The blockbuster Baahubali franchise is set to continue its reign, not just in cinemas, but also on streaming platforms. Director S.S. Rajamouli announced the launch of a new animated series titled “Baahubali: Crown of Blood” at a recent press meet.
The series, produced by Rajamouli, Sharad Devarajan, and Shobhu Yarlagadda, will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on May 17th. “Crown of Blood” serves as a prequel to the original Baahubali films, delving deeper into the history of the Mahishmati kingdom and exploring the backstories of iconic characters like Baahubali and Bhallaladeva.
Speaking at the event, Rajamouli expressed his vision for Baahubali to become a brand encompassing not just films, but also animation, comics, and gaming. He highlighted the collaboration with Disney+ Hotstar and Graphic India as a key step in achieving this goal.
“We’re happy to partner with Disney and Graphic India on the ‘Baahubali: Crown of Blood’ series,” Rajamouli stated. “The world knows the soul of Baahubali. We hope to take it further with this animation series.”
Sharad Devarajan of Graphic India echoed Rajamouli’s sentiment, emphasizing the series’ ability to retain the essence of the Baahubali universe. “We have created the animated series ‘Baahubali: Crown of Blood’ without reducing the drama, action, and intensity of a feature film,” he said.
The press meet also featured remarks from Gaurav Banerjee, Head of Content at Disney+ Hotstar, and actor Sharad Kelkar, who voiced Baahubali in the Hindi dub of the original films. Both expressed their enthusiasm for the project and its potential to reach new audiences.
Producer Shobhu Yarlagadda concluded the event by reiterating the long-term vision for the Baahubali brand. “The Baahubali movie is only a chapter in this journey,” he stated. “The popularity of Baahubali has given us courage. In that journey, the animated series ‘Baahubali: Crown of Blood’ is coming to you.”