In a dramatic blend of cinema and diplomacy, the Iranian Embassy in Hyderabad has drawn a parallel between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s defiant address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the iconic battle scenes from the Telugu blockbuster Baahubali. The embassy shared a video featuring the film’s protagonist taking on the enemy army, accompanied by a message asserting Iran’s determination to stand firm against external pressure.The video features scenes from Baahubali: The Beginning, in which Amarendra Baahubali, played by Prabhas, leads his forces against the Kalakeya army.“Dr. Pezeshkian, President of Islamic Republic of Iran at UNGA: ‘Will never bow our head or bend the knee’ Like Baahubali standing against the Kalakeyas, we also shed our own blood in sacrifice for the homeland,” the embassy wrote alongside the video.The comparison draws on one of the film’s most memorable sequences, in which Baahubali refuses to retreat despite facing a formidable enemy.The post follows Pezeshkian’s address at the 81st UNGA in New York on September 23, where he rejected the prospect of Iran surrendering to US pressure. Responding to US President Donald Trump’s remarks a day earlier, Pezeshkian said that sanctions, pressure and threats would only strengthen the Iranian people’s resolve. “We will never bow our head or bend at the knee,” he declared, while also expressing Iran’s willingness to pursue dialogue and diplomacy without accepting coercion.Pezeshkian’s speech came amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States.He accused Washington and Israel of attacking Iranian territory and defended his country’s military response, while maintaining that Tehran remained open to negotiations. He also criticised sanctions and raised concerns about civilian casualties and the conflict in West Asia. These remarks formed the backdrop to the embassy’s subsequent social media post.
