Motorcycle-throwing, tiger-battling Indian blockbuster to screen for one night at Ciné

Andrew Shearer, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read
(L-R) N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan appear in a promotional image for writer-director S.S. Rajamouli's "RRR." The record-breaking Telugu-language action epic is scheduled to screen at Athens Ciné on June 1, 2022.
(L-R) N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan appear in a promotional image for writer-director S.S. Rajamouli's "RRR." The record-breaking Telugu-language action epic is scheduled to screen at Athens Ciné on June 1, 2022.

Sure, Doctor Strange and America Chavez battled a gargantuan one-eyed monster in the latest Marvel Studios masterpiece, but did they sing and dance in an elaborately-choreographed musical number at the end? Things do happen during and after the credits of "Multiverse of Madness," but that's not one of them.

But that's just one of the dazzling feats performed by stars Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr. in writer-director S.S. Rajamouli's "RRR," the Telugu and English language action epic that set box office records in India back in March before going on to become a worldwide sensation. Athens Ciné will screen the film at 5:15 p.m. on June 1.

Set in 1920, "RRR" (an acronym for Rise Roar Revolt) uses real-life Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Rama Rao) in a fictional story that pits them against a British governor (Ray Stevenson, Volstagg from Marvel's "Thor") who forcibly removes a girl from the village Bheem is sworn to protect.

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Though the real Bheem and Raju never met, they make a powerful team in "RRR" that has all the muscle, skill and firepower of comic book superheroes but remains grounded in believable situations and battles. With that said, you'll see Rama Rao pick up a motorcycle and throw it at a soldier, go hand-to-paw with a (CGI) tiger and hoist Charan on his shoulders before running screaming into battle.

Released theatrically on Mar. 25, "RRR" broke the record for highest opening day box office for an Indian film, earning $31 million U.S. before going on to a worldwide gross of more than $150 million. The June 1 screening at Ciné will mark the first time the film has played in the Athens area and a rare opportunity to see it in its original Telugu language presentation (the Netflix version is in Hindi).

Clocking in at 3 hours and 7 minutes, a smidge longer than the "Avengers: Endgame" running time, "RRR" is wall-to-wall tension with little breathing room (Ciné will have a brief intermission for patrons to visit the restroom and re-up at the concession stand).

Though not rated, the film is chock full of bloody violence and graphic depictions of bodily injury on par with an R rating.

Visit athenscine.com for tickets and schedule.

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This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Record-breaking Indian action epic 'RRR' to screen at Athens Ciné