Baahubali can easily be India's 'Game of Thrones' and here is why

With 'Baahubali', India has embraced its first ever epic fantasy with wide arms. No, there have been several others in this genre before 'Baahubali' stormed into the scene, but no one quite hit the nail in its head. The larger than life special effects, the massive storyline, the vast expanses of fictional land and the powerful characters have made a strong hold on the Indian audience and now it seems the time is ripe for Indian fantasy.

But for those who have been watching the American saga, 'Game of Thrones', since 2011, 'Baahubali' may have seemed a bit too familiar. Screenplay writer and director SS Rajamouli may have even taken a note or two from George RR Martin’s books and the TV show for this blockbuster hit of his. Here is a list of why we think so:

1. Shiva has a strange, almost suicidal passion to climb. He wishfully stares at the humongous waterfalls and wants to reach its top. By the time he is a grown man, he has already tried a hundred times and failed. This reminds us of Bran, the little Stark boy who loved climbing the many odd towers of Winterfell. Up until one day when he climbed and saw something so unholy that it lead to his coma and later, paralysis. Over here though, Shiva reaches the top only to fulfill his destiny.

2. Katappa is like the Kingsguard. He protects the king even if he doesn’t like him. Just like Ser Barristan Selmy, the white haired warrior who served the Mad King Aerys, known for burning his subjects and enemies alive, Katappa also stands vigilant for the rulers of Mahishmathi even when he despises them. A warrior unlike anyone has seen, Katappa yet, is humble and knows his station. Finally, just like Selmy deflects to Daenerys (the Targaryen heir to the Iron throne), Katappa’s true loyalty lies with the rightful queen, Devsena (who is now locked up and tortured).

3. The Mahishmathi kingdom meets its biggest threat in the Kalakeya clan; the dark, dirty and monstrous men who have their own language. They are shown talking in clicks and noises. In Game of Thrones, there are many tongues that are spoken across the Narrow Sea. From Dorthraki, Mereneese to Valyrian, most of these languages are spoken by people who are ruled by Daenerys and the tongue is then translated by Missandei, the loyal and intelligent sidekick to Khaleesi. A different language adds to the mystique of the saga in both cases though.

4. The Kalakeya clan resemble the wildlings in GoT, especially through their costume; they wear pieces of bones and skulls as adornments and are unkempt, to put it lightly. Add to that, just like the wildlings, the Kalakeya don't follow any rules and are brutal in their war strategies.

5. Finally, the group of ousted commoners who form an army to free their imprisoned queen, Devsena, vow not to fall in love or have a family in the name of their mission. The Night’s Watch in GoT, a battalion of warriors both good and bad, are fashioned similarly. They take a vow not to form any romantic liaisons to stay true to their duty of protecting The Wall.

However, just like Jon Snow falters and falls in love with Yggrite anyway, so does Baahubali's Avanthika. She falls hopelessly in love with Shiva by the time the movie is halfway through.