Anurag Kashyap: Only Rajamouli is original

Renowned Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has criticized the current state of Indian cinema, stating that many directors are merely imitating SS Rajamouli instead of cultivating their own unique styles.

“There is only one Rajamouli. The rest are just ten cheap versions of him. But no matter how much they try, they can’t be Rajamouli because he is original,” Kashyap remarked.

Don’t copy others

“Everyone sees Rajamouli’s success and tries to replicate it, but his ideas stem from a place they don’t understand. Similarly, when KGF became a hit, everyone jumped on the same bandwagon,” Kashyap slammed.

SS Rajamouli has been redefining Indian cinema, particularly with the global success of the “Baahubali” franchise. He further cemented his reputation with RRR (2022), a historical action drama starring NTR and Ram Charan. Similarly, the KGF franchise, directed by Prashanth Neel, became a landmark for Kannada cinema, with Yash in the lead role.

Pan-Indian cinema is not a new trend

Speaking at a masterclass at Annapurna College of Film and Media, Kashyap emphasized that pan-Indian cinema is not a recent phenomenon.

“When was pan-Indian cinema not a thing? For me, Pratibandh was pan-India. So was Fauladi Mukka with Rajinikanth. Shiva with Nagarjuna was also pan-India. This isn’t new,” he added.

“The real issue is that filmmakers aren’t investing their own money. They’re using external funds under the pretense of creating blockbusters, but in reality, they’re just indulging in a lavish lifestyle. That’s why I say, don’t make sausages—because sausages all look the same. Every filmmaker should be different and bring their own specialty to the table,” he concluded.