Before the Beginning was officially announced by Netflix in August 2018. Production began in September 2018 with
Deva Katta and
Praveen Sattaru as its directors.
Mrunal Thakur was cast as Sivagami, who was later replaced by
Wamiqa Gabbi.
Rahul Bose and
Atul Kulkarni play pivotal roles. In March 2021, it is reported that Netflix has revamped the project with a new creative team, scrapping the previously shot version. Made on the budget of ₹300 Crore, it is the most expensive part of the Baahubali franchise and one of the most expensive Indian TV series ever made.
Premise
The series follows Sivagami as she matures from a defiant and resentful girl into a wise queen, around the same time when the kingdom of Mahishmati rises from being a city-state to an influential empire.[5][6]
In March 2017, after the release of The Rise of Sivagami written by
Anand Neelakantan,
S. S. Rajamouli, the director of the two-part Baahubali films, confirmed that a television series will be made on the novel, comprising 13 episodes.[17] In November 2017, The Hans India reported that
Deva Katta would direct a web series based on the world of Mahishmati.[18] In July 2018, Katta confirmed that he will co-direct a three-season
Netflix original series, tentatively titled Shivagami.[19] The series, titled Baahubali: Before the Beginning, was announced in a public statement released by Netflix on 1 August 2018.[20] It was to be directed by Katta and
Praveen Sattaru; Rajamouli will serve as a producer alongside
Prasad Devineni under the
Arka Media Works banner.[21] The announcement also revealed that the series was planned to have two seasons.[22]
Baahubali: Before the Beginning was the third Netflix original series announced from India after the crime thriller Sacred Games and horror miniseries Ghoul.[21] Erik Barmack, Vice-President of Netflix International Originals, felt that the theme of Baahubali "resonates globally", one of the reasons for considering the series.[23] On 2 August 2018, a teaser announcing the series was released online by Netflix both on their website and other social media platforms, including
YouTube.[24] Rajamouli expressed his enthusiasm for the series, saying, "With Netflix as our partner, we have the opportunity to create a rich and riveting series and take this quintessential Indian epic to the world, which is very gratifying to me as a story-teller".[25] Neelakantan serves as the series' screenwriter.[26] According to the author, it is "the biggest thing Netflix has done in India so far", and is made along the likes of Game of Thrones.[26] He reasoned adapting the novel as a series, stating, "[G]iven the story's dark and violent tone, the current censorship rules won't allow for it to be made as a film".[26] Neelakantan said that part of the series is shot in
Kerala and would feature something akin to the now obsolete
Mamankam festival.[26] Sattaru stated that unlike the two Baahubali films, the series would not be limited to "a south or north... It's a pan-India series[...]".[27]
Filming
In September 2018, filming for the series began, with television actress
Mrunal Thakur was confirmed to play the role of
Sivagami in the series, with
Rahul Bose and
Atul Kulkarni in pivotal roles.[10] Three sets were erected at locations where the two Baahubali films were filmed.[10] Principal photography was completed in February 2019.[28] In April 2021, Thakur walked out of the project due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced by
Wamiqa Gabbi.[7][8]
In March 2021, Bollywood Hungama reported that Netflix has scrapped the previously shot version after investing ₹100 crore, and new version with a budget of ₹200 crore is planned.[29]The Hans India stated that the revamped version would have a new director and production team.[30]Kunal Deshmukh was reportedly signed as a director but he later opted out.[31]
In January 2022,
Variety reported that Netflix was reevaluating the series, and has been "struggling with the project for some time now."[32]
Notes
^Originally, the series was shot with the budget of ₹100 Crore but Netflix scrapped it and revamped the series with the budget of ₹200 Crore, thus bringing its total budget to ₹300 Crore.