Ram's Incredible Riot Introduction Scene In RRR Was Filmed Just Before The Pandemic [Exclusive]

During a dry spell of blockbuster spectacle, S. S. Rajamouli's "RRR" electrified audiences when it was first released on March 24, 2022, on over 10,000 screens worldwide — the record for highest distribution "for any Indian film." Though it was released earlier than most notable 2022 films, it has not lost any ounce of hype from its devoted fans thanks to its Netflix release and strong word of mouth. "RRR" is simply everything you could ever want in one movie. It's a "maximalist epic" that features top-notch action sequences, infectious musical numbers, and a revisionist historical edge that cathartically points a middle finger at British Imperialism.

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan play fictionalized versions of Indian revolutionaries, Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju, two men on opposing paths that make one unlikely but unstoppable pair. This core relationship between Bheem, a fierce tribal leader, and Raju, a fearsome member of the British police force, creates fascinating tension throughout the three-hour runtime of "RRR," and while it concludes on a satisfying note, it was crucial to establish just how threatening and dedicated Raju could be.

In one of the film's opening sequences, Ram Charan's Raju breaks up a crowded riot with fists and fire. It's horrifying to watch, but essential in showing the audience Raju's commitment to Britain. /Film's Ryan Scott spoke with "RRR" cinematographer KK Senthil Kumar about filming Raju's introduction scene, and he admitted that despite the delays COVID-19 had on production, this particular sequence was filmed right before the pandemic started.

Not unlike the works of another maximalist auteur, Michael Bay, Rajamouli introduces his characters with a display of powerful, masculine strength. When we first meet Bheem, he's battling a wild tiger. If that alone wasn't enough to get your adrenaline pumping, we are introduced to Raju and his loyalty to the British Empire through a scene of him engaging in a riot outside a police station border with about one thousand men. Watchtowers are climbed and destroyed, and Raju is restrained and beaten by multiple men before making a narrow escape via knocking down fiery mannequins and torches onto waves of people.

We might grow to love Raju throughout "RRR," but the man he is at the beginning of the film is ruthless. Though it is a heavy scene, Kumar admitted it was one of his favorites to shoot. "Luckily, we just filmed it just before the lockdown, or the pandemic was announced or came to India," he explained. "That was a sequence which I really like and I'm very happy that we pulled it off before the pandemic. That kind of thing is not possible after the people had their own fears and all."

One of the goals Rajamouli and Kumar had for the riot sequence was to imbue it with a strong feeling of claustrophobia. When they were filming Ram's tussle with the men outside the prison fences, they took the camera directly inside the crowds, something that obviously couldn't be accomplished if they were socially distanced. "The time of shooting itself, we were actually so happy and overwhelmed," Kumar continued, "The visuals were looking [like] something which is not seen before."

While "RRR" has found commercial success worldwide, Rajamouli and Kumar are obsessed with raising the bar for themselves and for their audiences. The pair regularly work together and most recently worked on two "Baahubali" films. If you loved "RRR" and are craving more of the same epic scale, then it's worth looking into them as they are streaming on Netflix as well. Kumar admitted that dealing with the pressure of creating something new for their fans was nerve-wracking, and informed his attention to detail:

"[...] living up to the expectations of the audience was a big challenge. So every sequence had to be designed well, and composed, and shot, and lit well, for the audience to appeal. That was a bigger challenge than the film itself."

I think it's safe to say that Rajamouli and Kumar did their jobs well. Audiences fell in love with "RRR" because it offered an alternative to the deeply franchised and bland phase of our current blockbuster cinema landscape. It proved that there's merit in putting everything into a project including the kitchen sink and creating something wildly inventive and entertaining. As we get deeper into the year and look back on what blew us away in 2022, "RRR" is one of the first action movies to come to mind.