SS Rajamouli: Reel to Real Life

Andhra Pradesh’s new capital Amravati will be designed by national award-winning Telugu director SS Rajamouli who recreated the imaginary city of Mahishmati in his film Baahubali.

During a review meeting held earlier this week with the officials of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA), Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu suggested to involving Rajamouli in finalising the designs of various buildings in tune with Telugu history and culture at Amravati.

The chief minister was delighted after viewing the designs Rajamouli used for the buildings of Mahishmati, the imaginary capital of King Baahubali, for the sets of Baahubali film.

Naidu immediately deputed his minister for municipal administration and urban development, P Narayana, and officials of the APCRDA to contact Rajamouli and seek his assistance. The team had a lengthy discussion with the director and the latter is learnt to have agreed to help the government.

“Rajamouli said he was very privileged to be associated with the capital construction but said he would be able to dedicate time to the project only after he completed the ongoing work on Baahubali-2, the sequel to the first part,” said an official.

Reacting to the development, APCRDA principal secretary Ajay Jain, said Rajamouli has “extensive knowledge in history and the way he designed the sets for his film was commendable”. “We wanted to make use of his expertise in finalising the designs for Amaravati. The APCRDA will be in regular touch with him,” he added.