SS Rajamouli joins Scorsese, Tarantino on France's Wall of Filmmakers
Synopsis
SS Rajamouli's name now sits permanently on the Mur des Cinéastes at Institut Lumière in Lyon — alongside Scorsese, Tarantino, and Coppola. Coming weeks after a permanent seat at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris, this is a remarkable double from French cinema's two most prestigious institutions, and a signal that Indian epic filmmaking has arrived on the global auteur map.
Key Takeaways
SS Rajamouli received a permanent plaque on the Mur des Cinéastes (Wall of Filmmakers) at the Institut Lumière , Lyon, France .
He joins legends including Martin Scorsese , Clint Eastwood , Quentin Tarantino , and Francis Ford Coppola on the wall.
The honour was facilitated by Thierry Frémaux , director of the Institut Lumière and the Cannes Film Festival .
Rajamouli's films Eega and RRR had previously screened to a full house at the Lumière Museum's screening room in Lyon .
This follows an earlier tribute — a permanent named seat at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris — making it his second major French honour.
Filmmaker SS Rajamouli has had his name permanently inscribed on the Mur des Cinéastes (Wall of Filmmakers) at the Institut Lumière in Lyon, France, joining an elite roster that includes Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino, and Francis Ford Coppola. The honour, conferred on Thursday, marks yet another milestone in the Indian director's growing international recognition.
The Moment Rajamouli Described as 'Mind-Blank'
Rajamouli recounted the experience in a post on Instagram, describing how Thierry Frémaux — director of both the Institut Lumière and the Cannes Film Festival — personally guided him through the street where cinema was born before revealing the surprise. 'I was already emotional for everything that was happening around me. And there is this wall full of plaques,' Rajamouli wrote. 'My mind went blank. I don't even know what to say for the honour of having my name permanently placed on the Mur des Cinéastes, along with the greats. Only gratitude. Deeply, deeply humbled,' he added.
The visit also included a stop at the Lumière Museum and the historic screening room where his films Eega and RRR had previously been screened to a full house in Lyon.
A Second French Honour in Quick Succession
This recognition follows an earlier tribute at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris, where Rajamouli was given a permanent seat bearing his name — an honour extended to very few international filmmakers. On that occasion, he had written, 'To have a permanent place in the halls of one of the world's most legendary film institutions, named after the great Henri Langlois himself, is something I will carry with me forever.'
Together, the two French honours position Rajamouli as the most internationally decorated Indian filmmaker of his generation, with formal recognition from two of Europe's most prestigious cinema institutions within a short span.
Why France Has Embraced Rajamouli
France's film establishment has historically been among the earliest to champion non-Western cinema, and Rajamouli's trajectory — from the Telugu blockbuster Baahubali franchise to the globally streamed RRR — has drawn sustained attention from European curators. RRR notably won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2023, amplifying his profile well beyond the Indian subcontinent. The Institut Lumière's Wall of Filmmakers, located on the very street where the Lumière brothers shot the world's first film, carries deep symbolic weight in cinema history.
What Rajamouli Said
In his Instagram post, the director closed with a direct message of thanks: 'Thank you @institut.lumiere for a memory I will carry for a lifetime.' The post, combining personal reflection with visible emotion, resonated widely with fans and the film fraternity.
With two permanent tributes now etched into French cinema's most storied institutions, Rajamouli's standing as a global auteur continues to solidify — and the question of what his next project will bring to international screens grows louder.
Point of View
And the Cinémathèque Française is the institution that shaped the French New Wave. Rajamouli being welcomed into both spaces says less about Bollywood glamour and more about the formal, craft-centred argument that films like RRR and Baahubali have made to serious cinephiles. The question for Indian cinema now is whether this recognition translates into infrastructure — co-productions, festival slots, distribution — or remains symbolic.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mur des Cinéastes at Institut Lumière?
The Mur des Cinéastes, or Wall of Filmmakers, is a permanent installation at the Institut Lumière in Lyon, France, featuring plaques bearing the names of globally celebrated directors. It is located on the historic street where the Lumière brothers pioneered cinema, making it one of the most symbolically significant honours in world filmmaking.
Why was SS Rajamouli honoured at Institut Lumière?
Rajamouli was honoured in recognition of his contribution to world cinema, particularly through his films RRR and Eega, both of which had previously screened to full houses at the Institut Lumière in Lyon. Institut Lumière director Thierry Frémaux personally arranged the surprise tribute during Rajamouli's visit.
What other French honour has SS Rajamouli received?
Prior to the Institut Lumière plaque, Rajamouli was given a permanent named seat at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris — one of the world's most prestigious film archives. He described it as 'a feeling I cannot fully put into words.'
Who else is on the Wall of Filmmakers at Institut Lumière?
The wall features plaques of legendary international directors including Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino, and Francis Ford Coppola. SS Rajamouli is among very few Indian filmmakers to be included in this company.
How did SS Rajamouli react to the honour?
Rajamouli shared his reaction in an Instagram post, saying his 'mind went blank' when he saw the plaque bearing his name. He wrote: 'I don't even know what to say for the honour of having my name permanently placed on the Mur des Cinéastes, along with the greats. Only gratitude. Deeply, deeply humbled.'
