SS Rajamouli, a highly sought-after director in the Telugu film industry, is renowned for his visually stunning and epic movies like Magadheera, Eega, the Bahubali series, and the recent hit RRR. He has a unique ability to draw audiences to theaters solely because it’s an SS Rajamouli film, overshadowing even the leading actors. But how much do you really know about Rajamouli? As Rajamouli celebrates his birthday today, let’s shed some light on some lesser-known facts about this accomplished director.
1. Rajamouli, whose full name is Koduri Srisaila Sri Rajamouli, was born in Raichur, Karnataka, and is fluent in Kannada.
2. He made his directorial debut in 2001 with the action film “Student No.1,” which marked Jr NTR’s debut as a lead actor and was a box office hit.
3. Rajamouli is the son of KV Vijayendra Prasad, the talented scriptwriter behind blockbusters like the Baahubali series, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and the upcoming film “Mersal.”
4. Before making his mark on the big screen, Rajamouli directed television shows in Telugu, including the serial “Shanti Nivasam” for his mentor Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao’s production house.
5. In the southern film industry, SS Rajamouli is affectionately known as “Jakkanna,” a name given to him by Rajiv Kanakala during the shooting of “Student No.1.” Impressed by Rajamouli’s working style, Rajiv coined the moniker, which was inspired by a popular sculptor in the Hoysala empire of South India.
6. Rajamouli’s family members call him “Nandi.” Interestingly, this was the first alias considered for the character of Mahendra Baahubali before it became Shivudu. Among industry friends, he is known as “Jakkanna,” a name popularized by Jr NTR during public functions.
7. Remarkably, Rajamouli has not delivered a single flop throughout his entire career, a feat previously held by Tamil filmmaker Shankar before some of his recent films faced box office challenges.
8. Prior to conquering the big screen, Rajamouli honed his skills by directing television shows.
9. The Baahubali saga was a family endeavor for Rajamouli, with his father, KV Vijayendra Prasad, penning the script and his wife, Rama Rajamouli, designing costumes for both parts of the epic.
