SS Rajamouli 25 years in cinema marks a major milestone for the filmmaker who began his feature-film journey with Student No. 1, starring Jr NTR. The movie was released on September 27, 2001, launching Rajamouli’s career as a Telugu film director.Before entering cinema, Rajamouli worked on television serials. He later established himself in commercial Telugu cinema through films including Simhadri, Sye, Chatrapathi, Vikramarkudu and Yamadonga.

His filmmaking ambitions expanded considerably with Magadheera, while Eega demonstrated his ability to build an unconventional story around a housefly as its central character.Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion significantly expanded his reach beyond Telugu-speaking audiences. The films achieved nationwide popularity and helped strengthen the market for large-scale Indian films released across multiple languages.

SS Rajamouli Redefines Telugu Cinema’s Global Reach

SS Rajamouli gained further international recognition with RRR, starring Jr NTR and Ram Charan. The film attracted global attention, while its song Naatu Naatu won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.Across his 25-year directing career, Rajamouli has become closely associated with large-scale action, visual effects and emotionally driven storytelling. His films have also contributed to Telugu cinema gaining wider visibility among audiences outside India.

Attention has now shifted to Rajamouli’s next project, Varanasi. The action-adventure film brings him together with Mahesh Babu for the first time and also features Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran.The project is expected to continue Rajamouli’s focus on ambitious, large-scale storytelling and international reach.
From Student No. 1 to RRR and now Varanasi, SS Rajamouli’s 25-year journey reflects the expanding scale and international profile of Telugu cinema. His latest milestone comes as audiences await the next chapter of his filmmaking career.