On this day in 2001, a young filmmaker named SS Rajamouli quit TV serials and made his directorial debut with NTR's Student No. 1. The film went on to become a blockbuster and Rajamouli followed it up with yet another monstrous hit in the form of Simhadri.

These two back-to-back blockbusters made SS Rajamouli a synonym for success and hardwork in Tollywood. Known for his unrelenting perfection and passion, Rajamouli has been given the title Jakkanna by his close friends and actors in his first two films, Rajeev Kanakala and NTR.

Rajamouli continued to conquer Tollywood box-office with a series of hit movies like Sye, Chatrapathi and Yamadonga etc. But it was with Magadheera in 2009 that Rajamouli made himself a man who will take Tollywood to the next level.

Making everyone's expectations true, Rajamouli stunned the country with Eega and scripted a golden chapter in Tollywood's history with the all-time third highest grossing Indian movie, Baahubali The Beginning. Jakkanna was honoured with the 4th highest civilian award, Padma Shri this year.

While his fans are busy celebrating Rajamouli's 15 blockbuster years in Tollywood, the man himself is busy chiseling his yet another epic marvel, ‘Baahubali the Conclusion’, for which the entire country is awaiting with limitless excitement.

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BY M. DIVYA SRI