtime balanced:
Act I: 35 mins
Act II: 25 mins
Flashback: 75 mins
Act III: 35 mins
Act IV + Epilogue: 50 mins
Credit Scroll: 4 mins
This unified script balances spectacle, emotion, and mythic scale—interweaving the emotional arcs of mother, son, and duty while maintaining momentum for a single, seamless epic experience
