Marking a highlight of the BFI's eight month Indian on Film season, cast and crew members of Indian cinema's biggest motion picture franchise, Baahubali, attended a UK Special Gala of Baahubali: The Conclusion on Tuesday 2nd May at BFI Southbank. Actress Anushka Shetty; director, SS Rajamouli; music composer, MM Keeravani; and producer Shobu Yarlagadda were welcomed onstage with a standing ovation by the full-house audience, as they appeared for a post screening Q&A.

Speaking at the event, Anushka Shetty said, "We had a narration I will never forget. Rajamouli took me through all of the emotions audiences saw in the movie. I had tears in my eyes."

SS Rajamouli said, "The project started when my father started narrating the characters to me. It was electrifying!"


Shobu Yarlagadda said, "What we've seen now with this film is phenomenal. I don't think anyone could have been prepared for this. It is the nature of the canvas - a pan-India canvas rooted in Indians while the emotions are universal."

MM Keeravani said, "Rajamouli wanted me to create world music for this film, to reach a world audience."

As part the UK India Year of Culture, the BFI has embarked on a celebration of Indian film throughout the rest of 2017. Co-curated by BFI Head Curator Robin Baker and writer and programmer Meenakshi Shedde, the BFI's India on Film programme is running at BFI Southbank from April - December 2017.