Hyderabad
October 10, 2008

At a time when the Telugu film industry is going through an unprecedented phase where the audiences are searching for novelty and originality, filmmaking has become a Herculean task. Here's one man, whose name has turned into a synonym for unbeaten victory. Today, SS Rajamouli, who continues to hold the enviable position as the hotshot director, celebrates his birthday. Idlebrain.com fondly wishes this winning filmmaker – Many Happy Returns of the Day.

Running show on director's name
When his debut film Student No. 1 collected a staggering Rs. 12 crore, hitting 100 days in about 42 centers, the Tollywood's eyes fell on young Rajamouli, who happens to be the protégé of evergreen romantic and devotional muni K. Raghavendra Rao. After Teja, the credit of making the audience throng the theatres "for director's film" goes to Rajamouli, from the start of the new millennium. He showed the unique mix of the traditionalism and modernity in his scripts right from the beginning of his career. Perhaps, he is one and the only director from the younger generation who is being branded as the director of all sections of the audiences, with the meaning taken in its true sense.

Songs, stunts + screenplay
Simhadri, a violent revenge drama treated with the superb commercial elements, changed the dynamics of filmmaking in Telugu industry. A mass masala mix is equally important on a par with the technical values. Rajamouli proved that just by inserting – songs and stunts – a film will not run, but a film necessarily requires the basic technical standards and not to miss the treatment and story factors. Music has come to play a dominant part in all his films released till date. The success mark brought with it the arresting combination of Rajamouli-Vijayendra Prasad-MM Keeravani.

Big dreams, his passion and breath
Rajamouli doesn't simply believe in the ordinary. He emphatically says: "I just can't dream. But, I dream it big. Big dreams are my passion and breath of my profession." He stood by his words when he created the Swarga Lok in the film Yamadonga. He tried to match the production standards of Telugu film industry with the Hollywood. His scripts are grand, his locations are grand and his name as filmmaker is grand. Over the years, an SS Rajamouli film has come to represent not only the mass entertainment, but also the best technical standards available in the ambit of Tollywood. For the first time, the villain has come to be noticed as a major source of entertainment in his films.

Miracle point of entertainment
Just like the Swarga Lok set in Yamadonga, most of his previous film held one particular point that does hold the crowd-pulling mantra. When the film – Vikramarkudu – got released, it was literally drubbed as a non-performer. But, in a few days, the flick had started generating heavy sound and the public began humming… Jinthatha Chitha Chitha. When the heroine is caught in the den of one of the most ruthless villains onscreen, she finds ample time for a unique – Dharuvu (tapping the fingers on hard surface and producing rhythmic sound) –the audience couldn't resist the temptation. Undoubtedly, this mannerism turned out to be the box office mantra. Rajamouli's sincerity and honesty as a filmmaker are commendable. At many a function, he credited this Jhintak mantra to a small technician in Vikramarkudu unit. He is ever inspiring to the men on sets – artistes and technicians. During the making of his films, he shows the agility of a cheetah. For instance, he trekked the risky valley slopes, prompting the cast and crew follow him during the shoot of the film Vikramarkudu and doing similar adventures for Chatrapati.

Guts and sportiveness
He is currently engaged to the making of Ramcharan's film with its subject dealing with re-incarnation. Rajamouli heralded a new wave in the publicity strategy also. He declared on the very first day of the film's launch. "Why should I hide the point? I don't want to give scope for gossips," saying so, he revealed the basic line of the film, which no big director has dared to do so. Last but not the least, Rajamouli showed to the audiences of both the small screen and big screen that he is a man of sportiveness to the core. He readily donned the guest roles in TV serials (Nag's Yuva) and films (Rainbow). Of course, we can't rule out Rajamouli's high caliber as an actor in the future. We once again wish Rajamouli best of luck in all his "dream big" endeavors.