RRR is one of the best movies I have seen in the past decade, hands down.

Short for “Rise Roar Revolt” (and a play on the three leads’ names), the film is a stunning cinematic masterpiece and exciting, balls-against-the-wall adventure epic told with a lot of heart, grit and some emotionally powerful moments all woven through a real political struggle.

The Telugu language Indian action film is a cinematic experience in and of itself. It takes place in colonial India when the British take over. And, if you’ve ever felt any sense of oppression or hatred towards those who look down on you, this film celebrates it, makes fun of it, and turns it on its head to showcase your own inner power — enough to make you feel like a straight-up Marvel superhero.

Writer and director S.S. Rajamouli recruited two of India’s biggest movie stars, NT Rama Rao Jr, who plays Bheem, and Ram Charan, who plays Raju, two real-life freedom fighters in India. The $69 million “Tollywood” film showcases astounding action choreography, mind-boggling stuntwork, and sophisticated computer graphics that make this film feel out of this world. And, if you can get behind the realism of the film and enter the fantastical epic journey it is, you’ll be blessed with a joyous and exciting film experience.

The scenes of Bheem being chased through a forest and running straight into a tiger, to Raju punching another animal with vigor and bravado, are only a few of S.S. Rajamouli’s countless showstopping moments. The “Naatu Naatu” musical sequence, which won India their first award for Best Original Song at the 2022 Oscars, is full of imminent joy and delight, as the two leads perform a fast, frenzied dance, all told through the lens of political, racist tension.

What I loved the most about the film is that Rajamouli plants many “eggs” throughout his storytelling. Each item, camera zoom and line of dialogue, serve a purpose for later on down the road. Once the connections are drawn and realizations are made, the film surely highlights these moments of awe and wonder, as the characters so enthusiastically process these moments in the film, as well. And, just as we the audience witness these moments, we get to experience this joy with the characters onscreen.

Most lovingly was the bromance we got to experience between the two leads. As Raju’s show-stopping hair and chauvinistic looks pleased, Bheem’s heroism and growing friendship with Raju was heartwarming to see. Amongst their growing friendship grows the two revolutionaries’ struggle for political freedom. The fight for the freedom of their people is inspiring and joyous, and the film wasn’t afraid to make sure every act, incident, scene and moment these characters did went back to that core ideal.

I watched this movie without any clue what it was going to be about. I just wanted to be entertained and taken for a ride, and I was given just that, and more.

For as dazzling as RRR is, it’s a film I believe everyone should experience. It pushes our limits of understood realism in modern cinema, and gives us something entirely innovative, gigantic and deeply personal, all the same. Its deeply Nationalist Indian themes are forgiven, because in a world and time where we cannot deny the horror that exists amongst White colonialists, this film empowers, delights and entertains.

I’m just waiting for the day I can watch this in theaters with a packed audience, just as it was meant to be watched.

Have you seen it? Are you part of the RRR fandom? Let me know your thoughts.

View a spoiler-free scene from Netflix, below: