Not Baahubali, but THIS Kannada movie was the first pan-India film

The concept of pan-India films has gained immense popularity, especially after the release of SS Rajamouli's Baahubali- The Beginning in 2015. This trend shattered language barriers in the Indian film industry, blurring the lines between Bollywood and Tollywood. Successful releases like Pushpa, KGF series, Karthikeya 2, and RRR broke records nationwide without any language differences.

Which was the first pan-India film?

While blockbuster hits became the norm, not every mega-release was received by the audiences well. Films like Ginaa, Kabzaa, Khiladi, Raavansura, and Phelwaan faced rejection. However, the origin of pan-India films goes back further than Baahubali. Contrary to common belief, the first pan-India film was not Baahubali but the 1959 devotional film Mahishasura Mardini.

Directed and produced by B. S. Ranga, this Kannada film depicted the slaying of Asura Mahishasura by Goddess Durga. Released in seven languages, including Telugu and Hindi, the film starred Dr Rajkumar, V. Nagayya, Udaykumar, and Narasimha Raju.

More about Mahishasura Mardini

This Kannada movie holds historical significance as the first movie shot in Vikram Studios, Madras. It also marked Dr Rajkumar's debut as a playback singer. Preceding Baahubali, films like Indian, Bombay, Anniyan, and Enthiran entertained pan-India audiences, paving the way for the current era of grand nationwide releases.

As the trend continues, upcoming mega-releases like Prabhas’ Kalki 2898 AD and Sidharth Anand’s Fighter promise to escalate the pan-India film phenomenon. The journey that began with Mahishasura Mardini has now come a long way.

More about Baahubali

Baahubali: The Beginning stands as a monumental success in the history of Indian cinema, redefining the concept of pan-India films. Directed by SS Rajamouli, this magnum opus broke language barriers and united audiences across Bollywood and Tollywood. Released in 2015, Baahubali’s epic narrative, stunning visuals, and amazing performances, particularly by Prabhas made the movie achieve such a massive success.