The following is the credited cast:
Prabhas as Amarendra Baahubali (father) and Mahendra Baahubali “Sivudu” (Telugu) / “Sivu” (Tamil) (son) (dual role)
Rana Daggubati as Bhallaladeva (Telugu) / Palvaalthevan (Tamil)
Anushka Shetty as Devasena (Telugu) / Devasenai (Tamil), Mahendra Baahubali’s biological mother
Tamannaah as Avanthika
Ramya Krishnan as Sivagami
Sathyaraj as Kattappa
Nassar as Bijjaladeva (Telugu) / Pingalathevan (Tamil)
Others
Rohini as Sanga
Meka Ramakrishna as leader of the rebel group
Tanikella Bharani as Swamiji
Adivi Sesh as Bhadrudu (Telugu) / Bhadra (Tamil)
Prabhakar as the Inkoshi, King of Kalkeyas
Sudeep as Aslam Khan[12]
Charandeep as Inkoshi’s brother
Madhu Sneha Upadhyay as dancer in blue blouse in song “Manohari”
Nora Fatehi as dancer in green blouse in song
Scarlett Mellish Wilson as dancer in orange blouse in song
S. S. Rajamouli as the spirit seller before the song Manohari
Plot:
Near the ancient Indian kingdom of Mahishmati, its queen Sivagami is seen exiting a cave down by a mountain waterfall carrying a baby. She kills two soldiers who have pursued her and drowns in a river saving the baby, declaring that “Mahendra Baahubali” must live! The baby is saved by members of the local Amburi tribe, who reside near the river and worship the Hindu destruction deity: Shiva. Despite the villager’s protest to take the baby back up the mountain where he came from, the village leader Sanga decides to adopt him since the soldiers found were sent to kill him.
The child was named Shivudu, and during his childhood, has shown obsession with the challenge of scaling the mountain to find out what is up there. Despite Sanga’s warnings he tries several times and fails, so when he is 25 years old Sanga performs a ritual to Shiva that will apparently make her son more obedient by pouring water upon a Shiva Lingam. Shivu lifts the idol and places it under the waterfall, demonstrating superhuman strength much to the villager’s shock. Later, Shivu finds a mask that fell from the top of the mountain. Realizing it may have feminine features he is motivated to scale the mountain and succeeds, finding a woman named Avantika fleeing from Mahishmati guards. Avantika is revealed to be a warrior from a local Rebel Tribe. She and her tribemates kill the soldiers and head to their cave hideout to report to their leader: Chief Jaya Varma. Jaya declares their cause of overthrowing the evil emperor of Mahishmati, Bhallaladeva, and rescuing Jaya’s sister Devasena who is being held captive and tortured by Bhalla.
Avantika asks Jaya as to why they can’t consult help from a righteous warrior in Mahishmati named Kattappa, and Jaya states that Kattappa is a slave to his duty and the royals of the kingdom. Kattappa is seen managing Mahishmati’s weapon manufacturing, which is done under slavery by Bhalla. Kattappa is visibly broken and befriends an Arabian weapons dealer named Aslam Khan, to which he states that his lineage consists of skilled combatants who serve the royals of the kingdom like servants despite their skill and status, and that he has nothing else going for him. Kattappa also sees his friend Devasena, who is tortured by passion by Bhalla and his adoptive son Bhadrudu, or Bhadra. Devasena however refuses to be set free as she is plotting to kill Bhalla herself. Back in the cave, Jaya tasks Avantika to rescue Devasena on Bhalla’s birthday, and Avantika formally meets Shivu after he tries to flatter her and relieve her stressful life. After saving her life from Mahishmati soldiers, Shivu offers to take her task in saving Devasena out of courtousy. He infiltrates Mahishmati masked just as Bhalla is mounting a golden statue of himself, and it is shown how he treats his subjects like inferiors and his toys. Shivu saves their life and a civilian who sees his mask removed starts chanting “Baahubali”. The rest of the citizens chant Baahubali in protest, angering Bhalla. He nearly catches Shivu as the one who caused it later that night when he interrogates the guards, and Shivu in disguise escapes. Bhadra and Kattappa pursue him after he releases and flees with Devasena, and Shivu kills Bhadra just as the Amburis and Rebels arrive. Kattappa attempts to retaliate but stops in front of him, shouting “Baahubali” at the skies.
The next morning, Kattappa tells Shivu about how his real name is Mahendra Baahubali, and that he is the son of the warrior prince Amarendra Baahubali. Over fifty years ago, the king of Mahishmati Somadeva gave the kingdom to his son Vikramadeva. This made Vikramadeva’s older brother, Lord Bijjaladeva jealous, and he was already deranged and heartless. He delusionally believed that his deformed arm is the reason that he was denied the kingdom. Vikramadeva dies in battle and his wife, the queen dies giving birth to Baahubali. Bijjaladeva’s wife Sivagami was a subject who took her place among the royals and became queen, and decides to raise her birth son Bhallaladeva as well as Baahubali to become worthy heirs to the throne. Bijjaladeva encourages Bhalla to do what it takes to rule the kingdom, and Bhalla behaves cold and careless towards the subjects whom he sees as worthless. Baahubali on the other hand has become popular for his kindness, nobility, and respect towards his family, people, and everyone around him. Baahubali also becomes a rigorously trained combatant, and Bhalla matches with strength. They succeed in becoming worthy leaders but Bhalla secretly plots to somehow kill his cousin/adoptive brother out of jealousy for his growing popularity.
A traitor in the kingdom named Sakithan turns out to be a spy for the malicious Kalakeya tribe, who are known to be savages and destroyers of kingdoms. Their chief Inkoshi declares war due to past conflict with Mahishmati, and the royals respond strategically. Sivagami decides that whoever kills Inkoshi would be the new worthy king, so they assign the princes troops. Bijjaladeva secretly makes sure Bhalla has more weapons and men. Baahubali manages to destroy more Kalakeya troops in the coming battle as well as motivating his soldiers and saving hostage subjects. He subdues Inkoshi and Bhalla kills him, but for his valour and concern for the people of his kingdom, Sivagami wishes to coronate him king.
In the present, Sanga wishes to meet Baahubali. But Kattappa states regrettably that he has died, and that it was he who killed Baahubali.
