To paraphrase The Dark Knight, S. S. Rajamouli's RRR may not be the movie we deserve, but it's the movie we need right now!
With so many remakes, sequels, and rehashes out there, RRR is a refreshing palate cleanser for film goers eager for something original. RRR is an epic Indian action drama film, featuring two revolutionaries, their friendship, and their fight against the oppressive British Raj in the 1920s.
I attended a Q&A event with brilliant director S. S. Rajamouli, and when asked what he would want the American viewing audience to know about RRR...
...he thought for a bit, then replied, "It is an unapologetic relationship between two friends."
RRR is many things, but "unapologetic" may be the best word to describe this insane movie. RRR pulls no punches. In what other film do you get a historical fiction bromance, public floggings, government overthrow, man vs. tiger, and…it’s also a musical?
Well, that is the outrageous, heartfelt, explosively great cinematic experience that is RRR! If you are not familiar with the film, or you already love it like me and just want to know more, keep reading for all the behind the scenes info you need right now.
There aren't really spoilers ahead, but even if there are, nothing will compare to watching the 3-hour film anyway. Preferably in a theater with an audience, you won't regret it.
1.So, what does the title RRR mean anyway?
2.The characters are based on actual Indian freedom fighters.
3.Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds helped inspire the film.
In the Q&A, director and co-writer S. S. Rajamouli said that his film was inspired by the revisionist history that Tarantino wrote into his WWII film.
"When I was watching the film and when Hitler was suddenly shot, it blew me away! We knew Hitler didn't die that way, and it suddenly opened my eyes. Okay, we are making a fictional story. We don't need to stick to historical accuracies."
This way of thinking allowed him to tell a totally fictitious story about real people.
Like many films, RRR was heavily affected by COVID-19, halting the production on a number or occasions. In the end, it took over 300 days to complete the shooting of the film. Approximately 75 of those days were allotted just for the action sequences alone.
By comparison, Apocalypse Now, one of the longest and most extended shoots in cinema history, had 238 days of principal photography.
11.American audiences might recognize some familiar faces.
12.Bruce Lee is Rajamouli’s greatest influence.
13.Social media helped the movie explode in the USA.
Though Rajamouli says he made the film for an Indian audience, he and his team are surprised and grateful at the positive reception it has had in the United States. In part thanks to enthusiastic people emulating RRR's "Naatu Naatu"dance on TikTok and Instagram, the film began to get more and more recognized by American audiences.
Social media posts got people's attention, and when more screenings became available, RRR was shown to constantly sold-out crowds. Now that it is available on Netflix, the fanbase is becoming larger and more vocal.
We have barely scratched the surface, but that should be enough to pique your interest about RRR for now.
This is one of the few MUST-watch movies of 2022. I highly recommend you see it on the big screen, but since screenings may be hard to find in your area, thankfully, it is streaming on Netflix. Watch it loud and preferably with a friend.
Jason Fitz and Frank Schwab join forces to recap the draft in the best way they know how: letter grades! Fitz and Frank discuss all 32 teams division by division as they give a snapshot of how fans should be feeling heading into the 2024 season. The duo have key debates on the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and more.