Baahubali to Mirzapur: The Great Screen Swap Redefines Indian Entertainment
Indian cinema is breaking boundaries as blockbuster films evolve into series and OTT hits transition to the big screen. From Baahubali to Mirzapur, the line between movies and web shows is blurring, giving audiences immersive experiences across platforms.
The rise of cinematic universes — from Baahubali’s grand legacy to Mirzapur’s gritty realism — marks a new chapter in India’s storytelling evolution.
Indian entertainment is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The once-clear boundary between cinema and digital content is slowly disappearing, as films make way for multi-episode web series and hit OTT shows get adapted for theatres. Today, the viewers demand more than just stories offered in a single format. They want continuity, connection, and immersion.
🎬 From Silver Screen to Streaming and Back
A prime example of this evolution is Baahubali, which began as a two-part cinematic masterpiece and later grew into an animated series and global cultural phenomenon. Meanwhile, the gritty world of Mirzapur — one of India’s most-watched streaming shows — is reportedly being adapted into a feature film.
This creative “cross-pollination” is redefining storytelling, blurring boundaries between formats, and reshaping how stories live and evolve.
💭 Storytelling Beyond Boundaries
Co-producer Shobu Yarlagadda, one of the key minds behind Baahubali, says the expansion into new formats isn’t about profit but about creative growth.
“Both Baahubali films were loved for their values, vision, and representation. Turning them into new experiences came from creative curiosity, not commercial intent,” he said.
Yarlagadda revealed that director S.S. Rajamouli spent months re-editing and re-mastering the films into a seamless version, optimizing it with modern 4K visuals and advanced sound technology. “It’s not nostalgia, it’s renewal,” he added.
📺 OTT vs Theatres: Complement, Not Compete
Filmmaker Tushar Goel believes OTT and theatres now complement each other rather than compete.
“OTT is convenient, theatres are immersive. Both serve different moods — you can’t compare them,” he said.
While streaming services give audiences comfort and accessibility, the theatrical experience still delivers scale, sound, and emotion that’s hard to replicate at home.
🌍 Expanding Worlds, Evolving Audiences
The entertainment ecosystem is expanding in all directions. Maddock Films’ horror-comedy universe — from Stree and Bhediya to Munjya and the upcoming Chhoti Stree animated series — reflects how franchises are evolving across genres and mediums.
Goel sums it up perfectly:
“A film can become a show, a show can become a movie, and maybe tomorrow, it’ll become a VR experience. What matters is how deeply it connects with audiences.”
