Kattappa, Baahubali and the pop culture storm Prabhas's iconic film created

India Today

11-07-2025

It's been 10 years since 'Baahubali: The Beginning' hit the big screens - and let's be honest, Indian cinema hasn't been the same since. SS Rajamouli didn't just deliver a magnum opus; he dropped a cultural nuke. With Prabhas' demi-god screen presence, Anushka Shetty's fierce royalty, Rana Daggubati's menacing look, and that final epic twist that made everyone's jaw drop, the film created a cinematic multiverse of its own - one that extended far beyond the theatres and deep into our collective pop culture memory.advertisementFrom viral memes and mind-blowing fan theories to YouTube parodies and global reactions, 'Baahubali' rewrote the rules of film marketing, audience engagement, and how cliffhangers truly break the Internet.As 'Baahubali: The Beginning' completed a decade on July 10, 2025, here's a look at the pop culture moments that still live rent-free in our heads.The OG question that haunted a generation: Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?
The mother of all cliffhangers. The final scene of 'Baahubali: The Beginning' ended with the royal loyalist Kattappa (played by Sathyaraj) stabbing Baahubali (Prabhas) in the back, literally.The moment the scene faded to black, India collectively screamed 'Whaaaat?!' and the Internet exploded.From X threads to college debates, from meme pages to brand campaigns, the one question became the biggest national obsession. Even Amul jumped in with their trademark doodles, and brands like Netflix, Swiggy, and Zomato found clever ways to include 'Why did Kattappa' in their push notifications and social media.# #Baahubali https://t.co/1llZ4QCZLp pic.twitter.com/wKSdzpNzmL— Baahubali (@BaahubaliMovie) July 9, 2025Meme-ification of every frameNo one could've predicted that a period war epic would lend itself so well to meme culture. But 'Baahubali's' visuals, dialogues, and plot points were meme gold.And, what happened after Sivudu lifted the Shivling? Instagram motivational pages and desi gym bros turned it into a hashtag for Monday Motivation.When Queen Sivagami breastfed while sitting on the throne, the Internet couldn't stop but praise the unwavering dedication and determination of Indian mothers.And when Tamannaah Bhatia's Avantika took a stunning transformation from rebel to lover? Memers went, 'When you're fighting patriarchy, she has abs (sic)."The mix of intense grandeur and dramatic dialogues were just perfect for meme-makers to go ham. Facebook and WhatsApp were flooded with "Baahubali logic" jokes, and even Rajamouli's VFX-heavy war scenes weren't spared from hilarious edits.Take a look at some of the memes here:
Photo: X/Luv_Madz
Photo: X/Luv_Madz
Photo: X/Luv_Madz
The Internet didn't just stop there. Fan theories deserved their own universe. Following the film's release back in 2015, it spawned fan theories that could rival the 'Game of Thrones' subreddit. Some of the most viral ones include:Kattappa is Baahubali's secret father.Kattappa is under a magical spell.Or, the real villain is Sivagami.Adding their touch of masala, YouTube channels and Reddit threads dove deep into decoding every symbol, crown, and sidelong glance. Some fans even went full conspiracy mode, linking historical events to fictional timelines. Basically, 'Baahubali' turned us all into desi Sherlocks.YouTube parodies and spoofs that went viralWho remembers the BB Ki Vines version of 'Baahubali'? Or Shudh Desi Endings' animated parody that imagined Kattappa as a clumsy assassin who just tripped and killed Baahubali?Spoof artists had a field day. College fests were incomplete without someone doing a Kattappa stabbing scene re-enactment, usually ending in someone yelling 'plot twists'.From mashup songs like 'Baahubali X Dhoom' to dubbed comedy edits where Kattappa says, 'Mujhse galti ho gayi bhai,' the Internet ensured Baahubali didn't just stay a film - it became a fandom language.advertisementWatch a spoof video here: 'Baahubali' wasn't just an Indian blockbuster - it went global. From Japanese fans cosplaying as Amarendra to OTT platforms picking up the franchise for an animated spin-off, the film crossed language and geography.Foreign YouTubers reacted to the waterfall reveal scene with jaw-drops, and the fight sequence on flaming bulls had Hollywood VFX breakdowns. Even people who had never seen an Indian film were suddenly talking about 'this epic called Bah-hoo-ba-li.'It became a flex for Indian fans to introduce international friends to 'Baahubali', proudly watching their faces go from 'meh' to 'this is cinema' in 3.5 seconds.Here is a meme just because...:
Photo: X/VivaciousVids
Even politicians referenced 'Baahubali' to make points about loyalty and betrayal. Cricketers joked about being "Baahubali of batting" or doing a 'Kattappa' to their teammates. And Bollywood couldn't help but join in.Karan Johar, who backed the Hindi version, milked the meme culture too, with Instagram Reels, cheeky captions, and public countdowns to 'Baahubali 2'. Ranveer Singh posted gym videos with the theme playing in the background, and celebs queued up to post 'Why Kattappa' jokes during the two-year gap between films.advertisementThere is no denying that ten years later, the film is still iconic. The echo of every dialogue from the magnum opus rings true. No other Indian film has managed to combine mythological storytelling with modern memeability quite like this.'Baahubali: The Beginning' wasn't just a film - it was an Internet event, a cultural turning point, and a nationwide group chat that still hasn't gone quiet.So here's to ten years of Sivudu, Bhallaladeva, Devasena, Sivagami, Avantika, Kattappa, and the question that launched a thousand memes. And if you still don't know why Kattappa killed Baahubali well, that's between you and the internet.- Ends