There were some chuckles in certain film circles when it came to critically-acclaimed “RRR” director SS Rajamouli’s “Sight and Sound” ballot, and it definitely was an eclectic batch of populist picks.
“Aladdin” and “The Lion King”? Iconic animated movies. “Apocalypto”? An underrated bloody epic. “Raiders of the Lost” Ark? Classic. “Ben-Hur”? SPECTACLE. “Braveheart”? FREEEEDOM!
Rajamouli is more than just a director; he’s obsessed with the technical, he loves the whiz-bang of cinema, the outrageously conceived. It’s not that surprising then that he’d list any of these movies.
Rajamouli, who has admitted to having slept through “Parasite,” can easily have people equate his clearcut American pop culture consumption as anti-intellectualism, but, for better or for worse, it does go well with his brand of maximalist populist filmmaking.
“RRR” is all about simple emotions being elevated to the level of over-the-top spectacle; Rajamouli remains unembarrassed about these unhip mechanics as long as they bring out a reaction from his audience.
Now, we have Rajamouli himself explaining why he listed his ten picks, with notes under each title. The way he describes each of these movies is exactly how I’d expect him to …
And so, without further ado, Ladies and gentlemen, I give you New York Film Critics Best Director winner SS Rajamouli:
Forrest Gump
This exercise in heart-touching perfectly blends love, pain and agony and inspires the audience to not give up when life throws curveballs.
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda teaches life lessons in a humorous and relatable way. It inspires audiences to pursue soul-searching and makes the viewer feel better as well!
Aladdin
Aladdin is a film that will never get old! I love how the film creates a world of its own and uses magic and other elements to narrate its story. More importantly, the audience buys into it as well!
Django Unchained
I've always loved Quentin Tarantino's films. Django Unchained is a bold masterpiece with a raw screenplay.
The Lion King
The Lion King is arguably the most popular and loved animated film in the history of cinema! It gets the audience, children AND adults, dancing, laughing and crying. The film's iconic dialogues are now common lingo. It's become a part of our culture.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones is unapologetically true to himself and a true-blue hero. He has a captivating character arc as well. The film revolutionised the adventure genre.
Braveheart
Braveheart is a clever film that brilliantly alludes to historical events. It beautifully integrates human emotions amid social and political drama.
Apocalypto
One of my favourite movies of all time. Everything about the film is perfect! Its engaging and intriguing storyline captivates the audience from start to finish.
Maya Bazaar
Mayabazar's technical marvels and visual effects are praiseworthy. It's a timeless classic! I remember watching it 100 times as a child.
Ben-Hur
A classic example of out-and-out entertainment! It's a grand spectacle that neatly blends action and drama and keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.