S.S. Rajamouli lists 9 movies from across the world that inspired him to become a filmmaker

Spider-Man (1977)

In a recent interview, Rajamouli discussed some of the earliest cinematic influences and shared that the memory of watching the 1977 superhero film Spider-Man still resides in him. Starring Nicholas Hammond, David White, and others, the 1977 'pilot' film is the maiden attempt at bringing Spider-Man onto the screen.

Superman (1978)

In the same breath, S.S. Rajamouli added that the 1978 classic, starring Christopher Reeve in the titular role, played a huge part in the early years of his life. While he doesn't share the exact reason behind his love for these films, the larger-than-life, almost spectacle-like qualities of these Hollywood films are clearly visible in Rajamouli's work.

Ben-Hur (1959)

William Wyler's seminal epic film is another of S.S. Rajamouli's favourites. Ben-Hur is known for its grandeur, the underlying emotional context, and the theme of revenge - all these facets are also apparent in some of Rajamouli's most popular films like Chatrapathi, Eega, and Baahubali: The Conclusion.

Mayabazar (1957)

K.V. Reddy's Mayabazar is still reckoned as a milestone in Indian cinema, especially in the context of the use of technology. "As a child, I was completely mesmerized by that film," said Rajamouli in an interview once and the director holds the film in the same high regard even today.

Missamma (1955)

One can see the echoes of Missamma in S.S. Rajamouli's films like Yamadonga and Maryada Ramanna wherein innocence, deceit, and mischief are blended together to produce a series of comical errors. The filmmaker hails the 1955 film as one of the best.

Braveheart (1995) and Apocalypto (2006)

S.S. Rajamouli has stated on several occasions that Mel Gibson's work as a director has been a huge source of inspiration to him. "His sense of drama, his ability to stretch a dramatic moment to its maximum potential - I adore these qualities in him. I must have watched each segment of his films a countless number of times," says Rajamouli. He has often said that Braveheart and Apocalypto are two of his all-time bests.

Drishyam (2013) and Drishyam (2021)

Although S.S. Rajamouli doesn't term the two Drishyam movies as his favourites, he certainly holds the films right up there at the top for their dramatic value. "I loved the writing, in particular, and I felt the first part was great but the second one was even more thrilling. To see that kind of intelligence, emotion, and simplicity but still have captivated all along is amazing," he says.