SS Rajamouli Directing Action — How to Ground Fight Scenes with Storytelling in RRR

How SS Rajamouli Directs Action in RRR — A breakdown of how Rajamouli uses emotion as a foundation for spectacular action and fight scenes.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to RRR
01:05 - What is Emotional Action?
02:38 - Chapter 1: Storytelling
06:03 - Chapter 2: Structure
07:53 - Chapter 3: Visual Clarity
11:38 - Wrap Up

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RRR ANALYSIS — HOW SS RAJAMOULI DIRECTS ACTION

If you have seen RRR, you know that director SS Rajamouli crafted some of the most spectacular action of recent memory. And yet, no matter how big and epic the action, each of these sequences is grounded in emotion. As Rajamouli himself explains, “The way I operate is on the basis of emotion…I cannot function otherwise.” So, in this video, let’s break down the action scenes in RRR to see what “emotional spectacle” looks like.

One thing SS Rajamouli does in RRR is to plant some of the film’s major story beats inside an action sequence. For example, our introductions to both lead characters are delivered through epic action. Their first meeting is a daring rescue attempt and their falling out is at the center of a chaotic siege. The result is an action scene with real dramatic weight, and the drama is accented by epic action.

Another tactic to create the highest emotional content is to structure the action scene as a self-contained story arc. We can see this in Raju’s introduction — his mission to apprehend a single rioter while battling the rest. By joining Raju on this mission, we share the catharsis of his victory, which leads to a more sympathetic and instant connection.

We can also look at how SS Rajamouli directs action to ensure that the emotional qualities reach the audience. One way this is done is to prioritize visual clarity. Instead of intense camera movement paired with frenetic editing, Rajamouli’s presentations are measured and clear. A technique we see in RRR is speed ramping, which slows down the action, keeps the pacing manageable, and allows for the action beats to register.

This same effect is also with a nice balance of wide shots. Pulling away from the action might be counterintuitive, but wide shots have a distinct benefit — to maintain scene geography. The easiest way to confuse an audience is when they question, “where is everyone in relation to each other”? The emotional foundation will be lost if they can’t follow the action.

RRR is a rather bold piece of action spectacle. But the way SS Rajamouli directs the action, we never lose the emotional connection that runs through the entire film. As Rajamouli proves, action for action’s sake is a missed opportunity for filmmakers to balance spectacle with emotion and create a satisfying and entertaining cinematic experience.


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