Rajamouli Unveils ‘Baahubali: The Eternal War’ at Annecy Film Festival 2026

Revered Telugu Director S S Rajamouli attended the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 25 to showcase Baahubali: The Eternal War Part 1. The Baahubali movie account posted a clip of director Ishan Shukla and the Baahubali team unveiling an exclusive look at the Work In Progress in Annecy 2026, captioning it as “a packed house of the global animation community treated to a first glimpse of the spectacle taking shape.”

Rajamouli conveyed the vision behind the film to a cheering audience: “With Baahubali, we made a conscious choice. We retained the core character conflicts and cultural essence that resonate deeply with Indian audiences, but we adopted a visual language that was universal. We wanted people from any part of the world to immediately connect with the film. That same ambition continues with Baahubali: The Eternal War, to create something rooted in our mythology yet capable of speaking to audiences everywhere.”

The Eternal War, a spin-off in the Baahubali franchise, explores the journey of the slain prince Amarendra Baahubali into the afterlife, where a cosmic war between gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras) ensues across fourteen realms. Awaited as the film with the largest production budget in the history of Indian feature-length animation, Baahubali: The Eternal War Part 1 will be directed by Arka Media Works’s Ishan Shukla, who has also previously directed Season 2 of “Star Wars: Visions”.

The animated feature film will be produced by Studio Khara, the Japanese film studio behind the renowned Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. Anime professional producer Slow Curve is also reported to join in the anime planning and production of The Eternal War.

This film is poised to change the animation scene in India, as the current perception around animated films is primarily as a medium of storytelling. With this high-stakes film, Rajamouli aims to compete on a worldwide scale in the global market alongside major international animated features. Several studios around the world drive this epic project, with UK-based Aniventure Studios and Scotland-based Zaratan Studios being involved as co-production partners.

Baahubali: The Eternal War - Part 1 is slated to release in theatres in 2027.

This article is written by Hridya Lakkadi, a student of CBIT, interning with Deccan Chronicle.