We know why Kattappa killed Baahubali, but Baahubali 2 doesn't answer THESE questions

Ever since the release of Baahubali: The Beginning in 2015, fans have been restless. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the burning question on everyone's minds was "Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?" and innumerable theories, jokes and memes did the rounds. The Baahubali team, who closely guarded the secret, were plagued by this question in every single interview and media interaction that they were a part of.

While the release of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, this mystery has been effectively solved by director SS Rajamouli. However, there were some questions in the audience's mind which the film did not address.

1. Who was Bhallaladeva's wife?

In Baahubali: The Beginning, we remember the scene where Mahendra Baahubali, with a single swish of his sword, sends Bhallaladeva's son Bhadra's head flying in the air. But we never see or hear of the wife of Rana Daggubati's character. Last year, there were reports that Shriya Saran had been roped in for the part, but she rubbished the rumours.

Given that the other women in the film (Sivagami, Devasena and Avanthika) are strong characters, it would have been interesting to see what Bhallaladeva's wife would have been like. Evil incarnate, like her husband? Or an antithesis? We will never know.

2. What is Avanthika's story?

We cannot forget the fierce warrior Avanthika of Baahubali: The Beginning. She has almost put on blinkers to protect herself from distraction from her one and only goal - to free the shackled Devasena. But, why is she so motivated to giving away her youth and if need be, life, to the cause?

One may argue that she is driven by the same love that the subjects of Mahishmati had for Amarendra Baahubali and Devasena, but that seems unlikely, as Baahubali was killed either before her birth or when she was only a baby. Is she from the Devasena's kingdom of Kuntala? Baahubali 2 has no answers for us.

3. Why do the people of Mahishmati meekly accept Bhallaladeva's tyranny without putting up a fight?

"If Amarendra Baahubali is killed, the people of Mahishmati will revolt. There will be war," a character says in Baahubali 2. It is no secret that the subjects of Mahishmati adore Baahubali. There is even a scene where they literally shake Bhallaladeva up (those who have seen the film will know). They are ready to take up arms and even kill for him.

But when Baahubali is killed and his wife Devasena is openly chained and tortured in public view, they are mute. In fact, as Baahubali: The Beginning showed, the tyrant king Bhallaladeva loots and tortures even the subjects, but no one even bats an eyelid in protest.

Baahubali 2: Beyond why Kattappa killed Baahubali, 6 questions that Baahubali The Conclusion must answer

In coming day, the nation, no, scratch that, the world will find out the answer to the question that has preyed on their minds for the last two years since everyone watched director SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning. And that question is, ‘why did Kattappa kill Baahubali? In fact, this one moment has made the wait for Baahubali 2 release excruciating. The twist in the end of the tale became a rage for many reasons. One, maybe it was too much of a shock for fans to come to terms with Baahubali being killed after showing his physical and mental prowess in the war against Kalakeya. Two, it was more shocking to fathom that the loyal king’s guard Kattappa is the one who stabbed Baahubali. It won’t be wrong to say that Kattappa was like a father figure to Amarendra Baahubali. Not just that, he was a true friend who fought besides Baahubali in the battlefield. He wanted Baahubali to defeat Kalakeya as much as any other member of the audience so that he can ascend the throne of Mahishmati.

And we can give 10 other instances that prove Kattappa’s undying love for Baahubali. Not to mention that Kattappa pledges his loyalty to Shivudu aka Mahendra Baahubali the moment he realises he is his slain master’s son. But, still, he killed Baahubali. So we can understand the reasons as to why the fans the world over have been hung upon why Kattappa killed Baahubali? But, they are really missing the big picture here.

We may have never seen an incomplete film like Baahubali 1 before, perhaps that is the secret of its mammoth success. We can tell good people from bad people in the film but we don’t know why the story of Baahubali came to the point where Kattappa turns into a backstabber. There are important unanswered questions, which we have overlooked this two years as we were too busy trying to crack this one mystery. With Baahubali 2, we are hoping that SS Rajamouli answers all of them. 

Here are the six questions that the Prabhas and Rana Daggubati-starrer will have to deal with when it lands on Friday.

1) Sins of Sivagami

2) Is Amarendra Baahubali really dead?

3) Who is Bhallaladeva’s wife?

4) Why Bijjaladeva wants to kill his wife Sivagami?

5) Avantika and team

6) Will Baahubali find out Bhallaladeva’s true colour?