S.S. Rajamouli Welcomes Dream Theatre As Baahubali’s Licensing And Brand Partnerships Partner: “Baahubali Has Always Had The Potential To Grow Beyond Film”!

Hyderabad, India: S.S. Rajamouli is one of the biggest and most visionary filmmakers in Indian cinema, having played a key role in taking Indian films to a global audience with the blockbuster Baahubali franchise. Starring Prabhas in the lead, the films went on to become a major box office phenomenon—grossing more than ₹2,400 crore worldwide—and earned several prestigious honours, including National Film Awards for Best Feature Film and Best Special Effects.

The journey of Baahubali is now set to move into a new chapter with Baahubali: The Eternal War, an upcoming two-part CGI animated epic produced by Arka Media Works and directed by Ishan Shukla. The film follows Amarendra Baahubali after his death as he enters the afterlife and finds himself caught in a conflict that spans 14 realms inhabited by devas and asuras.

Amid this expansion, Arka Media Works and Dream Theatre Pvt. Ltd. have announced a partnership covering the consumer products and brand partnerships programme for the overall Baahubali franchise as well as Baahubali: The Eternal War – Part 1 and Part 2.

Under the agreement, Dream Theatre has been appointed the exclusive licensing and merchandising partner for India, while also serving as strategic partner for international licensing, sponsorships, brand associations, promotional tie-ups, and co-branded initiatives.

S.S. Rajamouli, creator of the Baahubali franchise, said: “Baahubali has always had the potential to grow beyond film, and The Eternal War gives us a new way to explore that world. I’m happy to have Dream Theatre come on board as we expand the franchise into new experiences for audiences.”

Shobu Yarlagadda, CEO, Arka Media Works, said: “The Eternal War gives us an opportunity to take the Baahubali universe in new directions, and licensing is an important part of that expansion. We were looking for a partner who understood both the business and the world of the franchise. Dream Theatre brings experience in building licensing programmes and developing brand partnerships, and we look forward to working together across India and international markets.”

Jiggy George, Founder & CEO, Dream Theatre Pvt. Ltd., said: “We are pleased to partner with Arka Media Works on the Baahubali franchise and The Eternal War. The franchise has a strong identity and an established audience, while the animated films open up new possibilities for products, partnerships, and experiences. We look forward to working with Arka to develop these opportunities across India and international markets.”

The collaboration brings together the established Baahubali franchise with Dream Theatre’s expertise in building consumer product programmes across entertainment and lifestyle categories. Drawing inspiration from Indian mythology and introducing a stylized CGI visual world, Baahubali: The Eternal War was previously selected for the prestigious Work in Progress programme at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Dream Theatre will work with Arka Media Works to roll out merchandise across multiple categories—including apparel, collectibles, action figures, bags, stationery, publishing, gaming, and experiential initiatives. The overarching goal is to offer audiences innovative ways to engage with the Baahubali universe across both the live-action classics and the animated saga.

By Keerti Kadam