“Ranabaali Will Remain a Major Highlight of My Career”: Vijay Deverakonda at Grand Trailer Launch
Vijay Deverakonda expresses pride in being part of Rahul Sankrityan’s ambitious historical drama; the film is set for a grand worldwide release on October 16.
The much-awaited pan-India film Ranabaali, starring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles, is gearing up for a grand worldwide theatrical release on October 16, coinciding with the Vijayadashami festival. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, the film is presented by T-Series and produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar under the prestigious Mythri Movie Makers banner.
Mounted on a grand scale, Ranabaali explores a powerful historical backdrop inspired by the Great South Indian Madras Famine. The makers unveiled the film’s much-anticipated trailer at a grand event in Hyderabad, with the film’s cast and crew sharing their experiences and expressing confidence in its cinematic impact.
Speaking at the event, Vijay Deverakonda stated that Ranabaali would remain one of the major highlights of his career, expressing immense pride in being part of a film that seeks to bring forgotten history and the stories of unsung heroes to audiences worldwide.
Producer Naveen Yerneni: “Ranabaali Will Be a Wonderful Theatrical Experience”
Producer Naveen Yerneni expressed happiness over the film’s journey and said the team was fortunate to have come across such a compelling story.
“We are extremely happy that such a wonderful story came our way. The moment Rahul narrated it to us, we were excited. He has made the film even better than the way he originally narrated it. This is a perfect film for Vijay, who has showcased his versatility as an actor. We feel fortunate to have Vijay and Rashmika working together in our production.
“Every actor has delivered an excellent performance, and Ranabaali will offer a wonderful experience to audiences. It is a rare story, and we believe everyone will connect with it. I request audiences to watch our film in theatres on October 16,” he said.
Producer Y. Ravi Shankar: “Vijay Has Transformed Himself into Ranabaali”
Producer Y. Ravi Shankar praised director Rahul Sankrityan for his extensive research and commitment to bringing authenticity to the film’s historical setting.
“Rahul conducted extensive research, gathered a wealth of information and worked with tremendous dedication to bring this story to life. Every detail relating to the period and the backdrop has been carefully crafted to ensure authenticity. He worked tirelessly for nearly two years, and after watching the final version, we were extremely satisfied with the outcome.
“Vijay put in extraordinary effort for this film. He completely transformed himself into Ranabaali and even learned horse riding for the role. His command over the Rayalaseema dialect and the detailing he has brought to the character’s mannerisms are remarkable. I strongly believe this film will take him to an even bigger level.
“Rashmika has delivered a wonderful performance as Jayamma. We have shared a successful association with her through films such as Dear Comrade and Pushpa, and we are happy to continue that journey.
“All the technicians have delivered high-quality work, and audiences are in for an extraordinary cinematic experience on October 16,” he said.
Ravi Shankar also spoke emotionally about his long association with Vijay and urged audiences not to judge the actor based on negativity circulating on social media.
“We have travelled with Vijay for nearly eight years. He is a wonderful person, soft-spoken and genuinely good-hearted. He is deeply focused on his cinema and his characters. People may have different opinions about his films, and that is their choice. But spreading negativity even before watching a film is unfair. Please recognise the effort he puts into his work.
“The film is as grand and rich in quality as the trailer suggests. I am confident audiences will enjoy Ranabaali in theatres on October 16,” he added.
Director Rahul Sankrityan: “Ranabaali Was Born Out of Anger and Anguish”
Director Rahul Sankrityan revealed that his desire to tell a powerful, deeply rooted historical story led to the creation of Ranabaali. He explained how a traditional folk narrative inspired him to explore a forgotten chapter of history.
“After Shyam Singha Roy, I spent considerable time thinking about what kind of film I should make next. During that period, I came across a story through a Burrakatha. In the days before cinema, Burrakathas played a crucial role in passing down the stories of heroes and warriors from one generation to another.
“The story I heard was about a warrior from Rayalaseema who fought extraordinary battles. I was deeply moved by it and immediately felt that I wanted to make a film based on this world. I wanted to bring such powerful emotions and a compelling story to Telugu audiences. That was how Ranabaali began.
“While researching the history of Rayalaseema, I came across accounts of the Great South Indian Madras Famine, which affected Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra, parts of Telangana and several other regions, including areas of present-day Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. I was shocked to learn about the enormous human suffering caused by this famine.
“The scale of the tragedy made me question why this chapter of history was not more widely discussed. I began reading books, travelling to different places and meeting historians. As I continued my research, I realised that this was a historical reality that deserved to be brought to the attention of a wider audience. I felt strongly that this was a story the world needed to hear,” Rahul explained.
Speaking about the film’s development, the director credited producer Y. Ravi Shankar and Vijay Deverakonda for believing in his vision.
“When I presented the historical backdrop, the characters and the world of the film to Ravi Garu, he understood the vision and supported it wholeheartedly. This story demanded an actor who could embody the image of a powerful warrior, someone who could ride a horse, wield a sword and carry the character with conviction. Vijay was the first person who came to my mind.
“Vijay connected with the idea immediately. He is also interested in history, and he believed, just as I did, that this was a story that needed to be told. Our journey began from that point, and after four years of work, we are bringing Ranabaali to audiences on October 16.
“Today, food can reach our doorstep within minutes. But imagine a time when nearly one crore people are believed to have died because they could not access food. The thought of that suffering, the injustice and the human tragedy behind it became the emotional foundation of this film. Ranabaali carries that anger and anguish, and we are bringing this powerful story to the big screen with great pride,” he said.
Vijay Deverakonda: “Ranabaali Will Remain a Major Highlight of My Career”
Vijay Deverakonda spoke passionately about the film’s historical significance, the strength of Rahul Sankrityan’s writing and his own emotional connection to the project.
“In another eight days, Ranabaali will arrive in theatres for the Dussehra festival. There are chapters of history that many of us have not had the opportunity to learn about, along with stories of heroes preserved through folk traditions and Burrakathas. Through this film, we are making an attempt to bring those stories back into the spotlight.
“Ranabaali is an effort to celebrate those heroes and take their stories to audiences across the world. I believe the film will bring the world of Burrakathas and this forgotten history to the big screen in a way that people can experience and connect with.
“When I first heard the story of Taxiwaala, I realised what a brilliant writer Rahul is. When he narrated Ranabaali, I felt it was one of the finest scripts to emerge from Telugu cinema this year. Beyond the central story, he has beautifully written every character, including Ranabaali, Jayamma and Hector. He has also created an entire world around the village and Shinganamala, which happens to be my mother’s native place.
“Rahul has taken the backdrop of a devastating famine and woven it into a story filled with cultural roots, emotion and mass appeal. Despite the scale and complexity of the subject, he has connected its different layers beautifully. I don’t know whether Rahul will ever write another story quite like this one.
“Ravi Garu was the first person to approach me with this project. He gets excited about mass elements, and once I heard the story, I understood its potential. People often say that certain scripts are destined to find their way to particular actors. Until Ranabaali, I don’t know whether I should thank Ravi Garu, Rahul or fate itself. I firmly believe this film will remain a major highlight of my career. I am eagerly waiting for its release,” Vijay said.
Urging audiences to watch the film with their families, the actor added, “Please watch Ranabaali in theatres on October 16 and take your families along. I want audiences to understand what our ancestors went through, how we have reached where we are today and the history and identity we carry within us. I am incredibly proud to be part of this film.”
Vijay also apologised for Rashmika Mandanna’s absence from the event before responding to the negativity directed at him on social media.
“If my dreams and hard work seem unnecessary to some people, should I stop pursuing them? If my honesty is mistaken for arrogance and my confidence is misunderstood as attitude, should I make myself smaller? If people do not understand my journey, should I sit at home? I will not change who I am. They need to change the way they look at things.
“Instead of constantly trying to pull someone down, people should focus on improving their own lives and supporting their families and friends. There is no benefit in forming groups simply to spread negativity. I will continue to work hard, follow my dreams and give my best to cinema,” he said.
With its historical subject, large-scale production and emotionally charged narrative, Ranabaali is generating considerable anticipation among moviegoers. Featuring Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles and helmed by Rahul Sankrityan, the film is set to arrive in theatres worldwide on October 16, promising audiences an intense cinematic journey into a forgotten chapter of history.
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